73 


Cibrarjp  of  Che  trheolo^ical  ^eminarjo 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Princeton  University 
Library 


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Pr  1 1  ce  t  en  nr.  i vev^l  ty  "^^^ 

Library       »       ^f'"' 

THE 


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FOUR    GOSPELS, 


ACCORDING  TO  THE  AUTHORIZED  VERSION, 


WITH  ORIGmAL  AND  SELECTED  PARALLEL  REFERENCES  AND 
MARGINAL  READINGS, 

AND    AN    ORIGINAL   AND    COPIOUS 


REV.  DAVID  6rOWN,  D.D. 

PROFESSOR,   FREE   CHURCU    COLLEGE,    ABERDEEN. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
WILLIAM  S.  &  ALFRED  MAPtTIEN, 

No.  C06  CHESTNUT  STREET. 

1859. 


CHEONOLOGICAL  TABLE  OF  THE  MIRACLES  OF  CHEI5T. 

On  tJie  order  of  some  of  our  Lord's  miracles  and  parables,  the  data  being  scanty,  coj> 
siderahle  difference  obtains. 


^IlRACLES. 


Where  wrought. 


Wliere  recorded. 


Water  made  wine, Cana, 

Traders  cast  out  of  the  temple,        Jerusalem,  • 

Nobleman's  sou  healed,      .    .    .    ICana, 

First  miraculous  draught  of  fishes.  Sea  of  Galilee, 

Leper  healed, Capernaum 

Centurion's  servant  healed,    .    ■     Capernaum, 
Widow's  son  raised  to  life,     .    .     Nain, 

Demoniac  healed, Capernaum, 

Peter's  mother-in-law  healed,    .     Capernaum, 

Paralytic  healed, Capernaum, 

Impotent  man  healed,    ....     Jerusalem, 
Man  with  withered  hand  healed,    jGalilee, 
Blind  and  dumb  demoniac  healed,!  Galilee, 

Tempest  stilled, Sea  of  Galilee, 

Demoniacs  dispossessed,     .    .    .     Gadara, 
Jairus'  daughter  raised  to  life,  .     Capernaum, 

Issue  of  blood  healed Near  Capernaum,     . 

Two  blind  men  restored  to  sight,    Capernaum, 
Dumb  demoniac  healed,     ,    .    .     Capernaum, 
rive  thousand  miraculously  fed,     Decapolis. 
Jesus  walks  on  the  sea,       .    .    .     Sea  of  Galilee, 
Syrophenician's  daughter  healed.    Coasts  of  Tyre&Sidon 
Deaf  and  dumb  man  healed,  .    .     Decapolis, 
Pour  thousand  fed,     .....     Decapolis, 
BUnd  mau  restored  to  sight,  .    .    iBethsaida, 
Demoniac  and  lunatic  boy  healed, iNearCesareaPhilippi 
Miraculous  provision  of  tribute,    1  Capernaum, 


The  eyes  of  one  bom  blind  opened, 
Woman,  of  18  years'  infirmity, 
Dropsical  man  healed,     .    [cured- 

Ten  lepers  cleansed, 

Lazarus  raised  to  life,    .... 
Two  blind  beggars  restored  to  sight 
Barren  fig-tree  blighted,     .    .    . 
Buyers  and  sellers  again  cast  out, 
Malchus'  ear  healed,  .... 
Second  draught  of  fishes,    .    .    . 


Jerusalem, 

[Perea.] 

I  Perea.] 

Borders  of  Samaria, 

Bethany, 

Jericho, 

Bethany, 

Jerusalem,'  ". 

Getlisemane, 

Sea  of  GaUlee, 


John,  2,  1-11. 

Johu,  2, 13-17. 

John,  4,  46-54 

Luke,  5,   1-lL 

Matt  8,   2-4;  Mark,  1,  40-45;  Luke,  6,  IS-li 

Matt.  8,   5-13;  Luke,  7, 1-10. 

Luke.  7, 11-17. 

Mark,  1,  21-23;  Luke,  4,  31-37. 

Matt.  8, 14,15;  :\[ark,  1, 29-31;  Luke,  4.38,  3a 

Matt  9,   2-8;  Mark,  2, 1-12;  Luke,  5,  lV-a6. 

John,  5,   1-16. 

Matt  12,10-14;  Mark,3,l-fi;  Luke,  6,6-lL 

Matt  12,  22-24;  Luke,  11, 14. 

Matt  8,  23-27;  Mark,  4, 35-41;  Luke,  8, 22-25. 

Matt  8,  28-34;  Mark,  5,1-20. 

Matt  9, 18-26;  Mark, 5, 22-24;  Luke,  8, 41-56. 

jratt  9,  27-31. 

Matt  9,  32-34.  r  John,  6,  5-14. 

Matt.  14, 13-21;  Mark,C, 31-44;  Luke,  9, l(i-17; 

Matt  14,  22-33;  Mark,  6, 45-52;  John,  6, 15-21. 

Matt.  15,  21-28;  Mark,  7,  24-30. 

Mark,  7,31-37, 

Matt  15,  32-39;  Mark,  8, 1-9. 

Mark,   8,22-26. 

INIatt  17, 14-21;  Mark,  9, 14-23;  Luke,  9,37-43, 

Matt  17,  24-27. 

John,   9,1-41. 

Luke,  13, 10-17. 

Luke,  14,   1-6. 

Luke,  17, 11-19. 

John,  11,    1-46. 

Matt  20,  29-34; : 

Matt  21, 12, 13, 

Luke,  19,  45,  46. 

Matt.  26,  51-54; : 

John,  21,   1-14. 


,  Mark,  10. 46-52;  La  18,35-431 
19;  Mark,  11, 12-24. 


,  Mark,  14,  47-49;  Luke,  22, 50, 
[51;  John,  18, 10, 11. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE  OF  THE  PAEABLES  OF  CHRIST. 


Parables, 


The  two  debtors, 

The  strong  man  armed,     .    .    . 
The  unclean  spirit,    .    .    .    *    . 
The  sower,      ........ 

The  tares  and  wheat,     .... 

The  mustard  seed,      ..... 

The  seed  growing  secretly,     .    . 

The  leaven, 

The  hid  treasure 

The  pearl  of  great  price,     .   .   , 

The  draw  net 

The  unmerciful  servant,    ... 

The  good  Samaritan 

The  friend  at  midnight,    .    .    . 

The  rich  fool, 

The  barren  fig-tree,  ..... 
The  great  supper,       .    .    .    .    , 

The  lost  sheep,       

Thelost  piece  of  money,  .  .  . 
The  prodigal  son,  ...... 

The  good  shepherd 

The  unjust  steward,  ..... 
The  rich  man  and  Lazarus,  .  . 
The  profitable  servants,  .  ,  . 
The  importunate  widow.  .  .  . 
The  Pharisees  and  publicans,  , 
The  labourers  in  the  vineyard,  , 

The  pounds, 

The  two  sons, 

The  wicked  husbandmen.  .  .  . 
The  marriage  of  the  king  s  son. 
The  ten  virgins,  .;...: 
^Tbetaleuts,  . 


Where  spolcen. 


[Capernaum,] 

Galilee, 

Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee,' 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Sea-shore  of  Galilee, 

Capernaum, 

Near  Jerusalem, 

Near  Jerusalem, 

GalUee, 

Galilee, 

Perea,   , 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Jerusalem  7 

Perea,        '^ 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Perea, 

Jericho, 

Jerusalem, 

Jerusalem, 

Jerusalem, 

Mount  of  Olives, 

Mount  of  Olives, 


Where  recorded. 


Luke,  7,  40-43. 

Matt  12,  29;  Mark,  3, 27;  Luke,  11, 21,  22. 

Matt  12, 43-45;  Luke,  11,  24-26. 

Matt  13,3  9,18-23,  Mark,  4, 3-9, 14-20;  Luke, 

Matt  13,24-30,36,-43.  [8,  5-8.  11-15. 

Matt  13,  31,  32;  Mark,  4, 30-32;  Lu.  13, 18, 10. 

Mark,  4.  26-29. 

l\Iatt  13,  33;  Luke,  13, 20, 2L 

Matt.  13,  44. 

Matt  13,  45,  46. 

Matt  13,  47-50. 

Matt  18,  21-35, 

Luke,  10,  29-37. 

Luke,  11,  5-a 

Luke,  12, 16-2L 

Luke,  13,  6-9. 

Luke,  14, 15-24 

Matt  18, 12-14;  LukC,  15, 3-7. 

Luke,  15,  8-10. 

Luke,  15, 11-33. 

John,  10, 1-18. 

Luke,  16, 1-8. 

Luke,  16, 19-31. 

Luke,  17,  7-10. 

Luke,  IS,  1-8, 

Luke,  18,  9-14 

Matt  20, 1-18, 

Luke,  19, 11-27. 

Matt  21,  28-32. 

Matt  21,33-44;  Mark,lS,l-12;Lukc,C0,0-ja 
Matt  22, 1-14. 
3Iatt  25, 1-13. 
Matt.  25, 14-3a 


OT-5XtT? 


tT' 


THE    GOSPEL    ACCORDING    TO 


S.   MATTHEW. 


CnAPTEH  I. 
I  Tht  pentalogy  of  Jesxts  Christ:  18  Mary's  mi- 
rofulous  ameef'tion;  Jeans  is  born:  iil,  23  At* 
i»>i»i«>,  with  their  interpretation. 

T^ll  E  book  of  the  » generation  of  Jesus 
-*-  Christ,  t>  the  son  of  Da\id,  *  the  son  of 
Abraham. 

2  Abraham  begat  Isaac;  and  Isaac  begat 
Jacob;  and  Jacob  begat  Judas  and  his 
brethren; 

3  And  Judas  begat  Phares  and  Zara  of 
Thaniar;  and  <*  I'hares  begat  Esrom;  and 
Esroni  begat  Aram  ; 

4  And  Aram  begat  Aminadab;  and  Ami- 
nartab  begat  *Naasson;  and  I^aasson  begat 
Salmon; 

6  And  Salmon  begat  Booz  of /Kachab: 
and  Uooz  begat  Obed  of  Ruth;  and  Obed 
begat  Jesse; 

6  And  "Jesse  begat  Da\id  the  king;  and 
David  *  the  king  begat  Solomon  of  her  that 
had  been  the  wife  of  Unas; 

7  And » Solomon  begat  Koboam ;  and  Ro- 
boam  begat  Abia;  and  Abia  begat  Asa; 

8  And  Asa  be^at  Josaphat;  and  Josaphat 
begat  Joram;  and  Joram  begat  Ozias; 

9  And  Ozias  begat  Joatham ;  and  Joatham 
begat  Achaz ;  and  Achaz  hegat  Ezekias ; 

10  And  >  Ezekias  begat  Manasses;  and 
Manassea  begat  Amon;  and  Amon  begat 
Josias; 

11  And  1  Josias  begat  Jechonias  and  his 
brethren.about  the  time  they  were  *  canied 
away  to  Babylon: 

12  And  after  they  were  brought  to  Babj-- 
lon,  Jechonias  begat  Salathiel;  and  Sala- 
thiel  begat  <  Zorobabel; 

13  And  Zorobabel  begat  Abiud;  and 
Abiud  begat  Eliakim;  and  Eliakim  begat 
Azor; 

14  And  Azor  begat  Sadoc;  and  Sadoc 
bcL'at  Achim;  and  Achim  begat  Eliud; 

15  And  Eliud  begat  Eleazar;  and  Eleazar 
begat  Matthan ;  and  Matthan  begat  Jacob : 

16'  And  Jacob  begat  Joseph  the  husband 
of  Mary,  of  whom  was  bom  "*  Jesus  who  is 
called  Christ. 

17  So  all  the  generations  from  Abraham 
to  David  are  fourteen  generations;  and 
from  Da\id  until  the  carrying  a^^ay  into 
Babylon  are  fourteen  generations;  and 
frfim  the  carrying  away  into  Babylon  unto 
Christ  are  fourteen  generations. 

18  H  Now  the  "  biith  of  Jesus  Christ  was 
on  this  wise:  When  as  his  mother  Mary 
was  espoused  to  Joseph,  before  they  came 
together,  she  was  found  with  child  of  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

19  Then  Joseph  her  husband,  being  a  just 
man,  and  not  willing  "  to  make  her  a  public 
example,  was  minded  to  put  her  away 
privily. 

20  But  while  he  thought  on  these  things, 
behold,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared 
unto  him  in  a  dream,  saying,  Joseph,  thou 
son  of  David,  fear  not  to  take  unto  thee 
ilary  thy  wife;  p  for  that  which  is  2  con- 
ceived in  her  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

21  And  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and 
thou  Shalt  call  his  name  3  JESDS;  for  She 
shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins. 

22  (Now  all  this  was  done,  that  '"  it  might 


Ua.  11.  1. 

ch.  22.  42- 

Acts  2.  30. 

R«m.  1.  3. 
c  Gal.  3.  16. 
d  Kuth  4.18. 

1  Ch  2  6,9. 
«  Num.  1.  7. 
f  Josh.  6.22. 

Heb.il.31. 
g  1  Sam. 16  1. 
h  2  Sa.12.24. 
i  1  Chr.3.10. 
j  2  £1.2(1  21. 

1  Some  read, 

be^-at 
Jakira,and 

be;at 

Jcchoniaa. 

1  Chr.3.15. 
k  2  Ki.25.11. 

Jer.  27.20. 

Jer.52. 11. 

Dan.  1.  2. 

{  Eira  .3.  2. 

H»g.  1.  1. 

m  Gen.  3.15. 

Isa.  9.  e. 

!«»  53.  2, 

JohD3.  14 

Rom.  9.  5. 

lTim.3.1G. 
n  Luke  1.27. 

Gal.  4.  4. 

Heb.  10.  6. 
o  Deut.  24.1. 
p  Luke  1.  36. 

2  t.e,'otton. 

3  That  is, 


q  Gen.  49.10. 

Jer.  33  16. 

Dan.  9.  24. 

Acts  5.  31. 

Heb.  7.  25. 

1  JohD3.5. 

RcT.  1.  6. 
r  Ueb.  6.  18. 
8  Isa.  7.  11. 
t  Isa.  9.  6. 

1  Tim  .3. 16. 
4  Or,  his 

name  shall 

bo  called, 
u  Ex.  13.  2. 


CHAP.  2. 
o  Dan.  9.  24. 

Liike  2.  4. 
6  Gen.  10. 30. 

Gen.  25.  6. 

1  Ki.  4.  30. 

laa.  11. 10. 
e  Luke  2.  11. 
d  Nu.  24.  17. 
e  P..  2.  1. 
/  2  Ch.34.13. 

0  Jlal.  2.  7. 
h  Mic.  5.  2. 

i  Key.  2.  2". 

1  Or,  feed. 

Isa.  40.  11. 

;■  P..  2.  12. 

John  6.  23. 


be  ftilfilled  which  was  spoken  of  the  Lord 
by  the  prophet,  saying. 

23  Behola  •  a  virgin  shall  be  with  child, 
and  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  *  they 
shall  call  his  name  Eninianuel,  which, 
being  interpreted,  is,  *  God  with  us.) 

24  Then  Joseph,  being  raised  from  sleep, 
did  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  had  bidden 
him,  and  took  unto  him  his  wife; 

;  25  And  knew  her  not  till  she  had  brought 
I  forth  "  her  first-born  son:  and  he  called  his 
name  JESUS. 

i  CHAPTER  IL 

1  Wise  men  enquire  after  Chritt:  11  they  worship 
him,  and  offer  ■presents.  13  Joseph  fteeth  into 
Mgypt  with  Jesus  an4  Alary.  16  Herod  slayeth 
the  children  at  £ethlehem:  19  Christ  brought 
cut  of  Egypt. 

"NJO  W  when  "  Jesus  was  bom  in  Bethlehem 
-'-^  of  Judea,  in  the  days  of  Herod  the 
king,  behold,  there  came  wise  men  *  from 
the  east  to  Jemsalem, 

2  Saying,  «  Where  is  he  that  is  bom  King 
of  the  Jews?  for  we  have  seen  <*  his  star  in 
the  east,  and  are  come  to  Avorship  him. 

3  When  Herod  the  king  had  heard  these 
things,  he  was  troubled,  and  all  Jerusalem 
with  him. 

4  And  when  he  bad  gathered  all  'the 
chief  priests  and /scribes  of  the  people  to- 
gether, ^  he  demanded  of  them  where  Christ 
should  be  born. 

5  And  they  said  unto  him,  In  Bethlehem 
of  Judea:  for  thus  it  is  written  by  the  pro- 
phet, 

6  And  '» thou,  Bethlehem,  in  the  land  of 
J  uda,  art  not  the  least  among  the  princes 
of  J  uda:  for  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Gov- 
ernor, » that  shall  i  mle  my  people  IsraeL 

7  Then  Herod,  when  he  had  pnvily  called 
the  wise  men,  enquired  of  them  diligently 
what  time  the  star  appeared. 

8  And  he  sent  them  to  Bethlehem,  and 
said.  Go  and  search  diligently  for  the  young 
child;  and  when  ye  have  fomid  him,  bring 
me  word  again,  that  I  may  come  and  wor- 
ship him  also. 

9  When  they  had  heard  the  king,  they 
departed;  and,  lo,  the  star,  which  they 
saw  La  the  east,  went  before  them,  till  it 
came  and  stood  over  where  the  young  child 
was. 

10  When  they  saw  the  star,  they  rejoiced 
with  exceeding  great  joy. 

11  H  And  when  they  were  come  into  the 
house,  they  saw  the  young  child  with  Ma)-- 
his  mother,  and  fell  down  and  J  worshippea 
him:  and  when  they  had  opened  their 
treasures,  they  2  presented  mi  to  him  gifts; 
gold,  and  franldncense,  and  mynh. 

12  And  being  warned  of  God  *  in  a  dream 
that  they  should  not  return  to  Herod,  they 
departed  into  their  own  country  another 
way. 

13  IT  And  when  they  were  departed,  be- 
hold, the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeareth  to 
Joseph  in  a  dream,  saying,  Arise,  and  take 
the  young  child  and  his  mother,  and  flee 
into  Egypt,  and  be  thou  there  until  I  bring 
thee  word:  for  Herod  will  seek  the  young 
child  to  destroy  him. 

11  When  he  arose,  he  took  the  young  child 


THE    GOSPEL    ACCORDING    TO 

S.  MATTHEW. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Vee.  l-ir.  Genealogy  OF  Christ.  l.Book 
of  the  generation— table  of  the  pedigree.  So 
Ge.  5. 1.  This  is  the  title,  then,  only  of  the 
first  17  verses.  Of  Jesus  Christ— JEsrs  is 
the  Personal,  Christ  the  Official  name  of 
our  Lord.  See  on  v.  21,  &  v.  16.  The  Son 
of  David  the  Son  of  Abr.  —  Abraham  was 
the  first,  David  the  last,  in  connection  with 
whose  family  Messiah  was  promised  (Ge. 
22.  18;  2  Sa.  7.  12.- 16.^.  Hence,  as  from  his 
nearest  father,  he  was  styled  'The  Son  of 
David'  (M.  12.  23;  etc.);  see  also  on  v.  6,  & 
Preface.  2.  Judah— Jacob's  fourth  son  only 
is  here  named,  Messiah's  descent  being 
through  him  Ge.  49.  10.).  3,  5,  6.  Of  Thamar, 
of  Bachab,  ofRuth,  ofher  of  Unas.  Four  women 
are  here  introduced,  two  of  them  Gentiles 
by  birth,  and  three  with  a  blot  at  their 
names  in  the  Old  Testament.  By  this, 
he  who  styles  himself  *M.  the  publican 
would  point  to  the  grace  that  could  reach 
not  only  to  'them  that  afar  off.'  but  down 
to  '  publicans  and  harlots,'  and  raise  them 
to  "sit  with  the  princes  of  his  people." 
6.  David  the  king— so  styled  as  first  of  the 
royal  line  of  Messiah,  who  was  to  **  sit  on 
the  throne  of  his  father  David."  8.  Joram 
begat  Ozias— Three  idolatrous  kings  are  here 
omitted;  probably  to  compress  the  whole  into 
three  fourteens.  see  v.  17.  11.  Jechonias  and 
his  brethren— meaning  Josiah's  grandson,  and 
his  uncles  who  came  to  the  throne.  12.  The 
time  they  were  carried  away— lit.  '  of  their 
migration'  or  '  removal;'  for  the  Jews  avoid- 
ed the  word  '  captivity,'  as  too  bitter  a  recol- 
lection. 13-15.  These  names  are  not  found 
in  the  O.  T.  but  were  doubtless  taken  from 
the  public  or  family  registers,  which  the 
Jews  kept,  and  their  accuracy  was  never 
challenged.  16.  Joseph  the  husband  of  Mary 
of  whom  was  born  Jesns— Joseph  being  his 
legal  father,  it  was  important  that  he  too 
should  be  seen  to  be  of  the  royal  line. 
Thus,  our  Lord's  descent  from  David 
was  never  questioned.  Called  Christ— Mes- 
siah from  the  Hebrew.)  and  Christ  from 
the  Greek,)  have  exactly  the  same  mean- 
ing, anointed.  It  is  applied  to  the  kiyigs  (1  Sa. 
24.  6, 10.),to  the  priests  Le.  4.  5, 16,  etc.',  and 
to  the  larophets  iKi.  19.16.),  as  being  anointed 
with  oil,  the  symbol  of  the  needful  spiritual 
gifts,  to  consecrate  them  to  office;  and  to  the 
promised  Deliverer,  in  its  most  sublime  and 
comprehensive  sense,  as  consecrated  to  an 
office  embracing  aU  three,  by  the  immeasur- 
able anointing  of  the  Holy  Ghost  (Is.  61. 1;  J.  3. 
?4.).  Fourteen  generations— That  is,  the  whole 
may  be  conveniently  divided  into  three  four- 
teens,  each  embracing  one  marked  era,  and 
each  ending  with  a  notable  event,  in  the  Is- 
raelitish  annals.  Such  artificial  aids  to  me- 
mory were  familiar  to  the  Jews. 

18-25.  Birth  of  Christ.  18.  This  wise- 
lit,  'thus.'  found— discovered  to  be.  Holy 
Ghost— That  the  Holy  Ghost  is  a  Person, 
is  plainly  impUed  here,  and  elsewhere 
clearly  taught  (A.  5.  3,  4,  etc.).  That  He  is 
distinct  from  the  Father  and  the  Son  in  the 
tinity  of  the  Godhead  is  also  clearly  taught 
(M.  28.  19;  2  Co.  13.  14.).  Ou  the  miraculous 


conception  of  Chri.'Jt.  see  on  L.  1.  S.'.  19.  "Set 
Husband,  and  v.  20.  Mary  thy  wife.— Espousals 
or  betrothal  was  equivalent  in  law  to  mar- 
riage. In  giving  Maiy  up  therefore,  Joseph 
had  to  divorce  her  by  a  legal  document, 
make  her  a  public  example— 'expose  her,'  see 
De.  22.  23,  24.).  privily—  privately  ;  by  giving 
her  the  writing  of  divorcement  (De.  24.  l.). 
before  two  or  three  witnesses,  and  without 
cause  assigned,  instead  of  bringing  her  before 
a  magistrate.  20.  Joseph  Son  of  David— This 
style  of  address,  reminaing  him  of  what  aU 
the  families  of  David's  line  so  eagerly  covet- 
ed, would  at  once  prepare  him  for  the  mar- 
vellous announcement  which  followed.  21. 
Jesus— originally  Jehoshua,  'Jehovah  the 
Saviour;' afterwards  contracted  into  Jeshua, 
or  (in  Greek]  Jes^is;  sweetest  of  all  names, 
expressing  so  melodiously  his  whole  office 
and  work!  for  He  shall  save— The  'He' 
is  emphatic  here:  q.  d.  'He  and  no  other,' 
'He  personally,  and  by  personal  acts.'  His 
people— the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel 
first  (A,  5.  31.,; then,  on  the  breaking  down 
of  the  middle  wall  of  partition,  '  the  redeem- 
ed unto  God  by  his  blood,  out  of  every  kin- 
dred, and  people,  and  tongue,  and  nation, 
from  their  sins— in  the  most  comprehensive 
sense  seeEph.  5. 25-27.) ;  of  salvation  from  sin; 
from  the  guilt,  the  strength,  the  being  of  it, 
"spot  and  wrinkle  and  every  such  thing. 
The  proper  Deity  of  Christ  is  v:ritten  as  ivtth 
a  sxivheam  here  cf.  L.  1. 68,  withPs.  130.  7, 8.). 
23.  They  shall,  &c.— He  shall  be  known  and 
recognized  as  'God  with  rs,'  God  mani- 
fested in  the  flesh.  25.  The  word  'till' 
does  not  settle  the  much  disputed  question, 
whether  Mary  had  any  children  to  Joseph 
after  the  birth  of  Christ,  for  it  is  often  used 
where  the  event  referred  to  never  afterwards 
occurred.  (But  see  on  ch.  13.  55,  56.  i.  A 
double  end  was  gained  by  our  Lord  being 
bom  of  a  betrothed  virgin:  the  reproach  of 
illegitimacy  was  avoided,  and  a  protection  of 
his  infancy  provided. 

CHAPTER  n. 
Ver.  1-12.  Visit  of  the  Magi.  1.  Beth- 
lehem of  Judea  —  so  called  to  distinguish 
it  from  another  Bethlehem  in  the  tribe 
of  Zebulun,  near  the  sea  of  Galilee  (Jo. 
1 19.  15,):  it  is  called  B.  Judah,  as  being  in 
that  tribe  (Ju.  17.  7,';  also  Ephrath  Ge. 
3.5.  16.);  and  combining  both,  Bethlehem 
Ephratah  INIi.  5.  2.).  It  layabout  six  miles 
S.  IV.  of  Jerusalem,  see  on  L.  2.  4.  Herod 
the  king— styled  the  Great,  son  of  Antipater, 
an  Edomite,  made  king  by  the  Komans:  thus 
was  'the  sceptre  departing  from  Judah,' 
(Ge.  49. 10.1,  a  sign  that  Messiah  was  at  hand. 
Wise  Men— lit.  Magi,  or  Magicians  from  the 
east;  probably  a  class  of  astrologers,  to  whom 
Balaam's  prophecy,  Nu.  24. 17,  and  perhaps 
Daniel's,  9.  24,  etc.  might  have  come  down  by 
tradition;  but  nothing  definite  is  known  of 
them.  2.  King  of  the  Jews— This  shows  they 
were  not  themselves  Jews.  Suetonius  and 
Tacitus,    Eoman    historians,   testify  to    a 

General  expectation  in  the  east  that  out  of 
udea  should  arise  a  sovereign  of  the  world; 
and  V.  11,  shows  that  they  deemed  this  '  King 
Of  the  Jews'  to  be  their  king  also.  His  star— 


Preaching  of  John  the  Baptist,        MATTHEW,  111,  IV . 


Chi-ist  tempted  of  the  devil. 


and  his  mother  by  night,  and  departed  Into 

15  And  was  there  until  the  death  of 
Herod:  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
Bpoken  of  the  Lord  by  the  prophet,  saying, 
Out '  of  Egypt  have  I  called  my  son. 

IG  IT  Then  Herod,  when  he  saw  that  he 
was  mocked  of  the  wise  men,  was  exceed- 
ing wroth,  and  sent  forth,  and  slew  all  the 
children  that  were  in  Bethlehem,  and  in 
aU  the  coasts  thereof,  from  two  years  old 
and  under,  according  to  the  time  which  he 
h.id  diligently  enquired  of  the  wise  men. 

17  Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was 
Broken  by  "*  Jeremy  the  prophet,  saying, 

18  In  Kama  was  there  a  voice  heard,  lam- 
entation, and  weeping,and  great  mourning, 
Kachel  weeping/or  her  children,  and  would 
not  be  comforted,  because  they  are  not. 

19  IT  But  when  Herod  was  dead,  behold, 
an  angel  of  the  Lord  appeareth  in  a  dieam 
to  Joseph  in  Egypt, 

20  Saying,  Arise,  and  take  the  young  child 
and  his  mother,  and  go  into  the  land  of 
Israel:  for  they  are  dead  which  sought  the 
ymmg  child's  life. 

21  And  he  arose,  and  took  the  young  child 
and  his  mother,  and  came  into  the  land  of 
Isi'ael, 

22  But  when  he  heard  that  Arch  elans  did 
reign  in  Judea  in  the  room  of  his  father 
Herod,  he  was  afraid  to  go  thither:  not- 
withstanding, being  warned  of  God  in  a 
dream,  he  turned  aside  "into  the  parts  of 
Galilee: 

23  And  he  came  and  dwelt  in  a  city  "  called 
Kazareth:  that  it  might  be  fulfiUea  P  which 
was  spoken  by  the  prophets,  He  shall  be 
called  a  3  Nazarene. 

CHAPTER  IIL 
1  John  preacheth;  his  office,  6  and  baptism:  7  he 
rebuketh  the  Fharistes,    13  Chriit  baptized  by 
John  in  Jordan. 

TN  those  days  came  "John  the  Baptist, 
■*■  preaching  0  in  the  wilderness  of  Judea, 

2  And  saymg,  Repent  ye:  for  "the  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  at  hand. 

3  For  this  is  he  that  was  spoken  of  by  the 
prophet  Esaias,  saying,  "iThe  voice  ot  one 
crymg  in  the  wilderness,  *  Prepare  ye  the 
way  of  the  Lord,  make  his  paths  straight. 

4  And /the  same  John*"  had  his  raiment 
of  camel's  hair,  and  a  leathern  girdle  about 
his  loins;  and  his  meat  was  "locusts  and 
wild » honey. 

5  IT  Then  went  out  to  him  Jerusalem,  and 
aU  Judea,  and  all  the  region  round  about 
Jordan, 

6  And  }  were  baptized  of  him  in  Jordan, 
confessing  their  sins. 

7  But  when  he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees 
and  Sadducees  come  to  his  baptism,  he 
said  unto  them,  O  generation  of  A-ipers, 
who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  «the 
wrath  to  come? 

8  Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  i  meet  for 
repentance: 

9  And  think  not  to  say  within  yourselves. 
We  *  have  Abraham  to  our  father:  for  1  say 
nuto  you,  that  God  is  able  of  these  stones 
to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham. 

10  And  now  also  the  ax  is  laid  unto  the 
root  of  the  trees:  ""therefore  every  tree 
which  bringeth  not  forth  good  Ihiit  is  hewn 
down,  and  cast  into  the  lire. 

HI"  indeed  baptize  you  with  water  unto 
repentance:  but  he  that  cometh  after  me 
IS  mightier  thou  I,  whose  shoes  I  am  not 


CHAP.  8. 
a  Mai.  3.  1. 

Mark  1.4. 

Luke  3.  2. 

John  1.28. 
b  Jos.  14. 10. 
c  Dan.  2.  44. 

ch.  10.  7. 
d  Ua.  4U.  3. 
e  Luke  1.  76. 
f  Mark  1.  6. 
g  2  Kin.  1.  8. 
h  Lev.  11.22. 
i  1  Sa.  14.25. 
>  Acts  19.  4. 
*  Rom.  6.  9. 

1  Thes.1.10. 
lOr, 

answerable 
to  amend- 
ment of 
life. 

2  Cor.  7. 1, 
11. 

I  John  8.  33. 

Actsl3.-.:G. 

Bom.  4.  1. 
»»  ch.  7.  19. 

John  15.  6. 

Heb.  6.  8. 
n  Mark  1.8. 

Luke  3.16. 

John  1.33. 

Acts  1.  6. 
0  Isa.  4.  4. 

Mai.  3.  2. 

Acts  2.3,4. 

Titus  3.  6. 
P  Mai.  3.  3. 
?  Mai.  4.  1. 

ch.  13.  30. 
r  ch.  2.  22. 
8  Dan.  9.  24. 
t  Mark  1. 10. 

Luke  3.22. 

John  1.  32. 
V  John  12.28. 
V)  Vs.  2.  7. 

Isa.  42.  1. 

Luke  9.35. 

Col.  1.  13. 


CHAP.  4. 

<J  Mark  1.12. 
Luke  4. 1. 

6  1  Ki.18.12. 
Ezo.  3.  14. 
Acta  8.  39. 

«  Heb.  4.  15. 

d  Ex.  34. 28. 

e  Eph.  6.  17. 

/  Deut.  8.  3. 

9  Neh.  11.  1. 

h  Ps.  91.  11. 

t  Dcut.6. 16. 

>  Deut.  6. 13. 

k  Jura.  4.  7. 

I  Heb.  1.  14. 

m  Luke  3.20. 

1  Or  .deliver- 
ed up. 

n  1)1.9. 1,2. 


worthy  to  bear:  »  he  shall  baptize  you  witb 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with  fire: 

12  "Whose  yfan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
throughly  purge  his  floor,  and  gather  his 
wheat  into  the  gamer;  but  he  will  «  bum 
up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable  fire. 

13  H  Then  cometh  Jesus  ^  from  Galilee  to 
Jordan  unto  John,  to  be  baptized  of  him. 

14  But  John  forbade  him,  saying,  I  have 
need  to  be  baptized  of  thee,  and  comest 
thou  to  me? 

15  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him. 
Suffer  it  to  he  so  now:  for  thus  it  becometh 
us  to  *  fulfil  all  righteousness.  Then  he 
suffered  him. 

16  And  '  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized, 
went  up  straightway  out  of  the  water:  and, 
lo,  the  heavens  were  opened  unto  him, 
and  he  saw  "  the  Spirit  of  God  descending 
like  a  dove,  and  lighting  upon  him: 

17  And  "  lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  sajing, 
This  «■  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1  ChrUt  fasttth,  is  tempted,  and  overeometh:  17 
he  beginneth  to  preach  i  18  7ie  caXUth  i'eter  and 
Andrew :  'J3  he  teacheth  in  the  tynagogue,  and 
heaUth  the  diseased. 

fpilEN  was  "  Jesus  led  up  of  » the  Spirit 

-*■  into  the  wUdemess  to  be  '  tempted  of 

the  devil. 

2  And  when  he  had  <*  fasted  forty  days 
and  forty  nights,  he  was  afterward  an 
hungered. 

3  And  when  the  tempter  came  to  him,  he 
said.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  command 
that  these  stones  be  made  bread. 

4  But  he  answered  and  said,  '  It  is  written, 
Man /shall  not  live  by  bread  alone,  but  by 
every  \Nord  that  proceedeth  out  of  the 
mouth  of  God. 

5  Then  the  devil  taketh  him  up  g  into  the 
holy  city,  and  setteth  him  on  a  pinnacle  of 
the  temple, 

6  And  saith  unto  him,  If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,  cast  thyself  down:  for  it  is  written. 
He  '»  shall  give  his  angels  charge  concern- 
ing  thee;  and  in  their  hands  they  shall 
bear  thee  up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash 
thy  foot  agamst  a  stone. 

7  Jesus  said  unto  him,  It  is  written  again. 
Thou  »  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God. 

8  Again,  the  devil  taketh  him  up  mto  an 
exceeding  high  mountain,  and  showeth 
Lim  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and 
the  glory  of  them ; 

9  And  saith  unto  him.  All  these  things 
will  1  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  fall  down  and 
worship  me. 

10  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him,  Get  thee 
hence,  Satan :  for  it  is  written,  i  Thou 
shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  ser\'e. 

11  Then  the  de\-il  *  leaveth  him ;  and, 
behold,  *  angels  came  and  ministered  unto 
him. 

12  IT  Now  "•when  Jesus  had  heard  that 
John  was  i  cast  into  prison,  he  departed 
into  Galilee ; 

13  And  leaving  Nazareth,  he  came  and 
dwelt  in  Capernaum,  which  is  upon  the 
sea  coast,  in  the  borders  of  Zabulon  and 
Nephthahm: 

14  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saymg, 

15  The  "land  of  Zabulon,  and  the  land  of 
Nephthalim,  by  the  way  of  the  sea,  beyond 
Jordan,  Galilee  of  the  GeuliieB; 


Joseph  JtceVi  into  Egvpt 


MATTTTEW.  m. 


probably  a  huninous  meteor.  Worship— see 
on  r.  11.  3.  Troubled— Herod  was  concerned 
for  fear  of  his  crown,  and  all  Jenisalem— for 
fear  of  what  bloody  Herod  might  do,  as  well 
as  of  popular  commotions.  4.  the  chief 
priests  and  scribes— The  Sanhedrim,  consist- 
ing of  71  members,  demanded  of  them— as 
the  authorized  interpreters  of  Scripture, 
where  Christ  should  be  bom  —  according  to 
prophecy.  5.  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea  — an 
involuntary  testimony  to  Jesus  from  the 
highest  ecclesiastical  authority;  which  yet  at 
length  condemned  him  to  die.  6.  art  not 
the  least— 'Tliis  event  ^vill  lift  thee  from  the 
humblest  to  the  highest  rank,'  rule  — lit. 
•feed'  (Marg.i.  In  the  O.  T.  kings  are  called 
shepherds  (Ez.  34.  etc.),  and  under  this  beauti- 
ful image  Jehovah's  and  Messiah's  relation 
to  his  people  is  set  forth  Ps.  23.  etc.).  8.  I 
may  come  and  worship  also— Tlie  cumiiug  of  the 
bloody  h%i:)ocrite !  but  it  served  as  a  safe-con- 
duct to  the  strangers.  9.  Lo,  the  star  which 
they  saw  in  the  E.— Tliis  shows  it  must  have 
disappeared  in  the  interval  ( see  v.  10.).  went 
before  .  .  stood  over,  &c.— This  could  hardly  be 
but  by  a  luminous  meteor,  and  not  veryhigh. 
11.  fell  down  and  worshipped  him:—'  worship' 
is  used  of  any  homage  to  a  superior,  espec- 
ially a  sovereign;  but  clearly  it  was  no  civil 
homage  to  a  petty  Jewish  king,  which  the 
Btar-guided  strangers  came  so  far,and  enquir- 
ed so  eagerly,  and  rejoiced  with  such  exceed- 
ing joy  to  pay,  but  a  loftier  spiritual  homage, 
presented— Tliis  word  is  seven  times  used  in 
the  N.  T.  and  always  in  a  rcUmmis  sense,  of 
offerings  to  God.  gifts;  gold,  frankincense,  and 
myrrh— visits  were  seldom  paid  to  sovereigns 
without  a  present  1  K.  ip.  2,  etc.  See  Ps.  72. 
10,  11,  15.).  Here  the  feelings  ot  the  givers 
are  seen  in  the  richness  of  their  gifts. 

13-23.  Flight  INTO  Egypt.  14.bynight— 
the  same  night.  The  young  child  and  his 
mother— a  remarkable  expression,  to  show 
that  Joseph  was  only  the  child's  guardian. 
Egypt  — being  near,  and  a  Roman  province 
independent  of  Herod,  and  much  inhabited 
by  Jews,  it  was  an  easy  and  convenient  re- 
fuge. 15.  Until  the  death  of  Herod— about  a 
year  or  less  after  this,  of  a  horrible  disease. 
That  it  might  be  fulfilled— verified  in  its  hidi- 
est  sense.  16.  Mocked— '  trifled  with.'  two 
years  old  and  under— taking  a  large  sweep, 
not  to  miss  his  mark.  17, 18.  relates  to  the 
Babylonish  captivity,  but  Eachel  being 
buried  near  Bethlehem,  is  represented  as 
weeping  over  again  for  the  loss  of  her  cliil- 
dren,  now  by  a  bloody  death,  as  then  by  a 
sad  captivity.  They  are  dead  which— See  Ex. 
4.  19.  22.  Heard  that  Archelaus. .  .  was  afraid 
—He  succeeded  as  ethnarch  to  Judea,  Sa- 
maria, and  Idumea;  after  a  nine  years' 
reign  of  injustice  and  cruelty,  he  was  ban- 
ished, and  Judea  reduced  to  a  Eoman  pro- 
vince. Then  '  the  sceptre'  clean  '  departed 
from  Judah'  (see  on  v.  1.).  Galilee— the 
north  province;  Samaria  the  central;  Judea 
the  southern.  Into  those  three  was  the 
v.hole  country  W.  of  the  Jordan  divided  at 
this  time.  23.  Nazareth  — a  small  secluded 
town  in  lower  Galilee,  about  equally  distant 
from  the  Medit.  sea  on  the  \VT  and  the  sea 
of  Gal.  in  the  E.  A  Nazarene— 'contemptible' 
is  perhaps  the  thing  meant  J.  1.  40.  ,  spoken 
by  the  prophets— the  spirit  of  their  testimony, 
not  the  very  words  of  any  one  prophet. 
CHAPTEliin. 
Ver.  1-12.  Pkeaching  and  Baj-iish  or 


rnplismofJohn, 

John.— 1.  Thos-e  days— of  Christ's  secluded  Ufa 
at  Nazareth.  For  the  exact  lime,  see  L.  3. 1, 
Wilderness  of  Judea— the  desert- valley  of  ih.ft 
Jordan,  thinly  peopled  and  bare  in  pa.stute,' 
a  little  N.  of  Jems,  (see  on  v.  3.).  2.  Re- 
pent—the word  denotes  a  change  of  mind. 
kingdom  of  heaven  — this  sublime  plirase 
occurs  only  in  the  first  gospel,  specially  ad- 
dressed to  the  Jcus,  as  if  expressly  to  meet 
their  carnal  views.  It  means  Messiah's 
kingdom,  both  in  its  inward  and  otduard 
departments.  Repent  ye,  for— Deliverance 
from  sin,  the  chief  blessing  of  Christ's  king- 
dom (1.  21.).  can  be  valued  only  by  those  to 
whom  sin  is  a  burden  (9.12.).  John  there- 
fore was  sent  to  awaken  this  feeling,  and 
hold  out  the  hope  of  a  speedy  and  preciotis 
remedy.  3.  This  prophecy  is  quoted  in  all 
the  gospels,  to  show  that  Christ,  like  the 
gi-eat  ones  of  the  earth,  was  to  have  his  im- 
mediate approach  announced,  and  his  way 
prepared.  Wilderness— the  scene  of  his  min- 
istiy  was  to  correspond  with  its  rough 
nature.  Prepare  the  way— i.  e.  remove  what- 
ever stands  in  the  v;av  of  Messiah's  triumphs. 
"Tlie  Lord,"  whose  way  was  to  be  pre- 
pared, is,  in  Is.  40.  3,  called  "Jehovah" 
and  "our  Gop;"  a  bright  evidence  of 
Christ's  proper  Divinity.  4.  camel's  hair  — 
i.  e.  woven  of  it.  leathern  girdle— the  pro- 
phetic dress  of  Elijah  2  Ki.  l.  8;cf  Ze.  13.4.). 
locust— the  great  well-known  eastern  locust, 
a  food  of  the  poor  (Le.  11.  22.).  wild  honey 
—made  by  wild  bees  (1  Sa.  14.  25,  26.).  This 
chess  and  diet,  with  the  wild  '  cry'  in  the 
wilderness,  would  recall  the  stern  days  of 
Ehjah.  6.  baptized  of  him— A  public  seal 
(1.)  of  their /e«  need  of < redemption  as  sin- 
ners; (2.)  expectation  of  tJie promised  Deliverer; 
(3.)  readiness  to  embrace  him  when  he  ap- 
peared. The  Jews,  it  would  seem,  baptized 
proselytes,  but  this  was  the  baptism  of  Jeu'S 
themselves.  7.  Phar.  and  Sadd.— See  Table  of 
Sects,  etc.  generation  of  vipers— expressing 
the  deadly  influence  of  both  sects  on  the  com- 


mimity  (12.34;  23.  33.).  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
Striking  expression  of  the  real  import 
of  this  step!  (Eo._l,.18;l  Th.  1.  ip.)  who  hath 


warned  you— (/.  d.  'What  can  have  brought  you 
hither  ? '  He  more  than  suspected  it  was  the 
popularity  of  his  movement  rather  than  their 
own  spiritual  anxieties.  9.  Abraham  to  our 
father— the  fatal  rock  onwhich  the  nation  spUt 
;J.  8.  33,  39,  53.'.  these  stones— 'l"he  pebbles  of 
the  bare  clay  hills  lay  around,  to  which  the 
Baptist  pointed."  (Stanley's  'Sinai and  Pales- 
tine,' 1856.  p.  311.).  The  calling  of  the  Gentiles 
is  meant  iGa.  3,  28.  29;  Eph.  2.  14.).  The  im,- 
penitence  of  those  nursed  amid  the  privileges 
of  the  visible  Church  cannot  disar  point  God  of 
a  people  (J.  6. 36, 37.).  11. 1  baptize  with  water— 
q.  d.  I  am  but  the  servant,  but  the  Master  is 
coming:  I  administer  the  symbol  of  purifica- 
tion; His  it  is  to  di.spense  the  reality.  I'he 
shoes— (sandals,)  were  tied  and  untied,  and 
borne  about  by  the  humblest  servants,  bap- 
tize with  Holy  Ghost— (See  on  1.  20.).  The pour- 
ing  out  of  the  Spirit  was  a  familiar  figure  in 
the  O.  T.  with  fire- another  figure  of  the 
same  purif jing  baptism.  Tlie  visible  sjtu- 
bol  of  fire  appeared  at  Pentecost  (A.  2.  3.). 
Observe  the  Baptist's  lofty  views  of  his 
Master  and  loivUj  esteem  of  himself.  12. 
fan— winnowing  fan,  the  Gospel,  whose  re- 
ception or  rejection  would  separate  all  into 
two  classes,  floor  —  bam  floor,  the  visible 
Church,    wheat— 50 Jici,  precious  saints  IL. 


ChrisFs  sermon 


MATTHEW,  V. 


C«  *hc  mouvt. 


16  The  "people  which  sat  in  darkness  saw 
KTeat  light;  and  to  thera  which  sat  in  the 
region  and  shadow  of  death  light  ia  sprung 
up. 

17  From  P  that  time  Jesoa  began  to  preach, 
and  to  say,  '  Kenent:  lor  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand. 

18  IT  And  '■Jesus,  walking  by  the  sea  of 
(Jalilee,  saw  two  brethren,  Simon  •  called 
Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother,  casting  a 
net  into  the  sea:  for  they  were  fishers. 

19  And  he  saith  unto  them.  Follow  me, 
and  *  I  will  make  j-ou  fishers  of  men. 

20  And  "  they  straightway  left  their  nets, 
and  followed  him. 

-I  And  '  going  on  from  thence,  he  saw 
other  two  brethren,  James  the  son  of' 
Zebedee,  and  John  his  brother,  in  a  ship 
with  Zebedee  their  father,  mending  their 
uets ;  and  he  called  them. 

22  And  they  immediately  left  the  ship  and 
their  father,  and  followed  him. 

23  IT  And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee, 
teaching  ""  in  their  synagogues,  and  preach 
ing  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing 
nil  manner  of  sickness  and  all  manner  of 
disease  among  the  people. 

24  And  his  '^fame  went  throughout  all 
Syria:  and  they  brought  unto  him  all  sick 
people  that  were  taken  with  divers  diseases 
and  torments,  and  those  wiiich  were  pos- 
sessed with  devils,  and  those  which  were 
limatic,  and  those  that  had  the  palsy ;  and 
he  healed  them. 

25  And  there  followed  him  great  multi 
tudes  of  people  from  Galilee,  and  from 
Decapolis,  and  from  Jerusalem,  and  from 
Judea,  and /rom  be jond  Jordan. 

CHAPTER  V. 
S  Who  are  bUfsed.    13  7'he  dwipjus  called  the 
salt  of  the  earth,  and  light  of  the  worlds  Christ 
urgeth  on  them  a  good  example,  etc. 

A  ND  seeing  the  multitudes,  "  he  went  up 
■"■^  into  a  mountain:  and  when  he  was  set 
his  disciples  came  unto  him: 

2  And  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  taught 
them,  saying, 

3  Blessed  b  are  the  poor  in  sphit:  for  theirs 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

4  Blessed  "are  they  that  mourn:  for  they 
shall  be  comforted. 

5  Blessed  ''■are  the  meek  for  'they  shall 
inherit  the  earth. 

6  Blessed  are  they  which  do  hmiger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness:  /  for  ihey  shall 
be  filled. 

7  Blessed  are  the  merciful: '  for  they  shall 
obtain  mercy. 

8  Blessed  f^  are  the  pure  in  heart:  for » they 
shall  see  God. 

9  Blessed  are  >  the  peacemakers:  for  they 
shall  be  called  the  children  of  God. 

10  Blessed  *  are  they  which  are  persecuted 
for  righteousness'  sake :  for  theirs  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. 

11  Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile 
you,  and  persecute  you,  and  shall  say  all 
manner  of  evil  against  you  i  falsely,  for  my 
sake. 

12  Rejoice,  and  he  exceeding  glad;  for 
gieat  IS  yoiu-  reward  in  heaven:  for  so 
persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were 
before  j'oiu 

131F  \e  are  the  salt  of  the  earth:  but  if 
the  salt  have  lost  his  savour,  wherewith 
shall  it  be  salted?  it  is  thenceforth  good 
for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out,  and  to  be 
tioddea  under  foot  of  men,  I 


CHAP.  4. 

o  l8».  4U.  7. 

Luke  "2.32. 
P  M»rk  1.14. 
9  ch.  10.  7. 
••Mark  1.16. 
»  John  1  4a. 
t  £m.  47.10. 

Luko  6.10 
K  AI«rkI0.28. 

LukelS.liS. 
»  Blark  1. 19. 

Luke  6.10. 
to  Luke  4.15. 
sc  I».  62.  13. 


CHAP 

a  Mark  3.13. 

6  P«.  51.  17. 

lea.  57. 15 


e  2  Cor.  1.  7. 

Key.  21.  4. 
d  P«.  37.  11. 

1  Pet.  3. 4. 
«  Bom.  4. 13. 
/  l«a.  65.  13. 
y  Pi.  41.1. 

Heb.  6.  10. 

Jam.  2. 13. 
ft  Heb.12.14. 
i  lCor.13.12. 

1  Joha  3. 

2,3. 
;•  Heb.  12.14. 
k  2  Cor.4.17. 

2Tim.2.12. 

1  Pet.3.14. 

1  Phil!  2.  15. 

2  modlus. 

ed  nearly 

"1 1  Pet  2.12. 
n  John  15.a. 

1  Co.14.25. 
0  Dan.  9.  24. 

Rom.  10.4. 

Gal.  3.  24. 
p  Lukel6.17. 
9  Jam.  2  10. 
rRom.  10.3. 


15. 
4  Tliat  IB, 

vain  feUow. 
6  Or, 

graceless 

wretch. 

John  8.  44. 

ActBlS.lO. 
«  Job  42.  8. 

1  Pet.  3.7. 
»  Job  22.  21. 

Pro.  26.  8. 

Heb.  3.  7. 
w  P«.  32.  6. 

IB».  65.  6. 
'  2  l-hea.  1.9. 
V  Gen.  34.  2. 

Pro.  6.  25. 

Eph.  6.  6. 

Heb.  13.  4. 
»  Mark  9. 43. 
6  Or,  do 

cause  tbee 

P..  119.37. 
»Deu.24.  1. 
Jcr.  3.  1. 
Mark  10.2. 
Kora.  7.  3. 
I  Cor.7.10. 


14  Ye  •  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city 
that  is  set  on  an  hiU  cannot  be  hid. 

15  Neither  do  men  Ught  a  candle,  and  put 
it  under  a  2  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick; 
and  it  giveth  light  unto  all  that  are  in  the 
house. 

16  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men, 
that  "*  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and 
glorify  "  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

17  IT  Thmk  "  not  that  I  am  come  to  de- 
stroy the  Law,  or  the  Prophets:  I  am  not 
come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil. 

18  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  P  Till  heaven 
and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall 
in  no  wise  pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be 
fulfilled. 

19  Whosoever  «  therefore  shall  break  one 
of  these  least  commandments,  and  shall 
teach  men  so,  he  shall  be  called  the  least 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven:  but  whosoever 
shall  do  and  teach  them,  the  same  shall  be 
called  great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

20  For  I  say  unto  you.  That  except  your 
righteousness  shall  exceed  *■  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall 
in  no  case  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. 

21  ^  Ye  hare  heard  that  it  was  said  8  by 
them  of  old  time,  *  Thou  shalt  not  kill ;  and 
whosoever  shall  kill  shall  be  in  danger  ol 
the  judgment: 

22  But  I  say  unto  you,  That  '  whosoever 
is  angry  with  his  brother  without  a  cause 
shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment:  and 
whosoever  shall  say  to  his  brother,  *  Raca! 
shall  be  in  danger  of  the  council:  but 
whosoever  shall  say,  Thou  6  fool!  shall  be 
in  danger  of  hell  fire. 

23  Therefore,  if  thou  bring  thy  gift  to  the 
altar,  and  there  rememberest  that  thy 
brother  hath  ought  against  thee; 

24  Leave  "  there  thy  gift  before  the  altar, 
and  go  thy  way ;  fii-st  be  reconciled  to  thy 
brother,  and  then  come  and  oiler  thy  gift. 

25  Agree  "with  thine  adversary  (jtiiickly, 
whiles  ""  thou  art  in  the  way  with  him ;  lest 
at  any  time  the  adversary  deliver  thee  to 
the  judge,  and  the  judge  deliver  thee  to 
the  officer,  and  thou  be  cast  into  prison. 

26  Verily  1  say  unto  thee.  Thou  '^  shalt  by 
no  means  come  out  thence,  tiU  thou  hast 
paid  the  uttermost  farthing. 

27  ^  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by 
them  of  old  time,  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery: 

28  But  I  say  unto  you,  That  whosoever 
looketh  "  on  a  woman  to  lust  after  her  hath 
committed  adultery  with  her  already  in  his 
heart. 

29  And  'if  thy  right  eye  « offend  thee, 
pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee:  for  it  is 
profitable  for  thee  that  one  of  thy  members 
should  perish,  and  not  that  thy  whole  body 
should  be  cast  into  hell. 

30  And  if  thy  right  hand  offend  thee,  cut 
it  off,  and  cast  it  from  thee:  for  it  is  profit- 
able  for  thee  that  one  of  thy  members 
should  perish,  and  not  that  thy  whole  body 
should  be  cast  into  hell. 

31  ^  It  bath  been  said,  "  Whosoever  shall 
put  away  his  wife,  let  him  give  her  a 
writing  of  divorcement: 

32  But  I  say  unto  jou.  That  *  whosoever 
shall  put  away  his  wile,  saving  for  the  cause 
of  fornication,  causeth  her  to  commit  adul- 
tery: and  whosoever  shall  marry  her  that 
is  divorced  committeth  adultery. 

33  %  Again,  ye  have  he<ird  that  it  bath 


Temptalloi(,  ofJestis. 


T.IATTHEAV,  TV,  Y. 


Sermon  on  the  monvt 


22.  :il.),  g^mer  — heaven  (13.  z*);  cf.  13.  43.). 
thaS— empty,  worthless  'professors  (Ps.  1.  4.). 
13-17.  Baptism  of,  and  Descent  of 
THE  Spirit  upon  Jesus.  13.  from  Galilee— 
from  his  privacy  at  Nazareth.  14.  forbade  — 
Jit.  '  was  inthe  act  of  hindering  him.'  comest 
thou  to  me?  — Eeautiful  spirit!  'Shall  the 
Master  come  to  the  servant,  nay,  the  Saviour, 
for  baptism,  to  a  sinuerf  John  clearly  viewed 
Jesus  as  needing  no  jmrificaiion.  15.  suffered 
him— John  even  then  only  sichmitted.  16.  (L. 
3.  21,)  adds,  "  and  praying."  dove  —  emblem 
of  meekness  and  purity,  the  distinguishing 
character  of  Christ  throughout.  All  the 
Evangelists  record  this.  Jt  was  seen  only  by 
Christ  and  John  (J.  1.  32,  33,  "and  it  abode 
upon  him."  cf.  Is.  11.  2,  'rest  upon  him.') 
beloved  Son— So  at  Transfiguration  ch.  17.  5, 
(cf.  Eph.  1.  6.).  That<7(e  divine  and  eternal 
natxire  of  the  Son  is  referred  to,  is  evident 
from  J.  1.  34.— well  pleased— {cf.  Is.  42. 1,  'in 


whom  my  soid  deligldcth.'}  Here,  in  the 
baptism  of  our  Head,  are  that  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  into  whose  adorable  name 
we  are  baptized  (M.  28. 19.). 
CHAPTEE,  IV. 
Ver.  1-11.  Temptation  OF  Jesus.  l.Then— 
I\Ik.  says  'immediately'  (after  his  baptism). 
led  up— ^Ik.  uses  the  stronger  word,  'djiven,' 
or  'impelled,'  — hy  a  mighty  constraining 
impulse  of  the  Spirit,  being  (as  L.  says, ) 
'full  of  the  Spirit'  (4.  1),— to  try  his  glor- 
ious furniture  for  the  icork  given  Jiim  to 
do,  to  give  him  a  taste  of  u-hat  teas  before 
him,  and  experimental  encouragement  to  go 
through  witli  it.  2.  fasted  40  days  and  40 
nights— So  Moses  (Ex.  34.  28.),  and  Elias 
(lELi.  19.  8,)L.  says  (4.  2.),  he  was  all  that  time 
•tempted  of  the  devil.'  These  40  days'  temp- 
tation were  likely  internal;  for  when  they 
were  over,  'the  tempter  came  i.  e.  visibly) 
to  him.'  afterwards  an  hungered— For  40  days 
this  was  not  felt;  now  it  came  in  all  its 
keenness.  3.  If . . .  Son  of  God— Tliis  plainly 
refers  to  the  voice  at  his  baptism,  show- 
ing (we  think)  that  to  dislodge  that  con- 
viction, as  but  a  splendid  illusion,  was  the 
object  of  the  40  days'  temptation.  In  this 
case  the  sense  is:  'Stili  cling  to  that  vain- 
glorious confidence?  What!  The  Son  of  God 
left  40  days  without  food?  Sure  those  stones 
Bhall  become  bread  if  the  Son  of  God  but 
speak' the  word!'  The  temptation  was  to 
distrust  God's  providence  under  pressure  of 
want,  on  the  plea  that  relief  in  other  v:avs 
could  easily  be  had^  Jesus  replies;  'The 
"jlod  is  not  the  pre- 
sent question,  but  the  duty  of  man  under 
want:  IsraeLwas  sustained  in  the  wilderness 


power  of  the  Son  of  God  is  not  the 

ion,  but  thi 

eLv 
for  40  years,  nanging  on  the  bare  word  of  God 
(Deu.  8.  4.);  to  show  that  in  God's  word  of 
promise  lies  man's Isecurity  for  life:  As  Man. 
therefore,  so  resting,  I  will  calmly  await 
divine  supply.'  Mark  here,  how  apt  the  quot- 
ation! how  ready  for  use!  how  invincible  in 
the  handof  faitn!  5.  takcth  him  up— rather 
*along  with  him,'  (conducteth  him),  puinacle 
of  the  temple— probably  Herod's  royal  por- 
tico, overhanging  the  ravine  of  Kedion,  an 
immense  tower  built  on  the  very  edge  of  this 
precipice,  from  the  top  of  which  dizzy  height 
Josephus  says,  it  was  impossible  to  see  the 
bottom.  —  6.  If . . .  Son  of  God— This  recur- 
rence to  the  voice  at  his  baptism  confirms 
what  was  said  on  v.  3.  What  is  this  I  see? 
Batan  himself  with  a  Bible  under  his  arm, 
nwX  a  kxt  in  his  moutht  IBp,  EaU.i  The 
6 


tempter  had  fdt  the  power  of  God's  %vord, 
and  will  now  try  it  himself  {2  Co.  11.  14.).  7. 
Answer :  '  Why  should  I  put  this  promise 
to  the  proof?  that  were  to  doubt  it :  when 
danger  comes  I  shall  expect  its  fidtilment, 
but  to  create  the  danger  is  to  '  tempt  the 
Lord,  which  IS  expressly  forbidden.'  Scrip- 
ture  is  to  be  explained  by,  not  set  against 
Scripture.  8.  showeth  him,  &c.— L.  adds,  "  iu 
a  moment  of  time,"  (ch.  4.  6.).  Tliis  shows 
it  was  more  than  natural  vision.  9.  I  e- 
spairing  of  success  through  subtilty,  ho 
throws  off  the  mask,  and  with  a  splendid 
bribe,  asks  divine  honour.  10.  Satan — 
Christ  names  him  now,  to  show  him  ho 
was  seen  through,  and  bids  him  be  gone. 
(This  proves  M's  order  to  be  the  right  one, 
not  L  s.).  it  is  written,  kc.  —  Christ  parts 
with  Satan  on  the  rock  of  Scripture,  and.  as 
Man,  in  adoring  s^xbjcction  to  the  Lord  as 
His  God.  11.  leaveth  Him— "/or  a  season," 
(L.  4.  13.),  to  return,  (cf.  14.  30.).  Ministered 
unto  him— i.e.  served  him  with  food.  So 
Elijah,  1  K.  19.  5-8. 

12-22.  Jesus  enters  on  his  public  work. 
—12.  N.B.  Between  Christ's  temptation  and 
John's  imprisonment  there  was  a  consider- 
able interval,  which  is  fiUed  up  in  J's. 
Gospel.- 13.  Leaving  Nazareth  — See  on  L. 
4.  16,  23.  Capernaum— on  the  jN'.  coast  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee  (see  on  9.  l.i.  15, 16— i.e.  tho 
light  of  Christ's  ministry  in  those  parts  was 
a  glorious  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy.  17.  Sea 
on  ch.  3.  2.  18-22.  Observe,  this  was  not 
their  first  meeting  fsoe  J.  1.  40-42.)- but  now 
they  become  his  "followers."  19.  Fishers  of 
men  —  from  a  lower  to  a  higher  fishing,  as 
David  from  a  lower  to  a  higher  feeding  (Ps. 
78.  70-72.].  22.  (cf.  L.  19.5. 6.)  24.  N.B.  Demon- 
iacal vossessions  are  here  distinguished  from 
ordinary  diseases,  healed  them  —  showing 
himself  the  Healing  Saviour.  25.  Decapolia 
—so  called  from  ten  cities  in.  that  district, 
mostly  E.  of  Jordan. 

CHAPTER  V. 
Sermon  on  the  Mount. 

Ver.  1-12.  The  Beatitude.s— or  sevenfold 
(i.  e.  complete)  blessedness  of  the  si.ibjects  of 
Messiah's  kingdom..  1.  Mount— see  on  L.  0. 
17.  Set— the  teaching  posture.  2.  Opened 
liis  mouth— a  solemn  way  of  introducing  any 
important  discourse.  3-12.  Obsen'e,  (1.)  the 
tenns  used  to  describe  the  character  of  the 
"blessed,"  are  expressly  fetched  from  the 
0.  T.,  to  show  that  the  new  kingdom  of  God 
was  but  the  old  in  a  new  form;  (2.)  they  are 
all  but  varied  forms  of  spiritttality  op 
mind  which  had  almost  disappeared  under 
the  corrupt  teaching  of  the  day.  3.  poor, 
&c.— (Ps.  132. 15,  etc.).  in  spirit— U'Tio  in  their 
inmost  spirit  feel  their  universal  need,  theirs 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven— theirs  are  the  true 
riches  they  feel  the  want  of;  partially  here  and 
fully  hereafter.  4.moum— the  same  class,  affec- 
ted tinder  a  sense  of  tins  their  poverty  (Isa.  61. 
1-3.).  comfort  —  sowing  in  tears,  they  shall 
reap  in  joy  (Ps.  126.  6;  Isa.  67. 15.);  partially 
here,  perfectly  hereafter.  6.  meek— (Zeph.  2. 
3,  etc.).  willing  to  take  wrong  (Eo.  12.  19;  1 
Pe.  2.  23.).  inherit  the  earth— they  are  the 
only  rightful  occupants  of  a  foot  of  it  now, 
and  heirs  of  aU  coming  things.    "  ■" 


&c,— at'/iose  deepest  cravings  are  after  spirit' 
ual  blessings  (Ps.  63, 1,  6,  ifcc.)  They'll  have 
their  fill  of   them;  in  part  now,  perfectly 

hereafter.    7.  Mercifid mercy.— ;Ps.  18,  25i. 

God  wili  not  disown  i/ie  imaue  of  HimsclJ 


Christ's  Herman 


MATTHEW,  VL 


on  the  mount. 


been  said  ?  by  them  of  old  time,  *  Thou  shalt 
not  forswear  thyself,  bnt  "'shalt  perform 
unto  the  Lord  thine  oaths: 

34  But  I  say  unto  you,  *  Swear  not  at  all: 
neither  by  heaven;  for  it  is /God's  throne: 

35  Nor  by  the  earth;  foritia  his  footstool: 
neither  by  Jerusalem;  for  it  is  the  city  of 
the  preat  Kin?. 

36  Neither  shalt  thou  swear  by  thy  head, 
because  thou  canst  not  make  one  hair 
white  or  black. 

37  But "  let  your  communication  be,  Yea, 
yea;  Nay,  nay:  for  whatsoever  is  more 
than  these  cometh  of  evil. 

o8  IT  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said, 
An  ''eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth: 

39  But  I  say  unto  you, « That  ye  resist  not 
evil;  ^'but  whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on 
thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also. 

40  And  if  any  man  will  sue  thee  at  the 
law,  and  take  away  thy  coat,  let  him  have 
Uiy  cloak  also. 

41  And  whosoever  *  shall  compel  thee  to 
go  a  mile,  go  with  him  twain. 

42  Give  to  him  that  asketh  thee,  and 
from  '  him  that  would  borrow  of  thee  turn 
not  thou  away. 

43  H  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said. 
Thou  "*  shalt  love  thy  neighbour,  "  and 
hat«  thine  enemy: 

44  But  I  say  unto  you,  "  Love  your  ene- 
mies, bless  them  that  curse  yon,  do  good 
to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  P  for  them 
which  despitefully  use  you,  and  persecute 
you; 

45  That  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven:  for  he  maketh 
his  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good, 
and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the 
unjust. 

46  For  '  if  ye  love  them  which  love  you, 
what  reward  have  ye  ?  do  not  even  the 
publicans  the  same? 

47  And  if  ye  salute  your  brethren  only, 
what  do  ye  more  than  otliers?  do  not  even 
the  publicans  so? 

48  Be  '■ye  therefore  perfect,  even  'as  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect. 

CHAPTER  VL 
1    Of  alms,   6  pi-ayer,   14  forgiveness.    19   Our 

treasure.    24  Of  God  and  mammon. 
fPAKE  heed  that  ye  do  not  your  i  alms 
■*■  before  men,  to  be  seen  of  them;  other- 
wise ye  have  no  reward  2  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven. 

2  Therefore,  "  when  thou  doest  thine 
alms,  3  do  not  sound  a  trumpet  before  thee, 
as  the  hypocrites  do  in  tne  synagogues 
and  in  the  streets,  that  they  may  have 

glory  of  men.   Verily  I  say  unto  you.  They 
ave  their  reward. 

3  But  when  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy 
left  hand  know  what  thy  right  hand  doeth ; 

4  That  thine  alms  may  be  in  secret:  and 
thy  Father  wliich  seeth  in  secret  himself 
shall  reward  thee  openly. 

5  TI  And  when  thou  prayest,  thou  shalt 
not  be  as  the  hypocrites  are:  for  they  love 
to  pray  standing  in  the  synagogues  and  in 
the  cornei-s  of  the  streets,  that  they  may 
be  seen  of  men.  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
They  have  their  reward. 

But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  »  enter 
into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut 
thy  door,  prav  to  thy  Father  which  is  in 
Becret;  and  thy  Father  "which  Beeth  in 
»ecret  shall  reward  thee  openly. 
6 


CHAP.  6. 

7  to  the 

ancicDta. 
e  Lev.  ID.  12. 

Num.3<.).2. 
d  Dcu.  23.23. 
e  Jam.  5.  12. 
/  IsB.  66.  1. 
y  Col.  4.  6. 
A  Lev.  24.20. 
i  Pro.  2(1.  22. 

Rom.12.17. 

1  Cor.  6.  7. 

1  Then.  6. 

15. 

1  Pot.  3.  9. 
j  Isa.  60.  6. 
k  filarklo  21. 
I  Deut.  15.8. 
'nLcv.19.18. 
n  Deut.  23.6. 
"Pro.  25  21. 

Kom.12.14. 
P  I.uke23  34. 

Acta  7.  CO. 

1  Cor  .4.12. 

1  Pet.2.23. 
q  Luke  6.  32. 
J-Gen.  17.1. 

Lev.  19.  2. 

Col.  1.  28. 

1  Pet.1.15. 
«  E(.h.  6. 1. 


CHAP.  0. 

1  Or,  righte- 

2  Cor.  9.9. 

2  Or,  with. 

0  Kom.  12.8. 

3  Or,  cause 
not  a 
trumpet 
to  be 
Bounded. 

1  Co.10.31. 
b  2  Kin.4.33. 
c  Jer.  17.  10. 
d  Eccl.  6.  2. 
e  1  Ki.  18.26. 
/  Ps.  139.  2. 
y  Luke  11.  2. 
ft  Isa.  6.  3. 

i  Pb.  103. 20. 
j  Job  23.  12. 

Pro.  30.  8. 
k  1  Co.lO  13. 

Jam.  1.13. 

2  Pet.  2.  9. 
Kev.  3.  10. 

1  John  17.15. 
m  Eph.  4.32. 

Col.  3.  13. 
"Jam.  2.  13. 
0  Isa.  68.  6. 
p  Prov.  K^.i. 

lTim.6.17. 

Hob.  13.  6. 

8  lTim.C.19! 

1  Pot.  1.4. 
'•Lukell.34. 
'  Eora.  1.21. 

2  Cor.  4. 4. 
(  Lukel6.13. 
«  Gal.  1.  10. 

lTim.C.17. 
Jam.  4.  4. 
lJohn2.15. 

4  Be  not 
anxiously 
careful. 
Pb.  55.  22. 
Phil.  4.  6. 
1  Pet.  6.  7. 

V  Job  38. 41. 
F<.  147.  9. 


7  But  when  ye  pray,  <*  use  not  vain  repel i- 
tions,  as  the  heathen  do:  *  for  they  tniiik 
that  they  shall  be  heard  for  their  much 
speaking. 

8  Be  not  ye  therefore  like  unto  them:  for 
your /Father  knoweth  what  things  ye  have 
need  of  before  ye  ask  him. 

9  After  this  manner  therefore  pray  ye: 
'' Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  '•Hal- 
lowed be  thy  name. 

10  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done 
in  earth,  »as  it  is  in  heaven. 

11  Give  us  this  day  our  /  daily  bread. 

12  And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive 
our  debtors. 

13  And  *lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but 
deliver  ius  from  e^•il:  For  thine  is  the 
kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  for 
ever.    Amen. 

14  For  "*  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses, 
your  heavenly  Father  will  also  forgive  you: 

15  But  "  if  ye  forgive  not  men  their  tres- 
passes, neither  will  your  Father  forgi\e 
your  trespasses. 

16  V  Moreover,  "  when  ye  fast,  be  not,  ae 
the  hypocrites,  of  a  sad  countenance:  for 
they  disfigure  their  faces,  that  they  may 
appear  unto  men  to  fast.  Verily  I  say  unto 
you.  They  have  their  reward. 

17  But  thou,  when  thou  fastest,  anoint 
thine  head,  and  wash  thy  face; 

18  That  thou  appear  not  unto  men  to  fast, 
but  unto  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret:  and 
thy  Father,  which  seeth  in  secret,  shaU  re- 
ward thee  openly. 

19  ^  Lay  p  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
upon  earth,  where  moth  and  rust  doth 
corrupt,  and  where  thieves  break  through 
and  steal: 

20  But « lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in 
heaven,  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth 
coiTupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not  break 
through  nor  steal: 

21  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will 
your  heart  be  also. 

22  The  ''light  of  the  body  is  the  eye:  if 
therefore  tliine  eye  be  single,  thy  whole 
body  shaU  be  fuU  of  light. 

23  But  if  thine  eye  be  evil,  thy  whole 
body  shall  be  full  of  darkness.  If  therefore 
the  light  that  is  in  thee  be  darkness,  *how 
great  is  that  darkness! 

24  No  *  man  can  sen'e  two  masters:  for 
either  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the 
other;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and 
despise  the  other.  "  Ye  cannot  serve  God 
and  mammon. 

25  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  *  Take  no 
thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat, 
or  what  ye  shall  drink;  nor  yet  for  yoiu- 
body,  what  ye  shall  put  on.  Is  not  the 
life  more  than  meat,  and  the  body  than 
raim<;nt? 

26  Behold  'the  fowls  of  the  air:  for  they 
sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather 
into  bams ;  yet  your  heavenly  Father 
feedeth  them.  Are  ye  not  much  better 
than  they? 

27  Which  of  you,  by  taking  thought,  can 
add  one  cubit  unto  his  stature? 

28  And  why  take  ye  thought  for  raiment? 
Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they 
glow:  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin: 

29  And  yet  1  say  imto  you.  That  even 
Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed 
like  one  of  these. 

30  Wherefore,  if  God  so  clothe  the  grass 
of  the  Held,  which  to-day  is,  and  to-m  jrrow 


■  CJi-nsVs  relation  to  the  Jaw. 

reflected  iii^the  merciful.  8.  Heart-purity  the 
only  capacity  for  the  viston  of  God.  9. 
peaceinalers.... children  of  God— (Fs.  34.  14.). 
Peace  mth  God  makes  peacemakers;  the 
children  then  reflecting  their  Father's  image. 
10-12.  Observe,  this  is  merely  a  supvlevieii- 
tary  beatitude,  to  warn  us  of  what  the 
other  seven  thivtjsvnM  bring  onus,  more  or 
less,  in  this  wicked  world.  Accordingly,  the 
promise  is  the  same  as  the  first  one.  12. 
So  persecuted  they  the  prophets— q.  d.  'They 
are  only  at  their  old  trade,  and  you  are  in 
good  coinpany.' 

13-16.  The  office  of  Christians  to- 
wards THE  WOULD.  Salt,  to  preserve  the 
earth  from  corruption  and  to  sweeten  it ; 
lig}it,  to  disperse  the  world's  darkness— the 
oiie  their  more  inward,  the  other  their 
more  outward  influence.  "Wanting  these 
properties,  our  Christianity  is  worthless,  and 
justly  doomed.  We  must  neither  hide  nor 
varade  our  light,  but  so  shine  by  good 
works,  as  to  commend  our  Father  (Ph.  2. 15. 
10.). 

17-48.  Christ's  relation  to  the  Latv. 
—17.  law  or  prophets— the  O.  T.  authority  and 
princii>les  (L.  16.  16 ;  A.  13.  15.).  not  to  de- 
stroy but  to  fulfil— not  to  subvert,  but  estab- 
lish, unfold,  embody  in  living  form,  and 
enshrine  them  in  the  reverence,  affection, 
and  character  of  men,  did  C.  come.  18.  till 
heaven,  &c.— in  other  words,  they  are  im- 
perishable principles.  19.  whosoever,  &c.— 
q.  d.  Men  will  be  treated  on  the  same  prin- 
ciple, with  honour  or  contempt,  as  they 
treat  the  law,  in  its  least  requirements. 
20.  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  <fcc.— See  Table  of 
iSects.  exceed— be  of  different  and  higher 
qiialities.  21.  Tlie  subject  of  the  rest  of  this 
cnapter  is,  The  spirituality  of  the  law,  in 
opposition  to  traditional  expositions  of  it. 

22.  '  Ye  have  been  taught  that  the  6th  com- 
mandment is  broken  only  by  murder;  but 
I  tell  you.  It  is  broken  even  by  causeless  anger. 
Judgment ...  council. . . .  hell-fire— by  allusion 
to  Jewish  courts,  three  degrees  of  divine 
condemnation  are  here  expressed,  all  of  them 
spirittud,  and  all  fatal.  Eaca^— 'Empty.'  fool 
—not  the  words  so  much,  as  the  fcelin 
expressed   by   them,    is    here  condemned. 

23,  24.  bring  gift  to  altar— this  is  just  Jewish 
language  for  any  act  of  tvorship.  Aught 
against  thee— just  cause  of  complaint.  Leave, 
etc— q.  d.  '  2Tiy  offering  will  not  be  accepted 
i  ill  th  ou  hast  removed  the  ground  of  complaint. ' 
(cf.  Ps.  66.  18.),  "If  I  regard  iniquity  in  m' 
heart  the  Lord  wiU  not  hear  me."  25, 26 
As  when  we  have  made  one  our  just  'adver- 
sary,' it  is  wisdom  to  make  up  the  matter 
ere  he  drag  us  to  law,  and  even  at  the 
lest  moment,  on  the  way  to  court,  so  should 
we  act  tou-ards  an  offended  Gocl,  ere  it  be 
too  late.  27,  28,  '  Ye  have  been  taught  to 
believe  that  the  seventh  commandment  for- 
bids only  the  criminal  act-  but  I  tell  you  it  is 
broken  by  an  impure  looh.'  29,  30.  Occas- 
ions of  sin,  at  whatever  cost,  are  to  be  sacri- 
ficed, on  pain  of  'heUfire.'  Such  language 
from  lips  so  gentle,  bespeaks  aicfid  danger. 
31,  32.  Divorce  on  frivolous  pretexts,  loosen- 
ing the  bonds  of  morality,  is  here  con- 
demned; and  breach  of  the  conjugal  tie 
pronoimced  the  only  justification  of  divorce, 
(Tlie  Jews  of  the  present  day  allow  and  prac- 
tise divorce  for  the  most  trifling  reasons). 
33-36,  While  oaths  on  solemn  occasions  are 
lawful,  in  common  intercourse  theyarepro- 

Q 


MATTHEW,  VI.      Sermon  on  the  mount  continued. 


fane :_  every  oath  carries  an  appeal  to  God, 

kVhatever  go( 
beyond  yes  and  no  comes  of  that  'evil'  which 


whether  named  or  not.    37.  Wnatever  goes 


begets  and  siispects  falsehood  (cf.  Ja.  5.  12.). 
38.  39.  Private  revenge,  under  colour  of 
punishment  by  the  magistrate,  is  here  con- 
demned (see  1  Pe.  2.  23.),  and  long-suffering, 
obliging  love  enjoined.  43.  love  thy  neigh- 
bour—this  is  the  law:  hate  thine  enemy— this  is 
the  perverse  inference  from  it.  44.  Never 
was  this  precept  so  divinely  exemplified  as 
in  Christ  himself.  46,  47.  publicans— q.  d. 
'Tlie  worst  of  men  will  do  that  much.' 
What  do  ye  more?— To  be  'neighbour -like'  is 
the  world's  standard,  but  to  be  'God-like' 
the  Christian's.  48.  See  Col.  3.  14 ;  1  Jo.  4. 
16. 

CHAPTEE  VI. 

Sermon  on  the    Mount  Conttntjed, 

Ver.  1-18.  Against  ostentation  in  good 

WORKS  — A3  almsgiving,  PRAYER,  FAST- 
ING.—FrOm  actions  the  discourse  now  passes 
to  motives.  1.  to  be  seen . .  otherwise  no  reward 
of  your  Father— God  accepts  only  what  is  done 
to  Himself.    2.  sound  a  tnunpet— make  a  dis- 

Elay  of.  have  their  reward— what  they  seek, 
uman  applause.  3.— '  Dwell  not  on  it  even 
in  thine  mind',  it  will  nourish  self-right- 
eousness. 7.  vain  repetitions  . . .  much  speak- 
ing—Praying much,  and  using  at  times  the 
same  words,  is  not  "WTong:  for  our  Lord 
himself  did  it:  only  vain  repetitions  and  un- 
meaning length  are  here  condemned.  In 
this  the  Eomanists  are  little  better  than 
'the  heathen.'  9.  after  this  manner— lit. 'thus:' 
cf.  L.  11.  2.  "When  ye  pray,  say,"  showing 
that  both  as  a  model  and  as  a  form  this 
matchless  prayer  is  prescribed.  Father— It 
is  the  peculiar  privilege  of  N.  T.  believers 
so  to  speak  to  God,  though  we  have  glimpses 
of  it  in  the  O.  T.  (Isa.  63.  16;  Jer.  3.  4,  etc. 
See  Ex.  4, 22. 23.).  name— Himself  as  revealed. 
12.  debts.  As  the  debtor  in  the  creditor's 
hands,  so  is  the  sinner  in  the  hands  of 
God.  13.  lead  into  temptation— so  into  temp- 
tation as  to  fall  in  with  it.  14,  15.  God 
sees  with  complacency  his  ovm  image  re- 
flected in  his  forgiving  children;  but  to  ask 
(iod  for  what  we  ourselves  refuse  to  men, 
i.^  to  insult  him.  See  on  ch.  5,  7,  &  especially 
ch.  18. 32-35.  anoint .  - .  wash— i.  e.  'appear  as 
usual.' 

19-34.    DEVOTEDNESS  TO  AND  CONFIDENCE 

IN  God. —  19.  lay  up— hoard,  moth  and 
rnst  corrupt— in  other  words,  they  are  per- 
i-h able.  Thieves, . . .  steal— in  other  words, 
tliey  are  precarious,  cf.  Col.  3.  2.  22,  23. 
V\  hen  the  mind's  eye  is  directed  sing- 
ly to  God,  the  whole  character  is  consistent 
and  bright ;  but  a  heart  divided  between  earth 
and  heaven  is  all  dark,  and  darker  still 
by  abuse  of  light.  24.  mammon— a  foreign 
word  signifying  'riches.'  25.  take  thought— 
'  cankering  care '  (Ph.  4.  6.).  If  God  gives  life, 
will  he  withhold  the  less  precious  food  to 
nourish  it  — or  the  body,  and  not  also  its 
covering?  26,  28,  30.  As  you  are  nobler, 
so  dearer  to  God  than  the  whole  animal  and 
vegetable  creation,  so  richly  fedand  gorgeous- 
ly clad,  grass— wild  flowers  cut  withthegrass, 
w.ithering  by  the  heat,  and  used  for  fuel ;  Ja, 
1.  11.).  27.  cubit— a  cubit  to  one's  heightcau 
hardly  be  the  thing  meant.  But  if '  stature, 
here  mean  'age'  (as in  sonieother  places),  the 
sense  is,  'None  can  in  the  least  stretch  out 
his  own  life.'  32.  Gentiles  —  who  know  no 
Father,  as  ye  do.     first— fc^ore  and  abova 


Chrisfs  sermon  on  the  mount        MATTHEW,  VIT,  VIII. 


Christ  cle^nseth  a  leper. 


Is  cast  into  the  oven,  shaU,  he  not  much 
more  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 

SI  Therefore  take  no  thought,  saying, 
"What  shall  we  eat  ?  or,  What  shall  we 
drink?  or,  Wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed? 

32  (For  after  all  these  tilings  do  the  Gen- 
tiles seek:)  for  "'your  heavenly  Father 
knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things. 

.  33  But  ''seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  his  righteousness;  and  all  these  things 
ehall  be  added  unto  you. 

34  Take  therefore  no  5  thought  for  the 
morrow:  for  the  morrow  shall  take  thought 
for  the  thin.gs  of  itself.  Sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
1  Christ,  ending  Ms  sermon  on  the  mount,  reprov- 
eth  rash  judgment,  6  forbiddeth  to  east  holy 
things  to  dogs,  7  exhorteth  to  prayer,  13  to  enter 
in  at  the  strait  gate,  15  to  beware  of  false  pro- 
phets, 21  and  not  to  be  hearers  only,  but  doers 
of  the  tvord. 

JUDGE  »  not,  that  ye  be  not  judged. 
**  2  For  with  what  judgment  ye  judge,  ye 
Bhall  be  judged:  *  and  with  what  measure 
ye  mete,  it   shall  be  measm:ed  to   you 
again. 

3  And  "  why  beholdest  thou  the  mote  that 
is  in  thy  brother's  eye,  but  considerest  not 
the  beam  that  is  in  thme  own  eye? 

4  Or  how  wilt  thou  say  to  thy  brother.  Let 
me  pull  out  the  mote  out  of  thine  eye;  and, 
bthold,  a  beam  is  in  thine  own  eye? 

5  Thou  hypocrite,  first  cast  out  the  beam 
out  of  thine  own  eye ;  and  then  shalt  thou 
see  clearly  to  cast  out  the  mote  out  of  thy 
brother's  eye. 

6  IF  Give  <^  not  that  which  is  holy  unto  the 
dogs,  neither  cast  ye  your  pearls  before 
swine,  lest  they  trample  them  under  their 
tieet,  and  turn  again  and  rend  you. 

7  IT  Ask,  'and  it  shall  be  given  you;  seek, 
Rnd  ye  shall  find;  knock,  and  it  shall  be 
opened  unto  you: 

8  For  /every  one  that  asketh  receiveth; 
and  he  that  seeketh  fiiideth;  and  to  him 
that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened. 

9  Or  what  man  is  there  of  you,  whom  if 
his  son  ask  bread,  will  he  give  him  a  stone? 

10  Or  if  he  ask  a  fish,  will  he  give  him  a 
serpent? 

11  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to 
give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how 
much  "  more  shall  your  Father  which  is  in 
heaven  give  good  things  to  them  that  ask 
him! 

12  Therefore  all  things  ^  whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye 
even  so  to  them:  for  Hhis  is  the  Law  and 
the  Prophets. 

13  H  Enter  Jye  in  at  the  strait  gate:  *for 
wide  is  the  gate,  and  broad  is  the  way,  that 
Icadeth  to  destruction,  and  many  there  be 
which  go  in  thereat: 

14  1  Because  strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow 
is  the  way,  which  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few 
there  be  that  find  it. 

15  H  Beware  '  of  false  prophets,  *"  which 
come  to  you  in  sheep's  clothing,  but  in- 
wardly thcv  are  •*  ravening  wolvts. 

Id  Y  e  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits.  "  Do 
men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of 
thistles? 

17  Even  so  P  every  good  tree  bringeth  forth 
good  fruit;  but  a  corrupt  tree  bringeth 
forth  evil  fruit. 

lis  A  gvc'd  tree  cannot  biiiig  forth  e^il 
7 


A.  D. 

31. 

CHAP.  6. 
V  Phil.  4.19. 
riKin.3.13, 

Ps.  34.  9. 
Pa. 37. '25. 
Mar. 10.30. 
Lu.  12.31. 
Kom.  8  32. 
1  Tim.  4.8. 
anxioita 
tliought. 


CHAP.  7. 
a  Ram.  2. 1. 

Rom.  14  3. 

lCor.4.3,6. 

Jam.  4. 11. 
b  Mark  4. 24. 

Luke  6.38. 
e  Luke  G.  41. 
d  Pro.  9.7,8. 

Pro.  23  9. 

Act3l3.45. 
6  John  15.  7. 

Jam.  1.5,6. 

1  Johnij. 

22. 
/  Pro.  8.  17. 

Jer.  29.12. 
g  Isa.  49. 15. 

Rom.  8.32. 
ft  Luke  6. 31. 
i  Lev.  19. 18. 

Rom.  13. 8. 

Gal.  5.  14. 

1  Tim.  1.5. 
}  Luke  13.24. 
k  1  John  6. 

19. 
1  Or,  How. 
JDeut.13.3. 

Jer.  23.16. 

Ho.  16.  17. 

Eph.  6.  6. 

Col.  2.  8. 

2  Pet.  2. 1. 

1  John  4.1. 
m  Mic.  3.  6. 

2  Tim.  3.5. 
n  Ac.  20.29. 
0  Luke  6.43. 
p  Jer.  11. 19. 
q  Hos.  8.  2. 

Ac.  19.  13. 

Rom.  2.13. 

Jam.  1.  22. 
r   Num24.4. 

JohnU.51. 

1  Cor. 13.2. 
«  Ps.  5.  5. 

Ps.  6.  8. 

ch.  25.  41. 
t  Luke  6.  47, 
u  Acts  14.22 

2Tim.3.12. 
V  2Tim.2.19 

1  Pet.  1.6, 
tv  Heb.  10.31, 

2  Pet.  2.20, 
Z  ch.  13.  64. 

Mark  1.22. 
Mark  6.  2 
Luke  4  32 
y  Isa.  50.  4. 
John  7.  46. 


CHAP.  8. 

a  Mark  1.40. 

Luke  5.12. 
6  ch.  9  30. 

Jlark  6.43. 
c  Lev.  14.  3. 

Luke  5.14 
d  Luke  7.  1. 
e  Luke  15.19. 
/  Hs.  33.  9. 

l\.  lu?  liU. 


fiTiit,  neither  can  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth 
good  fruit. 

19  Every  tree  that  bringeth  not  forth 
good  fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the 
tire. 

20  Wherefore  bytheii-  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them. 

21  H  Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me, 
«  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven ;  but  he  that  doeth  the  wUl  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

22  iMany  will  say  to  me  in  that  day.  Lord, 
Lord,  have  we  *"  not  prophesied  in  thy 
name?  and  in  thy  name  have  cast  out 
denls?  and  in  thy  name  done  many  won- 
deiful  works? 

23  And  then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I 
never  ki.ew  you:  *  depart  from  me,  ye  that 
work  iniquity. 

24  U  Therefore,  *  whosoever  heareth  these 
sajings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them,  I  will 
liken  him  unto  a  wise  man,  which  buUt  his 
house  upon  a  rock: 

25  And  "  the  rain  descended,  and  the 
floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat 
upon  that  house;  and  "it  fell  not:  for  it 
was  founded  upon  a  rock. 

26  And  every  one  that  heareth  these  say- 
ings of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not,  shall  be 
likened  unto  a  foolish  man,  which  built  his 
house  upon  the  sand: 

27  And  the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods 
came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  upon 
that  house ;  and  it  fell :  ""  aud  gi'eat  was 
thefiiUofit. 

28  ^  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had 
ended  these  sayings,  *  the  people  were 
astonished  at  his  doctrine: 

29  For  J'  he  taught  them  as  one  having 
authority,  and  not  as  the  scribes. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
2  Christ  eleanteth  the  leper,  5  healeth  the  centu- 
rion's servant,  14  Peter's  mother-in-law,  16  and 
many  other  diseased;  18  showeth  how  he  is  to  be 
followed;  'ISstilkth  the  tempest  on  the  sea;  28 
healeth  two  men  possessed,  etc. 

WHEN   he  was  come  down  from  the 
mountain,  great  multitudes  followed 
him. 

2  And,  "  behold,  there  came  a  leper  and 
worshipped  him,  sayin.g.  Lord,  if  thou  wilt, 
thou  canst  make  me  clean. 

3  And  Jesus  put  forth  his  hand,  and 
touched  him,  saying,  I  will;  be  thou  clean. 
And  immediately  his  leprosy  was  cleansed. 

4  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  *  See  thou 
tell  no  man;  but  go  thy  way,  show  thyself 
to  the  priest,  and  offer  the  gift  that  "Moses 
commanded,  lor  a  testimony  mito  them. 

5  IT  And  <i  when  Jesus  was  entered  into 
Capernaum,  there  came  unto  him  a  cen- 
turion, beseeching  him, 

6  And  saying.  Lord,  my  servant  lieth  at 
home  sick  ot  the  palsy,  grievously  tor- 
mented. 

7  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  will  come 
and  heal  him. 

8  The  centurion  answered  and  said.  Lord, 
I  '  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldest 
come  under  my  roof:  but /speak  the  word 
only,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed. 

9  for  1  am  a  man  under  a\ithority,  ha^^ng 
soldiers  under  me:  and  1  say  to  this  man. 
Go,  and  he  goeth;  and  to  another.  Come, 
aud  he  cometh ;  and  to  my  seiTant,  Do  this, 
and  he  doeth  it.  ,   , 

10  When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  marvelled. 
Mid  said  to  them  that  followed.  Verily  1 


Ml^ceTlaneo'ds  cmnseJs. 


MATTHEW,  Vn.  vm.      Cenlwdon's  Sifvant  healed. 


all  else.  33.  kingdom  of  God— the  thing  to  be 
sought,  his  righteousness— the  character 
which  fits  for  it.  34.  take  no  thought  for  the 
jnorrow  —  Every  day  brings  its  ovm.  cares, 
and  to  anticipate  is  only  to  double  them. 
CHAPTER  vn. 
Ver.   1-12.    Miscellaneous    coixnsels. 

udgenot—i.e.rashly,  censoriously.  Untendcr 
judgment  of  others  vMljudkiallv  return  uvon 
ourselves.  3-5.  heholdest  thou  the  mote— 
spying  small  faults  in  others,  and  overlook- 
ing niuch  greater  in  ourselves.  He  only  tvlio 
is  severe  on  himself  is  .tit  to  he  a  reprover 
of  others.  6.  give  not  that  which  is  holy— 
But  neither  are  we  to  be  indiseriminate. 
swine  trample . . .  dogs  turn  and  xtiA— religion 
is  brought  into  conlempt,  and  its  professors 
insulted,  when  foreed  on  those  who  cannot 
1-alue  it.  7-10.  Prayer— suggested  by  the 
difficulty  of  the  duties  just  enjoined,  ask, 
seek,  knock  — a  climax,  stone  — to  smite, 
serpent— to  sting.  11.  If  ye  being  evil .  give- 
Bad  as  our  fallen  nature  is,  uxq  father  in  us 
is  not  extinguished.  Whet  a  heart  then 
•must  the  Father  of  all  fathers  have  tovMrd 
his  pleading  children!  12.  whatsoever  ye 
would  .".  do  ye  even  so  to  them—  Incomparable 
summary  of  aU  relative  duty,  law  ^id 
prophets— all  Scripture  in  a  nut-shell. 

ver.  13-29.  Conclusion  and  effect  of 
THE  Seejmon  on  THE  MouNT.— 13, 14.  strait 
is  the  gate  .  .  broad  is  the  way— Entrance  to 
"life"  difficult,  to  "destruction"  frightfully 
easy.  Few,  therefore,  frefiuent  the  one ; 
many  crowd  the  other.  15-20.  false  prophets 
—who  would  persuade  you  the  gate  is  not 
straight  in  sheep's  clothing  — as  if  of  the 
flock,  while  bent  only  on  devouring  it  for 
their  own  ends.  Fruits— whole  teaching  and 
walk.  Tlie  figure  of  a  tree  and  its  fruits 
Buggests,  in  the  19th  verse,  the  a\^■ful  end 
of  the  fruitless  — 'the  fire!'  21-23.  many 
will  say  to  me  on  that  day— Here  Jesus 
speaks  as  Judge  on  the  great  white  throne, 
Ivi  ot  professed  but  proved  subjection  to  the 
Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ— not  lip. 
but  life-service— will  avail  'in  that  day,' 
emphatically  unnamed,  have  we  not  pro- 
phesied—';publicly  taught.'  then  will  I  pro- 
fess—' I'll  tear  off  the  mask,'  &c.  I  never  knew 
you— our  acquaintance  was  not  brciken  off; 
thei-e  never  was  any.  ye  that  work— not 
'that  wroupht,'  for  they  are  summoned  fresh 
from  'working  iniquity"  to  his  judgment 
seat.  24-27.  rain- from  above;  floods— from 
beneath ;  winds— sweeping  c-cross— its  stabil- 
ity tried  aU  ways,  rock— firm  foundation, 
eubjcetion  to  Christ,  sand— loose  foundation, 
empty  profession.  Great  the  fall— Terrific  the 
ruin  of  such !  28,  29.  He  taught  them  as  one 
having  authority  —  The  Consciousness  of 
divine  authority,  as  Lawgiver,  Expounder, 
and  Judge  beamed  through  liis  teacliing :  no 
wonder  the  scribes' teachmg  appeared  drivel- 
ling in  such  a  liglit ! 

CHAPTER  VTH. 

Ver.  2-4.  Leper  healed.  2.  lejer— Luke 
says,  'full  of  leprosy,'  (L.  5.  12.).  Affecting 
emblem  of  siN.as  l.)  loathsome,  (2.)  spreading, 
(3.)  incurable.  Tlie  ceremonial  cleansing  of 
lepers  (see  Le.  13  &  14.\  held  forth  a  coming 
remedy,  worshipped  him— 'kneeling  down  to 
him,'  (INIk.  1.  40.1;  'fell  on  his  face,'  (L 
5  12.).  Lord,  if  thou  wilt— in  the  power  of 
Christ,  already  displayed,  he  had  entire 
faith;  of  his  willingness  to  put  it  forth  upon 
lum  lie  Lad  not  so  much  evidence.  3.  put 
J 


forth  his  hand  and  touched  liim— 'being  mov- 
ed with  compassion'  (Mk.  1.  41.),  and  dis- 
regarding the  ceremonial  defilement  by  that 
touch  {Le.  5.  3.);  for  He  who  could  cure  the 
malady  itself  was  above  such  laws.  I  wUl— 
maje.^tic  removal  of  the  man's  one  uncer- 
tainty !  Ee  thou  clean,  (tc.  —  cf.  Ps.  33. 
0 ;  Ge.  1.  3,  4.  see  thou  tell  no  man— see  on 
ch.  12.  19,  &  on  JMk.  1.  45.  shew  thyself  to  the 
priest— see  Le.  14.  2.  testimony— iu  behalf  of 
Christ. 

Ver.  5-13.  Centukion's  servant  heal- 
ed.—5.  centurion,  (see  Table)— a  gentile  pro- 
selyte, came— but  by  'elders  of  the  Jews*  (L. 
'7,3.].  not  in  person,  (out  of  deep  humility 
L.  7.  7.).  saying— sending  this  message.  6. 
my  servant— who  '  was  dear  vmto  him '  (L.  7. 
2.).  'He  is  unworthy  to  be  well-sei-ved  that 
will  not  sometimes  wait  upon  his  followers.' 
~-\Bp.  EalU  sick  of  the  palsy,  grievously 
tormented  — 'and  ready  to  die  {L.  7.  2; 
and  see  there  on  v.  4.  6.)  8.  answered— 
by  a  second  message.  Lord,  I  am  not 
worthy  — what  humility!  but  speak  the 
word  only— such  faith  was  quite  new.  9.  for 
I  am  a  man  under  authority,  etc.- q.  d.  'I 
know  both  to  obey  and  command:  tho' 
but  a  subaltern,  my  orders  are  implicitly 
obeyed:  Shall  not  diseases  then  obey  their 
Lord,  and  at  His  word  be  gone?'  10.  Jesus 
marvelled— ile  did  tliis  h^d  at  two  things- 
faith  and  unhelief  (Wk.  6,  6.).  no,  not  in  Israel 
—This  shows  he  was  a  Gentile,  out-stripping 
the  children  of  the  covenant.  11.  manv 
shall  come  from  the  east . . .  west— all  parts  o"f 
the  heathen  \io\\i\.  sit  down— 'recline,'  i.  e, 
as  .at  a  feast..  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob 
—the  fathers  of  the  covenant.  12.  children 
of  the  kingdom— bom  to  its  privileges,  but 
void  of  faith,  outer  darkness— '  the  darkness 
outside'  the  banqueting  house,  weeping— 
from  anguish,  gnashing  of  teeth— from  de- 
spair. 13.  as  thou  hast  believed  so,  &c.— Thia 
was  to  teach,  that  as  in  these  ?)0(7«i/ diseases, 
so  in  the  salvation  oi  the  soul,  all  hinges 
on  faith. 

V  er.  14  -  ly.    Peter's  mother  -  rw  -  law, 

AND    MANY   OTHERS,    HEALED.        14.  Peter's 

wife— see  on  1  Co.  9.  6.  15.  ministered  nut 
them— 'served;'  showing  how  complete  as 
Mell  as  immediate  was  the  cure.  When  the 
even  was  come— It  was  the  Salibath-day  (see 
]Mk.  1.  21,  29,  32),  and  they  waited  till  it  was 
over,  many  that  were  possessed  with  devils— 
The  fame  of  Clirists  miracles  brought 
crowds  with  all  kinds  or  maladies,  and  'all 
the  city  was  gathered  at  the  door'  (Mk.  l. 
S3.),  his  word— lit.  'a  word'  of  command- 
See  on  L.  4.  41.  17.  took  our  infirmities  ani 
bare  cur  sicknesses— .^Is  He  sin-hearing  'Matt, 
of  sorrows,  and  acquaiui  d  with  grief,'  Chriii 
was  touched  icith  the  feeling  of  every  mul  .  t 
and  pang  he  removed. 
Ver.  18-34.    Incidents  before  crossinq 

THE  LAKE.. TEMPEST  STILLED— TAVO  DEMO- 
NIACS HEALED.  18.  the  ether  side  —  Ea.^t 
side  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  19.  Jlaster,  I  will 
follow  thee— the  precipitate  disciple,  making 
an  unlimited,  but  rash  offer  of  service  to 
Christ,  q.  d.  'Wilt  thou?  kuowest  thou 
■!'-ftoHe  is,  and  xvhithcr  he  may  lead  thee? 
No  warm  home,  no  downy  pillow  has  He  for 
thee:  He  has  them  not  for  himself.  So 
"  count  the  cost." '  How  affecting !  (2  Co.  8. 
9.)  21.  Lord,  suffer  me  first— the  procrastinat' 
ing  or  evfavc/lcd  discijiie  — not  ofrerinc,  aa 
the  former.  Lut  adhd  not  onli^  lo  follow  but 


spo 
Hii 


Christ  slillcth  the  tempest. 

Fay  unto  you,  I  huve  not  found  so  great 
faith,  no,  not  in  Israel. 

11  And  I  say  unto  you,  That  ''many  shall 
come  from  the  east  and  west,  and  shall  sit 
do\TO  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob, in  the  kincrdom  of  heaven: 

12  Euf*  the  children  of  the  kingdom  <  shall 
be  cast  cut  into  outer  darkness:  there  shall 
be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 

13  And  Jesus  said  unto  the  centurion,  Go 
thy  way ;  and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  be 
it  done  unto  thee.  And  his  servant  was 
healed  in  the  self-same  hour. 

14  II  And  }  when  J  esus  was  come  into 
Peter's  house,  he  saw  *his  wife's  mother 
laid,  and  sick  of  a  fever. 

15  And  he  touched  her  hand,  and  the  fever 
left  her:  and  she  arose,  and  ministered 
unto  them. 

16  H  When  '  the  even  was  come,  they 
brought  unto  him  many  that  were  pos- 
sessed with  de\'ils:  and  he  cast  out  the 
spirits  with  his  word,  and  healed  all  that 
were  sick: 

17  That  it  might  be  ftdfilled  which  was 
ken   by  Esaias   the   prophet,    saying, 

imself  "took  our  infirmiUes,  and  bare 
our  sicknesses. 

18  11  Now  when  Jesus  saw  great  multi- 
tudes about  him,  he  gave  commandment 
to  depart  unto  the  other  side. 

19  And  "  a  certain  scribe  came,  and  said 
unto  him.  Master,  I  will  follow  thee  whith- 
ersoever thou  goest. 

20  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  The  foxes 
have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have 
nests;  but "  the  Sou  of  man  hath  not  where 
to  lay  his  head. 

21  And  P  another  of  his  disciples  said  unto 
him.  Lord,  «  sulTer  me  fu-st  to  go  and  bury 
my  father. 

22  But  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Follow  me; 
and  let  •■  the  dead  bury  their  dead. 

23  K  And  when  he  was  entered  into  a 
ship,  his  disciples  followed  him. 

24  And,  *  behold,  there  arose  a  great  tem- 
pest in  the  sea,  insomuch  that  the  ship 
was  covered  with  the  waves :  but  he  was 
asleep. 

25  And  his  disciples  came  to  him,  and 
awoke  him,  saying.  Lord,  save  us :  we 
perish. 

26  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Why  *  are  ye 
fearful,  O  ye  of  little  faith?  llien  «*  he 
arose,  and  rebuked  the  winds  and  the  sea; 
and  there  was  a  great  calm. 

27  But  the  men  marvelled,  saying,  What 
manner  of  man  is  this,  that  even  the  winds 
and  the  sea  obey  him ! 

28  IT  And  "  when  he  was  come  to  the  other 
side,  into  the  country  of  the  Gergesenes, 
there  met  him  two  possessed  with  devils, 
coming  out  of  the  tombs,  exceeaing  fierce, 
60  that  no  man  might  pass  by  that  way. 

29  And,  behold,  they  cried  out,  saying. 
What  *"  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  God?  art  thou  come  hither  to 
torment  us  before  the  time? 

30  And  there  was  a  good  way  off  from 
them  an  herd  of  many  *  swine  feeding. 

31  So  the  devils  "  besought  him,  sajing.  If 
thou  cast  us  out,  sutler  us  to  go  away  mto 
the  herd  of  swine. 

32  And  he  8;iid  unto  them,  Go.  And  when 
they  were  come  out,  they  went  into  the 
herd  of  swine:  and,  behold,  the  whole  herd 
of  swine  ran  violently  down  a  steep  place 
iiito  the  6f.a,  and  perished  in  the  waters. 


MATTHEW,  IX. 


The  call  of  Matihew, 


CHAP.  8 
'  Gen.  12. 


Isa. 


2,3. 


Isa.  11.10. 

Mai.  1.  11. 

Lu.  13.29. 

ActslO.45. 

ActsU.lg. 

Actal4.27. 

Rom.  15.9. 

Eph.  3.  6. 
ft  ch.  21.  43. 
i  ch.  13.  42. 

ch.  22.  13. 

ch.  24.  51. 

ch.  25.  30. 

Lu.  13.28. 

2  Pet.2.17. 

Jude  13. 
;•  Mark  1.  29. 

Luke  4.38. 
k  1  Cor.  9. 5 
J  Mark  1.32. 

Luke  4.  40. 
m  Isa.  53.  4. 

1  Pet.2.24. 
n  Luke  9. 67. 
0  Pa.  22.  6. 
P  Luke  9.  59. 
q  1  Ki. 19.20. 
r  £ph.  2.  1. 
8  Mark  4.  37. 

Luke  8.23. 
t  PhU.  4.  6. 
u  Pb.  65.  7. 

Ps.  89.  9. 

Pa.  107.29. 

Nah.  1.  4. 
"  SUrk  5.  1. 
w  2  Pet.  2.4. 
*  Deut.l4  8. 
y  Phil.  2. 10. 
»  Deu.  5.  25. 

1  Ki.l7.l8. 

Luke  5.  8. 

Ac.  16.  39. 


CHAP.  9. 

«  ch.  4.  13. 

b  Mark  2.  3. 

Luke  5.  8. 


Mar.12.16. 

Luke  6.  bT 

Luke  9.47. 

Lukell.l7. 
/  Acts  5,  31. 
?  Mark  2. 14. 

Luke  5.  27. 
h  JIark  2.15. 

Luke  5  29. 
i  Luke  5.  ao. 

Luke  16,2. 
i  Gal.  2.  15. 
k  Pro.  21.  3. 

Hos.  6.  6. 

Mic.  6.  8. 

cb  12.  7. 
I  lTim.1.16. 
m,  M»rk2.18. 

Luke  6.3:5. 

Lukel8.12. 
n  John  3.  29. 

0  Acts  13.  2. 

Act»14.23. 
1  Cor.  7. 5. 

1  Or,  raw, 

cloth, 
p  Mark  5.22. 
Luko  8.41. 


33  And  they  that  kept  them  fled,  and  went 
their  ways  into  the  city,  and  told  every 
thuig,  and  what  was  befallen  to  the  pos- 
sessed of  the  de\ils. 

34  And,  behold,  the  whole  city  came  out 
to  meet  Jesus:  and  when  they  saw  him, 
they  *  besought  him  that  he  would  depart 
out  of  their  coasts. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
1  Chrift  eureth  the  palsy,  9  ealUth  Matthew,  10 
justijieth  himself  for  eating  with  publicans  and 
sinners:  2U  he  healeth  the  bloody  issue  ;  'ZSraiielh 
to  life  the  ruler's  daughter;  '27  giveth  sight  to 
two  blind  men ,  etc. 

A  ND  he  entered  into  a  ship,  and  passed 
over,  "  and  came  into  his  own  city. 

2  And,  6  behold,  they  brought  to  him  a 
man  sick  of  the  palsy,  lying  on  a  bed: "  and 
J  esus,  seeing  their  faith,  said  unto  the  sick 
of  the  palsy.  Son,  be  of  good  cheer;  <*  thy 
sins  be  forgiven  thee. 

3  And,  behold,  certain  of  the  scribes  said 
within  themselves.  This  man  blasphemeth. 

4  And  Jesus,  '  knowing  their  thoughts, 
said,  Wherefore  think  ye  evil  in  your 
hearts? 

5  For  whether  is  easier  to  say,  TJiy  sins 
be  forgiven  thee;  or  to  say.  Arise,  and 
walk? 

6  But  that  ye  may  know  that  /the  Son  of 
man  hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins, 
(then  saith  he  to  the  sick  of  the  palsy,) 
Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  unto  thine 
house. 

7  And  he  arose,  and  departed  to  his  house. 

8  But  when  the  multitudes  saw  it,  they 
marvelled,  and  glorified  God,  which  had 
given  such  power  unto  men. 

9  H  And  "  as  Jesus  passed  forth  from 
thence,  he  saw  a  man,  named  Matthew, 
sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom:  and  he 
saith  unto  him,  Follow  me.  And  he  arose, 
and  followed  him. 

10  IT  And '» it  came  to  pass,  as  Jesus  sat  at 
meat  in  the  house,  behold,  many  publicans 
and  sinners  came  and  sat  down  with  hiiu 
and  his  disciples. 

11  And  when  the  Pharisees  saw  it,  they 
said  unto  his  disciples.  Why  eateth  your 
Master  with  » publicans  and  >  sinners? 

12  But  when  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said 
unto  them.  They  that  be  whole  need  not  a 
physician,  but  they  that  are  sick. 

13  But  go  ye  and  leam  what  that  meaneth, 
I  *  wiU  have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice:  for  I 
am  not  come  to  call  the  righteous,  'but 
sinners  to  repentance. 

14  IT  Then  came  to  him  the  disciples  of 
John,  sajing,  •"  Why  do  we  and  the  Phari- 
sees fast  oft,  but  thy  disciples  fast  not? 

15  And  J  esus  said  unto  them,  Can  "  the 
children  of  the  bride-chamber  mourn,  as 
long  as  the  bridegroom  is  with  them?  but 
the  days  will  come,  when  the  bridegi-oom 
shall  be  taken  from  them,  and  *  then  shall 
they  fast. 

16  No  man  putteth  a  piece  of  i  new  cloth 
unto  an  old  garment;  for  that  which  is  put 
in  to  fill  it  up  tidceth  from  the  garment,  and 
the  rent  is  made  worse. 

17  Neither  do  men  put  new  wine  into  old 
bottles;  else  the  bottles  break,  and  the 
wine  runneth  out,  and  the  bottles  perish: 
but  they  put  new  wine  into  new  bottles, 
and  both  are  preseiTed. 

18  H  While  y  he  spake  these  things  unto 
them,  behold,  there  came  a  certain  ruler, 
and  worshipped  him,  saying,  My  dau^htel 


Paralytic  healed. MAlUHiiiW.  IX. Blatthnifs  call. 

preach  (cf.  L.  9.  59,  60.);  yet  not  ready:  to  God  only.  4.  tWiik  ye— 'harbour ^~6,0' 
'Lord,  I  ^cill;  but  there  is  a  diflSculty  in  whether  is  it  easier  to  say,  drc— Is  it  easier  to 
the  way  just  now.'  22.  follow  me  —  Christ  command  away  disease  than  to  bid  away 
will  have  immediate  obedience,  the  dead— ,  sin?  if  then,  I  do  the  one,  Mhich  you  can  see 
spiritually,  their  dead— in  a  literal  sense,  know  thus  that  I  have  done  the  other  you 
q.  d.  '  There  are  times  when  even  filial  { cannot  see.'  the  Son  of  Man  hath  power  on 
duty  must  yield  to  higher— nature  to  grace  :  1  earth— that  forgiving  power  dwells  in  this 
your  dead  father  will  have  others  to  attend :  flesh  of  Man.  and  is  exercised  by  Him  while 
to  him,  who  are  dead  to  the  things  of  the  on  this  earth  with  you.'  take  up  thy  bed  and 
kingdom.'  For  another  such  case,  see  Luke  go  into  thine  house— Taking  up  the  portable 
9.  61.  62.  24.  there  was  a  great  tempest— see  on  ,  couch,  and  walking  home  with  it,  was  de- 
Mark,  4.  37.     the  ship  was  covered  with  the  '  signed  to  prove  the  completeness  of  the  cure. 

•they 
all  ap- 


iM-iiiii,  ».  o(.  wie  Biup  was  covereu  wiin  lae  signeu  to  prove  ine  completeness  01  tne  ( 
waves— rather,  'was  getting  covered.'  See  on  8.  such  powerto  men— At  forgiving  power 
Mark,  4.  37,  &  Luke,  8.  23.  He  was  asleep—  wondered  not,  but  that  a  Man,  to  al] 
'Twas  evening  (INlk.  4.  35.1,  and  after  the  pearance  like  one  of  themselves,  should 


ig  -        .        -         -    — - 

fatigues  of  a  busy  day,  having  nothing  to 
do  while  crossing,  he  sinks  into  sleep  (He. 
4. 15.),"  in  the  hinder  (stern)  part  of  the  ship, 
on  a  piUow,'  or  cushion  (Mk.  4.  38.).  25. 
Lord  save  us,  v/e  perish— imminent  must  have 
been  the  danger  to  alai-m  the  fishemien  of 
the  lake.  26.  0  ye  of  Uttle  faith— faif/t  they 
had,  for  they  applied  to  Clnist  for  relief; 
but  little,  for  they  were  afraid,  though  Christ 
was  in  the  ship.  Faith  dispels  fear,  but  in 
proportion  to  its  strength.  27.  See  on 
Mark,  4.  41.  28.  country  of  the  Gergesenes— 
'  Gadarenes,'  Mark,  5.  l,  &  Luke,  8.  26— the 
same  region.  South  East  of  the  lake,  coming 
out  of  the  tombs,  &c.— dweUing  in  no  house, 
but  in  the  gloomy  abode  of  the  dead 
<L.  8.  28.);  clothed  with  superhuman  strength, 
scorning  restraint,  and  the  terror  of  all ; 
yet  enduring  untold  misery,  which  sought 
relief  in  tears  and  self-inflicted  torture 
(Mk.  5.  3, 4,  &  L.  8.  27.).  29.  they  cried  out,  <S:c. 
—Mark  (5.  6.),  says  'Wlien  he  saw  Jesus  he 
ran  and  worsMvped  him  — inwardly  com- 
pelled, with  terrific  rapidity  before  the 
Judge  to  receive  sentence,  what  have  we 
to  do  with  thee,  &c.—q.  d.  *  Thou  and  we  have 
nothing  in  common:  we  want  not  Thee; 
what  wouldest  Thou  with  us?'  to  torment  us 
—Behold  the  tormentors  anticipating,  dread- 
ing and  entreating  exemption  from  tor- 
ment! before  the  time— In  Christ  they  behold 
their  destined  Tormentor ;  the  time,  they 
know,  is  fixed,  and  they  feel  as  if  it  were 
come  already !  f  Ja.  2.  19.).  31.  so  the  devils 
besought  him— Being  ordered  out  of  their 
victim  (Mk.  5.  8.),  they  ask  leave  to  enter 
victims  of  another  kind,  suffer  us,  &c.— that 
by  destroying  their  property  they  midit  steel 
them  against  Christ.  32.  Go  — Majestic 
brevity!  The  O'W'ners,  if  Jews,  drove  an 
illegal  trade  ;  if  heathens,  they  insulted  the 
national  religion:  In  either  case  the  per- 
mission was  just,  a  steep  place— 'the  hang- 
ing cliff.'  34.  they  besought  him  that  he 
would  depart— Tlie  evil  spirits  had  thus,  alas ! 
their  object.  Irritated,  the  people  could 
not  suffer  his  presence ;  yet,  awe-struck, 
they  dared  not  order  him  off— they  entreat 
him  to  withdraw,  and  he  takes  them  at  their 
word  1  (ch.  9. 1).  See  ch.  7.  6. 
CHAPTEEIX. 
Ver.  1-8.  Paralytic  Healed.  1.  His  own 
city— Capemaiim,  where  he  chiefly  dwelt 
after  entering  on  public  life  (ch.  4.  13,  and 
J.  2. 12.).  2.  For  further  details,  see  Mk.  2.  2- 
4,  and  Lk.  5. 17-19.  Jesus  seeing  their  faith— 
The  patient's  chiefly,but  probably  his  bearers' 
too.  'Twas  truly  a  blessed  deed,  this  bring- 
ing of  a  patient  to  the  great  Physician  (See 
J.  1. 42.).  thy  sins  be  forgiven— properly,  '  are 
forgiven'— an  authoritative  proclamation.  3. 
This  manbksphemeth— claiming  what  belongs 

a 


pearance  like  one  of  themselves,  should  pos- 

9-13.'  Matthew's  Call  and  Feast.  9. 
Matthew— called  Levi  by  Mark  and  Luke. 
Double  names  were  not  imcommon.  sitting 
at  the  receipt  of  custom— see  Mk.  2. 14.  Follow 
me,  (fee— Clirist's  sovereign  power  over  the 
wiU  was  gloriously  displayed  on  many  and 
different  occasions.  10.  Jesus  sat  at  meat,  <fec.— 
Matthew  omits,  from  hmiiihty,  to  tell  us  that 
it  was  "a  great  feast,"  and  made  bv  himself, 
in  his  own  house  (L.  6. 29.).  many  publicans  and 
sinners  came  and  sat  down  with  liim— doubtless 
invited  expressly  as  of  his  own  former  class, 
if  haply  they  might  experience  a  like  change 
(Ps.  61.13;L.22.32.).  12,13.  they  that  be  whole 
need  not  a  physician— '  Ye  deem  yourselves 
whole:  my  business  then  is  not  Mith  you: 
The  physician  is  for  the  sick;  so,  I  eat  vith 
publicans  and  sinners.'  AVhat  myriads  of 
broken  bearts  have  been  bound  up  by  these 
matchless  sayings!  I  will  have  mercy  and  not 
sacrifice— see  marg.  ref. ;  "  Sacrifice"  isput  for 
ceremonial  obedience;  "mercy"  for  the  higher 
moral  duties,  particularly  "  compassioii"  for 
them  that  are  out  of  the  ways;"  and  the  one 
class  of  duties  is  infinitely  preferable  to  the 
other. 

14-17.  Fasting.  14.  disciples  of  John— who 
seem  not  to  have  statedly  followed  Christ,  we 
and  the  Pharisees— They  were  intermediate  be- 
tween the  Pharisaic  life  and  that  of  Christ's 
disciples,  fast  oft.— twice  in  the  week,  (L.  18. 
12.),  besides  the  prescribed  seasons.  15.  chil- 
dren of  the  bridechamber— bridal  attendants, 
bridegroom- Glorious  title  to  take  to  Himself  I 
the  Old  Testament  is  full  of  this  conjugal  tie 
between  Jehovah  and  his  people,  but  the 
days  will  come  when  the  bridegroom  shall  be 
taken  from  them— tlelicate  and  aflecting  allu- 
sion to  coming  events,  and  the  conserjuent 
grief  of  his  disciples,  then  shall  they  fast— 
'In  my  presence  'twere  unseemly:  when 
bereft  of  Me,  they'll  have  time  enough  and 
cause  enough.  16, 17.  Other  examples  of  in- 
congruous things,  to  illustrate  the  foregoinpr. 
bottles— made  of  skins,  and  so  liable  to  bury 
in  the  supposed  case. 

18-26.  Jaikus'  Daughter  Eaised,  and 
Issue  of  Blood  Healed.  18.  ruler—"  of 
the  synagogue"  (L.  8.  41.),  of  which  class  but 
few  believed  in  Jesus,  Jolm,  7,  48.  worship- 
ped him— "fell  at  his  feet"  (Mk.  5.  22.).  my 
daughter— his  "one  only  daughter"  (L.8.42.). 
is  even  now  dead— "She  lay  at  the  point  of 
death"  (Mk.  5.  23);  but  ere  Jesus  arrived, 
word  came  that  she  was  "dead"  (Mk.  5.  35.). 
Matthew's  brief  account  gives  only  the  re- 
stdt.  but  come  lay  thy  hand  upon  her  and  she 
shall  liva— Strong  faith;  for  as  yet  it  had  1  leen 
done  but  in  one  case  (L.  7.  ll.  <fcc.).  20-22. 
See  on  Mark  5.  25-34.  23.  Minstrels  making 
a  noise.  &c.— lamenting  for  the  dead.    (Jer.  9. 


Clinsl  healtth  two  hlind  men. 


MATTHEW,  X. 


77c  c  >inm,L<;sMns  Jiig  aposdcf. 


is  even  uow  dead:  but  come  aiid  lay  thy 
hand  upon  her,  and  she  shall  live. 

19  And  Jesus  arose,  and  followed  him, 
and  so  did  his  disciples. 

20  f  And,  «  behold,  a  woman,  which  was 
diseased  with  an  issue  of  blood  twelve  yeais, 
came  beliind  him,  and  touched  the  hem  of 
his  garment: 

21  For  she  said  within  herself,  If  I  may 
but  touch  his  Erarment,  I  shall  be  whole. 

22  But  Jesus  turned  him  about-  and  when 
he  saw  her,  he  said,  l)aas;hter,  be  of  good 
comfort;  *"  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole. 
And  the  woman  was  made  whole  from  that 
hour. 

23  And  "  when  Jesus  came  into  the  ruler's 
house,  and  saw  '  the  minstrels  and  the 
people  making  a  noise, 

24  He  said  unto  them,  "Give  place;  for 
the  niaid  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.  And 
they  laughed  him  to  scorn. 

25  But  when  the  people  were  put  forth,  he 
went  m,  and  took  ner  by  the  hand,  and  the 
maid  arose. 

20  And  -  the  fame  hereof  went  abroad  into 
aJ!  that  land. 

27  H  And  when  Jesus  departed  thence, 
two  blind  men  followed  him,  crying,  and 
saying,  "  Thou  sou  of  David,  have  mercy 
on  us. 

28  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house, 
the  blind  men  came  to  him:  and  Jesits  saith 
unto  them.  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do 
this?  They  said  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord. 

29  Then  touched  he  their  eyes,  saying. 
According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you. 

30  And  *"  their  eyes  were  opened:  and 
Jesus  straitly  charged  them,  saying,  *  See 
that  no  man  know  it. 

31  But  J'  they,  when  they  were  departed, 
spread  abroad  his  fame  in  all  that  country. 

32  IT  As  *they  went  out,  behold,  they 
brought  to  him  a  dumb  man  possessed  with 
a  denl. 

33  And  when  the  devil  was  cast  out,  the 
dumb  spake:  and  the  multitudes  marvelled, 
Baying,  It  was  never  so  seen  in  Israel. 

31  But  the  Pharisees  said,  lie  casteth  out 
devils  through  the  prince  of  the  devils. 

35  %  And  "Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities 
and  villages,  teaching  in  their  synagogues, 
and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom, 
and  neaUug  every  sickness  and  every  dis- 
ease, among  the  people. 

36  But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes,  he 
was  moved  with  compassion  on  them,  be- 
cause they  3  fainted,  and  were  scattered 
abroad,  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd. 

37  Then  saith  lie  unto  his  disciples,  6The 
haiTest  truly  is  plenteous,  but  the  labomers 
are  few ; 

38  Pray  "ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest, that  he  will  send  forth  labom-ers  into 
his  harvest.  „ 

CHAPTER  X. 
1  Christ  aendeth  his  apostles  to  do  miraehs,  B  to 
pre<tch:  10  he  telteth  them  of  persecutions.  40 
Mlessitigs  to  those  who  receive  them. 
A  ND  "  when  he  had  called  unto  him  his 
■'^  twelve  disciples,  he  gave  them  power 
i  against  unclean  spnits,  to  cast  them  out, 
and  to  heal  nil  manner  of  sickness,  and  aU 
manner  of  disease. 

2  Now  the  names  of  the  twelve  apostles 
are  these;  The  first,  Simon,  *  who  is  caWed 
Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother;  James  the 
$on  of  Zebedee,  and  John  his  brother; 

3  PhiUp,  and  Baitholomew;  Thomas,  and 

H 


CHAP.  9. 

•7  -Mark  5.  2.^. 

Luko  8  43. 
••LukoTSO. 

Luke  8.48. 

Lukel7.19. 

Lukel8.42. 
»  Mark  5.  38. 

Luke  8.51. 
t  2  Chr.  35. 

2.5. 
«  Aets20.10. 

2  Or,  thii 

»  ch.  15.  22. 

ch.  20.  SX 

M.ir.in.47. 

Lu.  18.  38. 
w  Pa.  145.  8. 
X  Luke  5. 14. 
V  i^Iar.  7.  S6. 
»  Lu.  11.14. 
«  Mar.  6.  6. 

Lu.  13.  22. 

3  Or,  were 
tired  and 

b  Lu.  10.  2.' 
John  4.35. 

c  Ada  13  2. 
Acts20.28. 
1  Cor.  12. 


CHAP.  10. 
a  Mar.  3. 13. 
Mar.  6.  7. 
Lu.  6.  13. 
Lu.  9,  1. 

1  Or,  over. 
6. John  1.42. 

2  Or,  Judan. 
Judo  1. 

c  Acts  1.  13. 
d  Jolml3.26. 
e  2  Kin.  17. 

24. 

Jolui  4.  9, 

20. 
/Acts  13.46. 
9  Isa.  53.  6. 

Horn.  11.1. 

1  Pet.2  25. 
h  Luke  9.  2. 

3  Or,  Get. 


.9.7. 


iU.  ^2.  35. 
staff. 
i  Lu.  10.  7. 

1  Cor.  9.7. 

1  Tim.  5. 

18. 

Acts  13.51. 

Acts  18.  e. 
k  Eom  16.19. 

Eph.  5.  15. 
5  Or,  simple. 

1  Co.14.20. 
I  Acts  5.  40. 

Acts  12.1. 

Acts24.10. 

Ex.  4.  12. 

Jcr.  1.  7. 

0  2  Sam.23.2. 
Acts  4.  8. 
Acts  0. 10. 

P  Mic.  7.  6. 

1  Dan.  12.12. 
Gal.  6.  9. 
Acts  14.  6. 

G  Or,  end, 
or,  finish. 

«  ch.  16.  28. 
Acts  2.  1. 

7  B«eUt;bul. 


Matthew  the  publican;  James  the  son  of 
Alpheus,  and  Lebbeus,  whose  surname  was 
2'lhaddeus; 

4  Simon  '  the  Canaanite,  and  Judas  <*  Is- 
cariot,  who  also  betrayed  him. 

5  These  twelve  Jesus  sent  forth,  and  com- 
manded them,  sayuiff,  Go  not  into  the  flay 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  into  any  city  of  *  the 
Samaritans  enter  ye  not: 

G  But /go  rather  to  the  ''lost  sheep  of  the 
house  of  Israel. 

7  And  ''  as  ye  go,  preach,  saying.  The 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. 

8  Heal  the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise 
the  dead,  cast  out  devils:  freely  ye  have 
received,  freely  give. 

9  3  Pro\ide  neither  gold,  nor  silver,  nor 
brass  in  your  j'urses, 

10  Nor  scrip  for  your  journey,  neither  two 
coats,  neither  shoes,  nor  yet  *  staves ;  •  for 
the  workman  is  worthy  of  his  meat. 

11  And  into  whatsoever  city  or  to\vTi  ye 
shall  enter,  enquhe  who  in  it  is  worthy; 
and  there  abide  till  ye  go  thence. 

12  And  when  ye  come  into  an  house, 
salute  it. 

13  And  if  the  house  be  worthy,  let  your 
peace  come  upon  it:  but  if  it  be  not 
worthy,  let  your  peace  return  to  you. 

14  And  whosoever  shall  not  receive  you, 
nor  hear  yom-  words,  when  ye  depart  out 
of  that  house  or  city,  f  shake  off  the  dust  of 
your  feet. 

15  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  It  shall  be  more 
tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
monlia  in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for 
that  city. 

16  U  Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in 
the  midst  of  wolves:  «be  ye  therefore  wise 
as  serpents,  and  ^  hannless  as  doves. 

17  But  beware  of  men;  for  they  wiU  de- 
liver you  up  to  the  coimcils,  and  'they 
will  scourge  you  in  their  synagogues: 

18  And  *"  ye  shall  be  brought  before  gover- 
nors  and  kings  for  my  sake,  for  a  testimony 
against  them  and  the  Gentiles. 

19  But  when  they  deliver  you  up,  take  no 
thought  how  or  what  ye  shall  speak:  for  "  it 
shall  be  given  you  in  that  same  hour  what 
ye  shiill  speak. 

20  For  *'it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the 
Spirit  of  your  Father  which  speaketh  in 
you. 

21  And  P  the  brother  shall  deliver  up  the 
brother  to  death,  and  the  father  the  child: 
and  the  children  shall  rise  up  against  their 
parents,  and  cause  them  to  be  put  to  death. 

22  And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my 
name's  sake:  «  but  he  that  endureth  to  the 
end  shall  be  saved. 

23  But  '■  when  they  persecute  you  in  this 
city,  flee  ye  into  another:  for  verily  1  say 
unto  you.  Ye  shall  not  6  have  gone  over  the 
cities  of  Israel,  till  •  the  Son  of  man  be 
come. 

24  The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master, 
nor  the  servant  above  his  lord. 

25  It  is  enough  for  the  disciple  that  he  be 
as  his  master,  and  the  ser^'ant  as  his  lord. 
If  they  have  called  the  master  of  the  house 
7  Beelzebub,  how  much  more  shall  they 
call  them  of  liis  household? 

26  FeAr  them  not  therefore:  for  there  is 
nothing  covered,  that  shall  not  be  revealed ; 
and  hid,  that  shall  not  be  known. 

27  What  1  tell  you  in  darkness,  that  speak 
ye  in  light:  and  what  ye  hear  in  the  eai", 
that  preach  ye  upon  the  house-tops, 

2  U 


X>«m5  d/:moniae  healed. 


MATTHEW,  X. 


Mission  of  the  Apostles. 


20;  Am.  5.  16.)  24.  the  maid  is  not  dead,  but 
Bleepeth— so  brief  her  state  of  death  as  to 
be  more  like  a  short  sleep,  and  they  laughed 
him  to  scorn— an  important  testimony  this 
to  the  reality  of  her  death.  25.  See  on  Mark, 
6.  43,  &  Luke  8.  56.  (J.  11.  25.) 

27-34.  Two  Blind  Men,  and  a  Dumb 
Demoniac,  Healed.  27.  thou  Son  of  David.— 
By  this  august  title  they  owned  him  as 
Messiah  (see  12.  23.).  28-30.  the  blind  men 
came  to  him— Jesus,  to  try  their  faith  and 
perseverance,  makes  them  no  answer;  they 
follow  him  into  the  house ;  He  asks,  and 
receives  from  them  an  acknowledgment, 
touchingly  simple,  of  his  power  to  heal  them; 
immediately  it  is  done,  and  the  cure  is  ex- 
pressly linked  to  faith,  see  that  no  man 
Know  it— from  Mark  1.  45,  we  see  how  this 
*'  blazing  abroad"  of  Christ's  miracles  tended 
to  impede,  rather  than  advance  his  work. 

32.  A  dumb  man  possessed  with  a  devil— 
The  dumbness  was  caused  by  the  possession. 

33.  it  was  never  so  seen  in  Israel— referring 
not  to  this  case  only,  but  to  his  miracles  in 
general.    34.  See  on  ch.  12,  24,  &c. 

35  -  38.  Jesus,  Compassionating  the 
Multitudes,  asks  Pkayer  for  Help. 
36.  fainted— better  copies  read  "harassed;" 
refen-ing,  perhaps,  rather  to  their  wretched- 
ness, as  the  victims  of  Pharisaic  guidance, 
than  to  their  bodily  fatigue,  scattered  abroad 
— *  abandoned,'  '  unprotected,'  with  none  to 
care  for  their  souls,  yet  now  flocking  after 
and  hanging  on  Him.  lliis  spectacle  moved 
liis  heart.  37.  the  harvest  plenteous— His  eye 
doubtless  rested  on  the  Jewish  field  first, 
but  He  saw  this  widening  into  the  vast  field 
of  "the  world,"  (13.  38.  ,  to  be  all  gathered  in. 
labourers  few— even  for  the  narrower,  how 
much  more  for  the  wider  field  !  38.  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest— cf.  J.  15.  1.  My  Father 
is  the  Husbandman,  that  He  will  send,  (fee— 
The  Church,  in  its  missionary  character 
should  take  this  precious  saying  along  with 
ch.  28. 18-20;  the  one  as  the  directory  of  its 
devotional,  the  other  of  its  active  work,  as 
Christ's  instrument  for  evangelizing  the 
•world,  and  every  Christian  should  do  the 
same.  Ministers  of  Christ  are'.  God's  gifts  to 
a  perishing  world,  to  be  sought  by  prayer, 
offered  ttp  in  the  spirit  of  tlie  Saviour's  awn 
compassion. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Ver.  1-15.  IMissioN  of  the  ttvelve  Apos- 
tles. The  choice  of  the  apostles  had  taken 
place  before  this,  though  not  related  by  M. 
Hee  Luke,  6.  13;  this  is  the  sending  of  them, 
twelve— 'Hiis  number  was  fixed  on  with  an 
eye,  doubtless,  to  the  number  of  the  tribes 
of  Israel.  See  on  Luke,  10. 1.  &  Eev.  21. 12, 
14.  cast  out. . .  heal  all  manner  of  sickness— 
Tlius  it  will  be  seen  that  their  mission  was 
all  for  restoration  from  sin's  ravages,  notliing 
for  destruction.  2.  Apostles— i.  e.  persons 
*sent'  with  a  divine  commission,  first 
Simon— so  named  as  being  the  most  promi 
nent.  John— named  after  James  as  bein^ 
the  younger.  3.  Bai'tholomew- the  same,  it 
is  believed,  with  "  Nathanael  of  Cana  in 
<;alilee,"  because  (1.)  Bartholomew  (that  is, 
'  son  of  Ptolemy")  is  not  so  properly  a  name 
as  a  family  surname;  (2.)  he  follows,  in  this 
list,  as  also  in  Mark's  and  Luke's,  the  name  of 
"  Philip,"  who  was  the  instrument  of  biing- 

ing"Nathanael"  firstto  Jesus,  See  Jolm  1,45.  _,  -  ,.-    - 

<3. )  Wlien  our  Lord  appeared  at  the  sea  of  other  scarce  better  than  locakness:  combined, 
Tiberias  after  his  resurrection,  "Nathanael  even  the  wolves  gave  way  before  it,  in  the 

a 


of  Cana  in  Galilee"  is  mentioned  along  with 
six  others,  all  apostles,  as  being  present 
(J.  21. 2.).  Matthew  the  publican— In  none  of 
the  lists  is  this  apostle  so  branded  but  in 
his  own,  as  if  he  would  have  all  to  know 
how  deep  a  debtor  he  was  to  hia  Lord. 
See  on  ch.  1.  3-6.  &:  cf.  1  Ti.  1.  12-16.  James 
of  Alphens— See  on  Mark  3. 18.  Lebbeus,  whose 
sxirname  was  Thaddeus— called  also  "Judas 
the  brother  of  James"  (Luke,  6. 16;  &  Acts, 
1.  13.).  4.  Simon  the  Canaanite— to  distin- 
guish him  from  Simon  Peter— perhaps  from 
a  word  signifying  "zealous,"  for  he  is  called 
also  "Simon  Zelotes,"  or  "the  zealot."  Is- 
cariot— i.  e.  'of  Kerioth,'  a  town  of  Judah 
(Jos.  15.  25,)— so  called  to  distinguish  him. 
from  Judas,  brother  of  James  (Luke,  6.  16.)^ 
who  also  betrayed  him— Judas  is  not  only  put 
last  in  aU  the  lists,  as  Peter  is  in  all  put  first, 
but  he  is  branded  as  the  traitor  in  tlie  other 
lists  also,  as  if  he  had  become  an  abhorrence 
to  all  Cliristians ;  in  so  much  that  the  be- 
loved disciple,  in  recording  a  most  interest- 
ing question  put  by  Judas  to  his  Lord  at 
the  supper-table,  seems  anxious  to  explain 
that  it  was  "not  Iscariot"  that  he  meant 
(Jolin,  14.  22.).  5, 6.  these  twelve  Jesus  sent 
forth— "two  and  two"  (Mark.  6.  7.).  Go  not 
into  the  way  of  the  Gentiles— Until  Christ's 
death,  which  broke  down  the  middle  waU 
of  partition  (Eph.  2. 14.),  the  Gospel  commis- 
sionwas  to  Jews  only,  who  tho'  the.visible  peo- 
ple of  God,  were  j'et  "lost  sheep,"  needing 
a  Saviour  even  as  others.  Samaritans— see 
Table.  7.  preach,  saying,  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven is  at  hand— Tlie  burden  of  their  coimnis- 
sion  was  two-fold,  (1.)  A  call  to  "repent" 
(Mark.  6.  12.);  (2.)  An  encouragement  to  com- 
ply, "  because  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was 
at  hand."  See  on  ch.  3.  2.  8.  freely  ye  have 
received,  freely  give,  (fee- a  divine  saying, 
and  divinely  said;  "apples  of  gold  in  a  set- 
ting of  silver,"  (Pro.  25.  11.),  compare  with 
this  that  other  golden  saying  of  our  Lord  res- 
cued by  Paul,  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive"  (A.  20.  35.).  Who  can  esti- 
mate what  these  sayings  have  done  for  the 
world,  and  how  they  will  yet  ennoble  and 
transfigure  it!  10.  scrip— a  leathern  pouch 
for  victuals,  slung  over  the  shoulders,  two 
coats,  &c.— no  change  of  dress,  staves  — no 
more  than  their  usual  stafi".  for  the  workman 
is  worthy  of  his  meat,  <fec.  —Another  prover- 
bial saying,  which  is  now  the  great  law  of 
the  Christian  ministry.  (Ho.  15.  27;  1  Cor. 
9.  11;  Gal.  6.  6.).  13.  return  to  you— 'be  a.^ 
though  you  had  never  dropt  your  word  of 
peace  upon  it.'  worthy  .  .  .  not  worthy— i.  e. 
prepared  or  unprepared  to  recei  ve  you  and 
yoiir  message,  till  ye  go  thence— i.  e.  tiU 
ye  leave  the  place.  14.  shake  off  the  dust— 
'  the  guilt  of  rejecting  us  and  our  message  be 
on  yourselves;  we  shake  off  all  connectioa 
with  you  and  responsibility  for  you.'  15.. 
more  tolerable— Soaom  and  Gomorrlia,  cony 
sumed  for  their  loathsome  impurities,  shcdl 
be  treated  as  less  criminal  than  those  who, 
though  faidtless  in  morals,  shall  reject  tha 
Gospel-message,  and  affront  those  that  bear  it. 
16-42.  Christ  Forewarns  His  Apostles, 
and  comforts  them  in  persecution. 
16.  sheep  —  defenceless,  wolves  —  ready  to 
make  you  their  prey  iJ.  10,  12.).  wise  as  ser- 
pents, and  harmless  as  doves— remarkable  com- 
bination! alone,  the  one  is  mere  cunning,  tho 


5i8  And  'leur  not  them  which  kill  the 
body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul:  but 
rather  tear  him  which  i3  able  to  destroy 
both  soul  and  body  in  hell. 

29  Are  not  two  sparrows  sold  for  a  8  far- 
thing? and  one  ol  them  shall  not  fall  on 
ihe  groimd  without  vour  Father. 

30  But "  the  very  haii^  of  your  head  are  all 
numbered. 

31  Fear  ye  not  therefore,  ye  are  of  more 
value  than  many  soari  ows. 

S"J  Whosoever  *  therefore  shall  confess  me 
before  men,  ""  him  will  1  confess  also  before 
my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

33  But  '^whosoever  shall  deny  me  before 
men,  him  will  1  also  deny  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven. 

3i  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  send 
peace  on  earth:  I  came  not  to  send  peace, 
but  a  sword. 

35  For  I  am  come  to  set  a  man  at  vari- 
ance ^against  his  father,  and  the  daughter 
against  her  motlier,  and  the  daughter-in- 
law  against  her  mother-in-law. 

36  And  a  man's  loes  shall  he  they  of  his 
own  household. 

37  lie  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more 
than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me ;  and  he  that 
loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me,  is 
not  worthy  of  me. 

38  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross,  and 
foUoweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me. 

391Ienhat  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it: 
and  he  that  loseth  his  life  for  mysake  shall 
find  it. 

40  He  that  receiveth  you,  receiveth  me; 
and  he  that  receiveth  me,  receiveth  him 
that  sent  me. 

41  He  "  that  receiveth  a  prophet  in  the 
name  of  a  prophet  shall  receive  a  prophet's 
reward;  and  he  that  receiveth  a  righteous 
man  in  the  name  of  a  righteous  man  shall 
receive  a  righteous  man's  reward. 

42  And  *  whosoever  shall  give  to  drink 
unto  one  of  these  little  ones  a  cup  of  cold 
water  only  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  verily 

1  say  unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his 
reward. 

CIIAFTER  XI. 

2  John  sendeth  his  dtscipUs  to  Christ.  7  The  Utti- 
tnotii/  of  Christ  concerning  John.  20  Christ 
upbraideth  the  unthankj'utness  and  impenitence 
cf  Chorazin,  Jietusaida,  and  Capernaum:  *8 
Gracious  offer  of  rest  to  the  penitent. 

A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesns  had 
"^^  made  an  end  of  commanding  his  twelve 
disciples,  he  departed  thence,  to  teach  and 
to  preach  in  their  cities. 

2  If  A'ow  "  when  John  had  heard  *in  the 
prison  the  works  of  Christ,  he  sent  two  of 
his  disciples, 

3  And  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  "he  that 
should  come,  or  do  we  look  for  another? 

4  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Go 
and  show  John  again  those  things  which 
ye  do  hear  and  see: 

5  The  ''  blind  receive  their  sight,  and  the 
lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed,  and  the 
deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,  and 
the  *poor  have  the  Gospel  preached  to 
them. 

6  And  blessed  is  he,  whosoever  shall  not 
be/ort'ended  in  me. 

7  IT  And  »  as  they  departed,  Jesus  began  to 
Bay  luito  the  multitudes  concerning  John, 
What 'went  ye  out  into  the  wilderness  to 
iee?  A  reed  shaken  with  the  whid? 

B  liut  what  went  ye  out  lor  to  see?  A  man 
10 


MATTHEW,  XI. 


His  tcstiwcmx)  of  John. 


as  buing 
the  tenth 
part  of  tho 
Koman 

ch.  13.  28. 
Acts  27  34. 
Horn.  10. 9. 
'  Rev.  3.  5. 


<»lKi.l7  10. 

•1  Ki.  4.  8. 
b  ch.  25.  40. 

Ueb.  6.  10. 


CHAP.  11. 
«  Lu.  7.  18. 

6  ch.  14.  3. 
c  Gen.  4a.l0. 

Nu.  24.  17. 

Dan   9.24. 

Blal.  3.1-3. 

John  0.14. 
d  1 33.29.  18. 

l;a.  35.  4. 


/  lea  «.  14. 

ch.  13.  57. 

ch.  24.  10. 

cli.  20.  31. 

Rom.  9.32. 

1  Cor. 1.23. 

1  Cor.2.14. 

Gnl.  5.  11. 

1  ret.  2.  8. 
g  Lu.  7.  24. 
h  Lu.  1.  76. 
i  Mai.  3.  1. 

Mark  1.  2. 
j  Lu.  10.  10. 
1  Or,  is 

^tten  by 

the;  that 
thrust 


k  Mai.  4.  6. 

L  Mai.  4.  6. 

ch.  17.  12. 


Lu. 


.17. 


John  1.23. 
m  Key.  2.  7. 
n  Lu.  7  31. 
o  ch.  9  10. 
p  Phil.  2.15. 
q  Lu.  10.  13. 
r  Jonah  3.  8. 
«  Isa.  14.  13. 
t  Ps.  8.  2. 

1  Cor  1.27. 

2  Cor  3.14. 


L,,h.  1.21. 

John  1.18. 

Jol.n  U.  40. 

JohnlO.I5. 
'>  1  John  2.6. 
■  Zocli.  9.  9. 


clothed  in  soft  raiment?  Behold,  they  that 
wear  soft  clothing  are  in  kings'  houses. 

9  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A 
prophet?  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  /*  and  more 
than  a  prophet. 

10  For  this  is  he,  of  whom  it  is  written, 
*  Behold,  1  send  my  messenger  before  thy 
face,  which  shall  prepare  thy  way  before 
thee. 

11  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  Among  them 
that  are  bom  of  women  there  hath  not 
risen  a  greater  than  John  the  Baptist; 
notmthstanding  he  that  is  least  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  greater  than  he. 

12  And  i  from  the  days  of  John  the  Baptist 
until  now  the  kmgdom  of  heaven  i  suf- 
fereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by 
force. 

13  For  *  all  the  Prophets  and  the  Law 
prophesied  until  John. 

14  And  if  ye  will  receive  it,  this  is  <£lias, 
which  was  for  to  come. 

15  He  *"  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him 
hear. 

16  But  *  whereunto  shall  I  liken  this 
generation?  It  is  like  unto  children  sitting 
in  the  markets,  and  calling  imto  their 
fellows, 

17  And  saying,  "We  have  piped  unto  you, 
and  ye  have  not  danced;  we  have  momneu 
unto  you,  and  ye  have  not  lamented. 

18  For  John  came  neither  eating  nor 
drinking,  and  they  say.  He  hath  a  denl. 

19  The  Son  of  man  came  eatuig  and 
drinking,  and  they  say.  Behold  a  man 
gluttonous,  and  a  wine-bibber, "  a  friend  of 
publicans  and  sinners,  fiiut  Wisdom  is 
justilied  of  her  children. 

20  IT  Then  «  began  he  to  upbraid  the  cities 
wherein  most  of  his  mighty  woilis  were 
done,  because  they  repented  not: 

21  Woe  unto  thee,  Chorazin !  woe  unto 
thee,  Bethsaida!  for  if  the  mighty  works 
which  were  done  in  you  had  been  done  in 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  they  would  have  repented 
long  ago  *■  in  sackcloth  and  ashes. 

22  But  I  say  unto  you,  It  shall  be  more 
tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Sidon  at  the  day  of 
judgment,  than  for  you. 

23  And  thou,  Capernaum,  •  which  art 
exalted  unto  heaven,  shalt  be  brought 
down  to  hell :  for  if  the  mighty  works, 
which  have  been  done  in  thee,  had  been 
done  in  Sodom,  it  would  have  remained 
mitil  this  day. 

24  But  I  say  unto  you.  That  it  shall  be 
more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  in 
the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  thee. 

25  H  At  that  time  Jesus  answered  and 
said,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  ot 
heaven  and  earth,  because  '  thou  hast  hid 
these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent, 
and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes. 

26  Even  so.  Father;  for  so  it  seemed  good 
in  thy  sight. 

27  All  "  tilings  are  delivered  unto  me  of 
my  Father:  and  no  man  knoweth  the  Son, 
but  the  Father;  "  neither  knoweth  any 
man  the  Father,  save  the  Son,  and  lie  to 
whomsoever  the  Son  will  reveal  Idm. 

28  H  Come  unto  me,  all  we  that  labour 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest. 

29  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  ""  and  learn 
of  me;  for  1  ain  meek  and  *  lowly  in  heart: 
and  y  ye  shall  lind  rest  mito  jour  souls. 

30  For  '  my  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden 
is  light. 


The  Baptises  incssane. 


T.IA' 


*V.   XT.  XTI.      Ph.rl-ivr  cor:i  -r,ro  ^-  ,C^7  '-r-'r, . 


early  ages  ot  Christianity.  18.  for  a  testimony 
against  them— to  the  truth  and  its  glorious 
effects,  the  Gentiles— a  hint  that  the  mes.sage 
would  not  long  be  confined  to  tlie  lost  sheep 
ofthe  house  of  Israel  {v.  6.).  19.  take  no  thought 
—See  on  ch.  6.  25.  given  you— see  marg.  20. 
the  spirit  of  your  Father  which  speaketh  in  you 
—see  J.  15.  26.  27.  pointing  to  a  future  mis- 
sion after  Pentecost.  Jy.B.  Jesus  never 
says,  "our  Father,"  but  always  "mi/"  or 
"your  Father"  (see  on  J.  20.  17.).  21.  deli- 
ver up— perhaps,  by  gi\ing  official  ivform- 
ation  against  them.  23.  flee  ye  into  another— 
see  marg.  till  the  Son  of  Man  be  come— in  the 
establisliment  of  his  kingdom  on  the  ruins 
of  Jerusalem  and  the  old  economy.  25. 
Beelzelbub— see  on  ch.  12.  24.  26-33.  See 
on  L.  21.  2-9.  34-36.  I  come  not  to  send 
peace,  but  a  sword,  (tc— deadly  opposition 
between  light  and  darkness,  Christ  and 
Eelial,  penetrating  into  and  rending  asunder 
the  dearest  ties  Mi.  7.  5-7.;  cf.  Deu.  33.  9.). 
he  that  loveth  father  .  .  is  not  worthy  of  me— a 
claim  to  supreme  affection  which  Jesus 
could  not  have  made  without  blasphemy, 
if  only  a  creature.     39.  See  on    L.   9.   24. 

40.  he  that  receiveth  you  receiveth  me—'  your 
authority  is  mine,  as  mine  is  my  Father's.' 

41.  in  name  of  a  prophet— because  he  is  one, 
and  from  love  to  Christ  his  Master.  42. 
little  ones— little  thought  of  disciples. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Ver.  2-30.  The  Baptist's  JIessage,  the 
Beply,  xst)  Consequent  Discourse.  2. 
John  heard  in  the  prison— See  on  ch.  14.  3.,  etc. 
3.  Art  thou  He,  (tc— a  cjuestion  rather  of  im- 
patience than  of  unbelief.  Hearing  "of  the 
works  of  Christ "  from  his  disciples  {v.  2.  and 
L.  7.  18.),  he  wondered  he  was  allowed  to  lie 
in  prison,  and  hoped  to  draw  from  Christ 
some  hint  of  his  intentions.  4.  Shew  Jolin 
those  things  ye  hear  and  see— These  were  mir- 
acles wrought "  the  same  hour"  iL.  7.  21.  22.), 
and  words  of  grace  spoken  "  to  the  poor,"  [V. 
5.\  expressly  to  be  reported  to  John.  5,  6. 
The  blind  receive  their  sight—'  Let  these  con- 
vince him  that  "  my  hand  is  not  shortened 
that  it  cannot  save;"  but  blessed  is  he  who 
can  take  Me  in  a  prison,  and  is  not  stumbled 
if  perchance  he  be  called  to  die  for  Me.'  7. 
etc.  Not  a  ray  of  light  is  cast  on  his  prospects, 
nor  a  word  of  conmiendation  uttered  while 
his  tlisciples  are  present;  he  must  die  in  sim- 
ple faith,  and  as  a  martyr  to  his  fidelity.  But 
no  sooner  are  they  gone,  than  Je.sus  breaks 
forth  into  a  glorious  commendation  of  him. 
reed  shaken,  &c.— 'driven  about  by  every  wind, 
bearing  an  uncertain  testimony?  Such  was 
not  John.'  a  man  clothed,  &c.— 'a  self-indulg- 
ent, courtly  preacher?  Such  was  not  John.  9. 
more  than  a  prophet— a  straightforward  ut- 
terer  of  his  divine  message?  Then  he  is  that, 
and  more  than  that.'  10.  '  There  were  many 
prophets,  but  only  one  Forerunner,  and  this 
is  he.'  11.  a  greater  than  he— in  official  dignity, 
not  personal  character,  least  in  kingdom  of 
heaven— in  the  new  .Gospel  kingdom  which 
John  announced,  but  was  not  of.  See  on  v. 
13.  12.  suffereth  violence—'  is  pressed  into,'  or 
'entered  by  violence.'  the  violent,  etc.— eager 
multitudes  seize  on  it'  ;L.  16. 16.).  13.  John 
stood  midway  between  the  old  economy  (with 
its  "law  and  prophets,")  and  the  new;  above 
the  one,  below  the  other.  14.  If  ye  wiU  receive, 
&c.— '  He  is  the  only  Elias  promised  by  Mala- 
chi,  (4.  5.  6.),  if  ye  can  take  it  in'  (for  they  ex- 
pected the  Tishbite  in  person.)  16-19.  See  on 
10 


L.  7.  31-35.  20-^*.  Cliorazm,  iJeinsaioa,  c-autr- 
naum— on  the  borders  of  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
which  art  exalted— in  having  more  of  Christ's 
presence  and  ministry  than  all  others.  Tyre 
and  Sidon— North  of  Palestine,  on  the  Medi- 
terranean sea;  heathen  cities  ruined  by  com- 
mercial prosperity,  repented  long  ago— there- 
fore in  God  s  sight  less  criminal.  See  on  L. 
10.  12.  25. 1  thank  thee— lit.  '  I  assent  to  thee' 
— expressing  deep  acquiescence,  holy  satisfac- 
tion with  this  arrangement.  Father— the  first 
time  he  calls  God  oy  this  name  in  puhlic. 
Lord  of  heaven  and  eai-th— from  Whom  of  right 
spring  all  such  arrangements,  wise  and  pru- 
dent Father  (or  '  shrewd 'j-vrho  pride  them- 
selves on  their  intellectual  superiority,  babes 
—in  unassuming  docility.  26.  Even  so.  &g.— 
A  sublime  echo  of  the  foregoing,  as  if  he  had 
paused  to  reflect  on  it,  and  as  if  the  glory  of 
it,  in  the  light  of  God's  absolute  will,  had 
filled  his  soul.  27.  AU  things  are  dehvered— 
not  "revealed,"  for  He  is  Himself  the  Ee- 
vealer— but  made  over,  i.  e.  the  whole  ad- 
ministration of  the  economy  of  grace,  as 
Mediator  J.  3. 35.).  knoweth,  <kc.— Tlie  Father 
and  the  Son  are  perfectly  known  to  each 
other  alone.  A  higher  claim  to  equality 
with  the  Father  cannot  be  conceived,  will 
reveal— or  'wills  to  reveal'  (cf.  J.  1. 18.).  28. 
come  unto  me  all— Incomparable,  ravisliing 
words!  as  if  expressly  to  prevent  discourage- 
ment, from  V.  27.  labour  .  .  .  heavy  laden- 
misery,  both  on  its  active  side  ('  toiling,',  and 
on  its  passive  side  ('burdened.')  rest— to  the 
soul,  making  all  yokes  easy,  all  burdens  light. 
29.  my  yoke— subjection  to  Me.  I  am  meek,  &c. 
— Chi-i.st's  sublime  willingness  to  empty  him- 
self at  his  Father's  bidding  was  the  spring  of 
ineffable  repose  to  his  own  spirit;  and  in 
this  track  he  invites  all  to  follow  him.  £0. 
For  my  yoke  is  easy,  <irc.— Matchless  paradox] 
CHAPTER  XII. 

Ver.  1-8.  Plucking  Corn  Eaks  on  Sab- 
bath. 1.  Began  to  pluck  ears— Tlie  act  was 
expressly  allowed  (Deu.  23.  25.).  2.  not  lawful 
on  Sabbath  day— as  "servile  work"  it  was 
judged  wrong  on  that  holy  day.  Jesus  de- 
fends it  on  the  plea  of  necessity.  Tlie  little 
family  must  therefore  have  been,  at  that  as 
at  some  other  times,  short  of  provisions!  '2 
Co.  8.  9.)  3,  4.  See  on  L.  6.  3,  4.  5.  profene 
Sabbath  and  are  blameless— lor  the  lawrequired 
double  offerings  that  day  iNu.  28.  9.),  new- 
baked  shew-bread  (Le.  24.  5  9.,  and  1  Chr.  9. 
32.1,  and  circumcision,  when  the  eighth  day 
after  birth  fell  on  the  Sabbath  (J.  7.  22.).  6. 
q:  d.  '  Tlie  Sabbath  and  the  temple  have  in- 
nmnerable  times  to  give  way  to  what  is  high- 
er; but  a  Greater  than  aU  outward  sanctities 
is  here,  to  provide  for  whose  wants  Sabbath 
and  temple  alike  must  give  place.'  7.  If  ye 
had  known— «.  d.  'Had  ye  understood  the 
great  principle,  that  ceremonial  observances 
must  ever  yield  to  moral  duties '  (See  on  ch.  9, 
13.).    8.  See  on  L.  6.  5. 

Ver.  9-21.  Witheked  Hand  Healed,  and 
Eetirement  of  Jesus  to  Avoid  Danger. 
10.  his  hand— "his  right  hand"  (L.  6.  6.). 
withered— disabled  by  paralysis,  asked  him, 
(fee- Seeon  L.  6.  Y.  11,12.  Resistless  appeal. 
"  A  righteous  man  regardeth  the  life  of  his 
beast"  (Pr.  12.  10.),  and  would  instinctively 
rescue  it  from  death  on  the  Sabbath;  much 
more  his  nobler  fellow-man.  do  well— See  on 
L.  6.  9.  13.  Stretch  forth,  &:c.—qjower  to  obey 
vent  forth  vnth  the  icord  of  command.  (On 
this  principle  we  are  to  explain  the  seeming 


Christ  healeih  the  withered  hand.       MATTHEW,  XII. 


The  Pharisees  seek  a  sign. 


CHAPTEll  XII. 
1  Christ  rtproveth  the  hUndnus  of  the  Fharisett 
concerning  the  breach  of  the  sabbath  ;  9  he 
healeth  the  withered  hand,  etc. 
A  T  that  time  "  Jesus  went  on  the  sabbath 
■"■  day  through  the  corn ;  and  his  disciples 
were  an  hungered,  and  began  to  pluck  the 
ears  of  corn,  and  to  eat. 

2  But  when  the  Pharisees  saw  it,  they 
said  unto  him.  Behold,  thy  disciples  do 
that  which  is  not  lawful  to  do  upon  the 
Bab  hath  day. 

3  But  he  said  unto  them,  Have  ye  not 
read  *  what  David  did,  when  he  was  an 
hungered,  and  they  that  were  with  him ; 

4  How  he  entered  into  the  house  of  God, 
and  did  eat  "  the  showbread,  which  was 
not  lawfiil  for  him  to  eat,  neither  for  them 
which  were  with  him,  «*  but  only  for  the 
priests? 

5  Or  have  ye  not  read  in  the  *  Law,  how 
that  on  the  sabbath  days  the  priests  in 
the  temple  profane  the  sabbath,  and  are 
blameless? 

6  But  1  say  unto  yon.  That  in  this  place  is 
<w?e /greater  than  the  temple. 

7  But  if  ye  had  known  what  this  meaneth, 
I  "  ^-ill  have  mercy,  and  not  sacrilice,  ye 
would  not  have  condemned  the  guiltless. 

8  For  the '» Son  of  man  is  Lord  even  of  the 
sabbath  day. 

9  IT  And  »when  he  was  departed  thence, 
he  went  into  their  synagogue: 

10  And,  behold,  there  was  a  man  which  had 
his  hand  withered.  And  they  asked  him, 
saying, }  Is  it  lawful  to  heal  on  the  sabbath 
days?  that  they  might  accuse  him. 

11  And  he  said  unto  them,  ^Vhat  man 
shall  there  be  among  you  that  shall  have 
one  sheep,  and  *  if  it  fall  into  a  pit  on  the 
sabbath  day,  will  he  not  lay  hold  on  it,  and 
lift  it  out? 

12  How  much  then  is  a  man  better  than  a 
sheep?  Wherefore  it  is  lawful  to  do  well 
on  the  sabbath  days. 

13  Then  saith  he  to  the  man,  Stretch 
forth  thine  hand.  And  he  stretched  it 
forth;  and  it  was  restored  whole,  like  as 
the  other. 

14 1[  Then  '  the  Pharisees  went  out,  and 
1  held  a  covmcil  against  him,  how  they 
mii:;ht  destroy  him. 

15  But  when  Jesus  "*  knew  it,  "  he  with- 
drew himself  from  thence :  and  great 
multitudes  followed  him,  and  he  healed 
them  all; 

16  And  charged  them  that  they  should 
not  make  him  known: 

17  That  "  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying, 

18  Behold  ^my  servant,  whom  1  have 
chosen;  my  beloved,  in  whom  my  soul  is 
well  pleased:  I  will  put  *  my  Spirit  upon 
him,  and  he  shall  snow  judgment  to  the 
Gentiles. 

19  He  shall  not  strive,  nor  cry;  neither 
shall  any  man  hear  his  voice  in  the  streets. 

20  A  ''bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break, 
and  smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench,  till 
he  send  forth  judgment  unto  victory. 

21  And  in  his  name  shall  the  Gentiles 
trust. 

22  IT  Then  ■  was  brought  unto  him  one 
possessed  with  a  devil,  blind  and  dumb: 
and  he  healed  him,  insomuch  that  the 
blind  and  dumb  both  sp.xke  and  saw, 

23  And  all  the  people  were  amazed,  and 
said,  Is  nut  this  *  the  son  of  David? 

U 


A.  D.  31. 


CHAP.  12. 

a  Deu.  23.26. 

»Iar.  2.  23. 

5  1  Sam.21.6. 
c  Ex.  25.  80. 

I^T.  24.  6. 
d  Ex.  29.  32. 

Lev.  8.  31. 

Lev.  24.  9. 
e  Num.  28. 9. 

John  7. 22. 
/2  Ch.6. 18. 

Hag.  2.7,9. 

Mai.  3.  1. 
g  Ho8.  6.  6. 

Mic.  6.  6. 
h  Dan.  7.  13. 
{  Mark  3.  1. 

Luko  6.  e. 
;■  Lu.  13.  14. 

Lu.  14.  3. 

John  9. 16. 
k  Ex.  23.  4. 

Deu.  22. 4. 
I  Mark  3.  6. 

Lu.  6.  11. 

John  5.  18. 

JolinlO.39. 

Johnll.63. 

1  Or,  took 
counsel. 

m  Heb.  4.13. 

Ps.  139.  2. 
"  Mark.  3.  7. 
''Num.23.19. 
P  Isa.  42.  1. 
9  Isa.  61.  1. 
»•  Isa.  40.11. 
8  Mar.  3.  11. 

Lu.  11. 14. 
t  Kom.  9.  6. 
«  Slar.  3.  22. 

2  Beelcebul. 
"  ch.  9.  4. 

John  2.25. 

Key.  2.  23. 
v  Dan.  2.44. 

Dan.  714. 

Lu.  1.  33. 

Lu.  11.  20. 

Lu.l7.  20. 

Hcb.12.28. 
»  Isa.  49.  24. 
V  Mar.  3.  23. 

Lu.  12. 10. 

Heb.  10.26. 

16. 
«  Acts  7.  51. 

Heb.  6.  4. 
o  ch.  11.  19. 

ch.  13.  55. 

John  7. 12. 

6  1  Tim.1.13. 
ech.7.  17. 

Lu.  6.  43. 
d  ch.  3.  7. 

cli.  23.  S3. 
«  Lu.  6.  45. 
/  Eph.  6.  4. 
a  ch.  16.  1. 

Mar.  8. 11. 

Lu.  11. 16. 

John  2. 18. 

1  Cor. 1.22. 
ft  Isa.  67.  3. 

Mar.  8.  38. 

John  4.43. 
i  Jonah  1.17. 
}  Lu.  11.  32. 
%  Jer.  3.11. 

Ezo.  16.61. 
{  Jonah  3.  5. 


Kom.  9.  5. 
■\  Ki.  10.1. 
2  Ch».  9. 1. 


24  But  •*  when  the  Pharisees  heard  it, 
they  said,  Ihls  fellow  doth  not  cast  out 
deMls,  but  by  sueelzebub  the  prince  of 
the  devils. 

25  And  Jesus  "  knew  their  thoughts,  and 
said  mito  them,  Every  kingdom  divided 
against  itself  is  brought  to  desolation;  and 
everv  city  or  house  diuded  against  itself 
shall  not  stand: 

26  And  if  Satan  cast  out  Satan,  he  is 
dinded  against  himself;  how  shall  then 
his  kingdom  stand? 

27  And  if  I  by  I3eelzebub  cast  out  devils, 
by  whom  do  your  children  cast  them  out? 
therefore  they  shall  be  your  judges. 

28  But  if  I  cast  out  devils  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  then  •"  the  kingdom  of  God  is  come 
unto  you. 

29  Or  *else  how  can  one  enter  into  a 
strong  man's  house,  and  spoil  his  goods, 
except  he  first  bind  the  strong  man?  and 
then  he  will  spoil  his  house. 

30  He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against 
me;  and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me 
scattereth  abroad. 

31  Wherelore  I  say  unto  yon,  *  All  manner 
of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  forgiven 
unto  men :  *  but  the  blasphemy  against 
the  Holy  Ghost  shall  not  be  forgiven  unto 
men. 

32  And  whosoever  "  speaketh  a  word 
against  the  Son  of  man,  *  it  shall  be  for- 
given him:  but  whosoever  speaketh  against 
the  Holy  Ghost,  it  shall  not  be  forgiven 
him,  neither  in  this  world,  neither  in  the 
ivorld  to  come. 

33  Either  make  the  tree  good,  and  *  his 
fruit  good ;  or  else  make  the  tree  corrupt, 
and  his  fruit  conxipt:  for  the  tree  is  known 
by  his  fruit. 

34  O  <*  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye. 
being  evil,  speak  good  things?  *  for  out  of 
the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
speaketh. 

35  A  good  man,  out  of  the  good  treasure 
of  the  heart,  bringeth  forth  good  things: 
and  an  evil  man,  out  of  the  evil  treasure, 
bringeth  forth  evil  things. 

36  But  1  say  unto  you.  That  every/idle 
word  that  men  shall  speak,  they  sliall  give 
account  thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment. 

37  For  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be  justi- 
fied, and  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be  con- 
demned. 

38  f,  Then  o  certain  of  the  scribes  and  of 
the  Pharisees  answered,  saying,  Alaster,  we 
would  see  a  sign  from  thee. 

39  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
An  evil  and  h  adulterous  generation  seeketh 
after  a  sign;  and  there  shaU  no  sign  be 
given  to  it,  but  the  sign  of  the  prophet 
Jonas: 

40  For » as  Jonas  was  three  days  and  three 
nights  in  the  whale's  belly,  so  shall  the  Son 
of  man  be  three  davs  and  three  nights  in 
the  heart  of  the  earth. 

41  The  i  men  of  Kineve  shall  rise  in  judg- 
ment  with  this  generation,  and  *  shall  con- 
demn  it:  ^because  they  repented  at  the 
preaching  of  J  onas ;  and,  behold, "'  a  greater 
than  Jonas  is  here. 

42  The  "  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up 
in  the  judgment  with  this  generation,  and 
shall  condemn  it:  lor  she  came  from  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  to  hear  the 
wi  sdom  of  Solomon ;  and,  behold,  a  "  gieater 
than  Solomon  is  here. 

43  When  ^  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out 


FV.nd  avd  clwrnh  fUmov^'ac  hcnlcfl.     IMATl'llEVV.  XTT. 


Tl^c  Phnriseea  sedc  a  sign. 


mradox  of  Ez.  37. 4.; Is.  55.  4.- Eph.  5.  14,  etc.  i  it '  jyresvmvtvnusly,'  or  rcith  e  e^  open.    Tlu3 
14.  See  on  L.  6.  11.   18-20.  The  grandeur  of  had  not  been  yet  done;  but  in  charging  Jesus 

Messiah's  victories  should  be  not  more  won-      " ' " 

derful  than  the  unobtrusive  noiselessness  of 
the  steps  by  which  they  would  be  brought 
about.  One  i-ough  toucli  will  break  a  reed 
already  bruised,  and  quench  the  flickering, 
smoking  flax;  but  His  it  will  be,  with  match- 
less tenderness, love,  and skiU to  "strengthen 
that  which  remains,  and  is  ready  to  die."  21. 
the  Gentiles  trust.— Part  of  his  audience  at 
this  time  were  Gentiles,  from  Tyre  and  Sidon 
(Mk.  3.  8.). 
Ver.  22-45.  Blind  ajtd  DU>rB  demoniac 

HEALED  —  CHAKGE  OF  BEING  IN  LEAGUE 
■WITH    HELL,    AND    KEPLY— DEMAND    OP    A 

SIGN,  AND  REPLY.  22.  blind  and  diunb— see 
on  cli.  9.  32.  23.  Son  of  David— the  promised 
Messiah  (see  on  ch.  1.  1.).  'Tis  remarkable 
that  in  all  the  three  narratives  of  sight 
given  to  the  blind  the  patients  give  this  title 
to  Jesus  (ch.  0.  27.;  20.  30,  31.),  24.  Beelzebub 
—same  as  'Baalzebub,  the  god  of  Ekron' 
(2  Ki.  1.  2.}.  How  the  name  of  this  Philistine 
idol  came  to  be  given  to  Satan,  is  not  known; 
but  as  idolatry  is  in  reality  devil-worsliip 
(1  Co.  10.  20.),  it  was  not  unnatural,  n.b. 
Chrisfs  bitterest  enemies  did  tiot  deny  the 
reality  of  his  miracles;  and  being  stung  by 
the  unsophisticated  testimony  of  'aU  the 
people '  ('  the  multitudes,'  v.  23.),  they  had  no 
way  of  holding  out  against  liis  claims  but  by 
the  desperate  shift  of  ascribing  his  miracles 
to  Satan.  25,  26.  The  argimient  here  is  ir- 
resistible.    '  Ko  organised  society— whether 


with  being  in  league  with  hell,  they  wero 
displaying  beforehand  a  malignant  determi- 
nation to  shut  their  eyes  to  aU  evidence,  and 
so  bordering  upon,  and  '^n  spir  't  committing 
the  Tinpardonable  sin,  33-35.  either,  (to.— 
A  new  application  of  a  former  saying  (ch.  7. 16. 
18.):  '  There  are  but  two  kingdoms,  interests, 
parties,  together  ^vith  the  proper  workings  and 
fruits  of  each;  if  I  promote  the  one,  I  canntit 
belong  to  the  other,  but  they  that  set  them- 
selves in  wilful  oppo.=^.ition  to  the  kingdom  ot 
light,  openly  proclaim  to  what  other  kingdoiu 
they  belong.  As  for  you,  ye  have  but  re- 
vealed the  viperous,  venomous,  malignity  of 
your  hearts  m  the  words  ye  have  uttered.' 
36,  37.  every  idle  word  — Tliey  might  say, 
'It  was  nothing;  we  meant  no  evil;  wa 
merely  threw  out  a  supposition,  as  one 
way  of  accounting  for  the  miracle  we 
mtnessed;  if  it  will  not  stand,  let  it  ro;  why 
make  so  much  of  it,  and  bear  down  with 
such  severity  for  it?'  Jesus  replies,  'It  was 
not  nothing,  and  at  the  great  day  will  not  be 
treated  as  nothing  :  Words,  as  the  index  of 
the  heart,  however  idle  they  may  seem,  will 
be  taken  account  of,  whether  good  or  bad,  in 
estimating  character  in  the  day  of  judgment.' 
38,  39.  Master,  we  would  see  a  sign—'  from 
heaven'  (L.  11.  16.):  something  of  an  im- 
mediate and  decisive  nature,  to  show  that 
his  miracles  were  by  a  power  from  above. 
This  was   asked  by  a  different  class  from 

„  .       those  who  had  charged  Him  with  being  in 

'kingdom,  city,  or  household"— can  stand  I  league  with  Satan  (L.  11.  15.  16.);  but  as  the 


when  turned  against  itseK ;  such  intestine 
war  is  suicidal:  But  the  works  I  do  are  all 
destructive  of  Satan's  kingdom  :  That  I 
should  be  in  league  with  him,  therefore,  is 
incredible  and  absurd.'  Observe,  Jesus  here 
aets  his  seal  to  the  Jewish  doctrine  of  an 
wganized  kingdom  of  evil,  under  one  chief, 
emph.atically called' Satan;  akingdom which, 
though  full  of  contradiction  and  division  in 
itself,  is  tremendously  harmonious  in  its  op- 
position to  truth  and  righteousness.  Tor 
this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested 
that  He  might  destroy'  this  kingdom  (1  Jo.  3. 
8. ;  Ge.  3.  15.).  27.  your  children— or  'sons,' 
i.e.  the  disciples  or  pupils  of  the  Pharisees, 
cast  them  out— Our  Lord  seems  to  admit  that 
such  works  were  really  done;  in  which  case 
the  Pharisees  were  self-condemned.  28. 
kingdom  of  God  is  come  upon  you—'  It  this  ex- 
pulsion of  Satan  is,  and  can  be,  by  no  other 
than  the  Spirit  of  God,  then  is  his  Destroyer 
already  in  the  midst  of  you,  and  that  king- 
dom which  is  destined  to  supplant  it  is  al- 
ready rising  on  its  ruins.'  29,  30.  See  on  L. 
11.  21-23.).  31,  32.  aU  manner  of  sin  and  blas- 
phemy, kc— "every  description  of  sin  is  par- 
donable' Therefore,  when  it  is  added  that  the 
.•«in  against  the  Holy  Ghost  is  unpardonable, 
this  cannot  arise  from  anything  in  the  sin 
itself;  for  that  would  be  a  contradiction.  It 
arises  from  the  wilful  malignity  which  hates 
ihe  light  and  wilt  not  admit  it,  wMch  of 
cour.se  precludes  salvation.  This  is  plain 
from  what  follows,  where  rejection  of  '  the 
Son  of  Man,'  that  is,  in  his  veiled  condition 
and,  unfinished  v:ork,  is  said  to  be  pardon- 
able, since  it  might  be  done  'ignorantly,  in 
unbelief  1  Ti.  1. 13.)- whereas  after  the  bla;^e 
of  glory  which  '  the  Holy  Ghost'  was  soon  to 
throw  around  his  claims,  to  reject  Him  in 
the  fuU  knowledge  of  these,  would  be  to  do 
U 


spirit  of  both  was  similar,  the  tone  of  severe 
warning  is  continuecL  evil  and  adidterous— 
cf.  Je.  3.  20.  *  Surely  as  a  wife  treacherously 
departeth  from  her  husband,  so  have  ye 
dealt  treacherously  with  me. '  40.  so  shall  the 
Son  of  Man,  &:c.— This  was  the  first  public  an- 
nouncement of  his  resun-ection  three  days 
after  his  death.  Any  sign  of  this  in  the  form 
of  an  actual  resurrection  wrought  for  the 
occasion  was  out  of  the  question;  but  the  re- 
ference to  the  analogous  case  of  Jonah,  as  a 
past  sign,  comes  the  nearest  to  it,  as  being 
(1.)  God's  awful  judgment,  (2.)  reversed  in 
three  days,  and  (3.)  followed  by  a  glorious  mis- 
sion to  the  Gentiles.  41,  42.  Tlie  Ninevites 
(see  on  Jon.  1.  #),  though  heathens,  repented 
at  a  man's  preaching;  they,  God's  covenant- 
people,  repented  not  at  the  preaching  of 
the  Son  of  God— whose  supreme  dignity 
is  rather  hinted  at  than  expressed.  The 
queen  of  Sheba/— a  tract  in  Arabia,  near  the 
shores  of  the  Bed  Sea— came  from  a  remote 
country  {'south'  of  Judeai  to  hear  the  wis- 
dom 01  a  mere  though  gifted  man ;  they, 
when  a  Greater  than  he  had  come  to  them,, 
despised  and  rejected,  slighted  and  slandered 
lum.  43-45.  dry  places  — i.e.  desert,  unin- 
habited places,  where  are  no  men  to  possess 
and  destroy,  seeking  rest  and  finding  none— 
because  out  of  his  element,  ^vithout  human 
victims.  I  win  return  unto  my  house,  etc.— 
'It  may  be  I  shall  find  it  wearj'  of  its 
new  religious  ways,  and  not  unwilling  to 
entertain  overtures  of  reconciliation  with  its 
old  friend.'  empty  —  occitj'ied  by  no  rival. 
swept  and  garnished— not  only  empty,  but  all 
ready  to  receive  him— nay,  decked  out  as  if 
to  invite  his  return,  seven  more  wicked,  &c. 
—a  sevenfold  mightier  diabolic  force,  as  if 
resolved  not  to  be  again  disturbed,  enter 
. . .  dwell— jio  resistaiice  now—'  they  walk  tha 


ParnhU  of  the  sower. 


MATTHEW,  XIII. 


Parables  representing 


of  a  man,  «  he  walketh  through  dry  places, 
Beeking  rest,  and  ftiideth  none. 

44  Then  he  saith,  1  will  return  into  my 
house  from  whence  I  came  out;  and  when 
he  is  come,  he  findeth  it  empty,  swept,  and 
garnished, 

45  Then  *■  goeth  he,  and  taketh  with  him- 
eelf  seven  other  spirits  more  wicked  than 
himself,  and  they  enter  in  and  dwell  there: 
and  *  the  last  state  of  that  man  is  worse 
than  the  first.  Even  so  shall  it  be  also  unto 
this  wicked  generation. 

46  ^  While  he  yet  talked  to  the  people, 
behold, '  his  mother  and  "  his  brethren 
Btood  without,  desiring  to  speak  with 
him. 

47  Theu  one  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thy 
mother  and  thy  brethren  stand  without, 
desiring  to  speak  with  thee. 

48  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  him 
that  told  him.  Who  is  my  mother?  and  who 
are  my  brethren? 

49  And  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  toward 
his  disciples,  and  said.  Behold  my  mother 
and  my  brethren! 

50  For  "  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my 
brother,  and  sister,  and  mother. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

8  Of  the  sower  and  the  seed.  10  Why  Christ  spake 

in  parables.    38  The  exposition  of  the  parable  of 

the  sower.    24  Divers  other  parables,  etc, 

T'HE   same  day  went  Jesus  out  of  the 

house,  "  and  sat  by  the  sea-side. 

2  And  *  great  multitudes  were  gathered 
together  unto  him,  so  that "  he  went  into  a 
ship,  and  sat:  and  the  whole  multitude 
stood  on  the  snore. 

3  And  he  spake  many  things  imto  them 
in  parables,  saying,  Behold,  a  sower  went 
forth  to  sow: 

4  And  when  he  sowed,  some  seeds  fell  by 
the  way-side,  and  the  fowls  came  and  de- 
voured them  up: 

5  Some  fell  upon  <*  stony  places,  where 
they  had  not  much  earth ;  and  tbrthwith 
they  sprung  up,  because  they  had  no  deep- 
ness of  earth: 

6  And  when  the  sun  was  up,  they  were 
scorched ;  and  because  they  had  no  *  root, 
they  withered  away: 

7  And  some  fell  among  thorns ;  and  the 
thorns  sprung  up  and  choked  them: 

8  But  other  fell  into  good  gi'ound,  and 
Drought  forth  liuit,  some  /  an  hundred-fold, 
gome  sixty-fold,  some  thirty-fold. 

9  Who  »  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

10  ^  And  the  disciples  came,  and  said  unto 
nim.  Why  speakest  thou  unto  them  in 
parables? 

11  He  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Be- 
cause '» it  is  given  vmto  you  to  know  the 
mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but  to 
them  it  is  not  given. 

12  For  •  whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall  be 
given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundance ; 
but  whosoever  hath  not,  from  him  shall  be 
taken  away  even  that  he  hath. 

13  Therefore  speak  I  to  them  in  parables: 
because  they  seeing,  see  not;  and  hearing, 
they  hear  not;  neither  do  they  under- 
stand. 

14  And  in  them  is  fulfdled  the  prophecy 
f>f  Esaias,  which  saith,  3  By  healing  ye  shall 
bear,  and  shall  not  understand;  and  seeing 
ye  shall  see,  and  shall  not  perceive: 

15  For  this  people's  heart  is  waxed  gross, 
aud  their  ears  ^are  dull  of  hearing,  and 


A.  D. 


CUAP.  12. 
9  Job  1.  7. 

1  Pot.  B  8. 
r  Isa.  M.S.*. 
«  Heb.  6.  4. 

Hob.10.26. 

2  J'et.2.i». 
t  Mar.  3.  ai. 

Lu.  8.  10. 
W  Mark  6.  3. 

John  2. 12. 

John  7.3,5. 

Actsl.  U. 

1  Cor.  9.5. 

GaL  1.  19. 
W  Johnl5.14. 

Gal.  5.  5. 

Gftl.  6.  15. 

Col.  3.  11. 

Heb.  2.11. 


CHAP.  13. 
a  Mark  4.  1. 
b  Luke  8.  i. 
e  Luke  5.  3. 
d  E7.e.  11.19. 
e  Col.  2.  7. 
/  Gen.  20.12. 
g  Alark  4.  9. 
h  ch.  11.  25. 

ch.16.  17. 

JLir.  4.  11. 

1  Ccr.2.10. 

1  John  2. 
27. 

Col.  1.  26. 
i  Mar.  4.  26. 

Lu.  8.  18. 

Lu.  19. 28. 
}■  li-a.  6.  9. 

Eiek.12.2. 

Mar.  4. 12. 

Lu.  8.  10. 

Johnl2.40. 

Act328.26, 

27. 

Rom.  11.8. 

2  Cor.3.14. 
k  Heb.  5.  11. 
I  ch.  16.  17. 

Lu.  10.  23, 

24. 

John20.29. 
»nHeb.ll.i3. 

1  Pet.l.lU. 
n  Mar.  4. 14. 

Lu.  8.  11. 

0  2  Cor.  2.11. 
P  Isa.  68.  2. 

Eze  33.31. 

John  5.  35. 
8  ch.  11.  6. 

2Tim.l.l6. 
r  ch.  19.  Zi. 

Mar. 10.23. 

Lu.  IS.  24. 

1  Tim.  6.9. 

2Tim.4.10. 
«  Jcr.  4.  3. 
t  1  Pot.  6.  8. 
"  ch.  3.  12. 
"188.2.2,3. 

Mic.  4.  1. 

Mar.  4. 30. 

Lu.  13. 13. 

2Pet.3.18. 
K'Lu.13.20. 

1  The  word 
in  the 
Greek  is  a 


their  eyes  they  have  closed;  lest  at  any 
time  they  shoiud  see  with  their  eyes,  and 
hear  with  their  ears,  aud  should  under- 
stand with  their  heart,  and  should  be  con- 
verted, and  I  should  heal  them. 

16  But  'blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they 
see ;  and  your  ears,  for  they  hear. 

17  For  verily  1  say  unto  you, '"  That  many 
prophets  and  righteous  mtn  have  desired 
to  see  those  things  which  ye  see,  and  have 
not  seen  them;  and  to  hear  those  things 
which  ye  hear,  and  have  not  heard  them. 

18  %  llear  "  ye  therefore  the  parable  of  the 
sower. 

19  When  any  one  heareth  the  word  of  the 
kingdom,  and  understandeth  it  not,  then 
Cometh  "the  wicked  oiie,  and  catcheth 
away  that  which  was  sown  in  his  heart. 
This  is  he  which  received  seed  by  the  way- 
side. 

20  But  he  that  received  the  seed  into  stony 
places,  the  same  is  he  that  heareth  the 
word,  and  anon  P  with  joy  receiveth  it: 

21  Yet  hath  he  not  root  in  himself,  but 
dureth  for  a  while ;  for  when  tribulation  or 
persecution  ariseth  because  of  the  word,  by 
and  by  *  he  is  otiended. 

22  He  '"also  that  received  seed  'among 
the  thorns  is  he  that  heareth  the  word ;  and 
the  care  of  this  world,  and  the  deceitfid- 
ness  of  riches,  choke  the  word,  aud  he 
bccometh  unfruitful. 

23  But  he  that  received  seed  into  the  good 
ground  is  he  that  heareth  the  word,  and 
understandeth  it;  which  also  beareth  fniit, 
and  bringeth  forth,  some  an  hundred-fold, 
some  sLxty,  some  thu-ty. 

24  H  Another  parable  put  he  forth  unto 
them,  saying,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
likened  unto  a  man  which  sowed  good  seed 
in  his  field: 

25  But  while  men  slept, « his  enemy  came 
and  sowed  tares  among  the  wheat,  and 
went  his  way. 

26  But  when  the  blade  was  sprung  up, 
and  brought  forth  fruit,  then  appeared  the 
tares  also. 

27  So  the  servants  of  the  householder 
came  and  said  unto  him,  Su-,  did.st  not  thou 
sow  good  seed  in  thy  field?  from  whence 
then  hath  it  tares? 

28  He  said  unto  them.  An  enemy  hath 
done  this.  The  servants  said  unto  him, 
Wilt  thou  then  that  we  go  and  gather  them 
up? 

29  But  he  said.  Nay;  lest,  while  ye  gather 
up  the  tares,  ye  root  up  also  the  wheat 
with  them. 

30  Let  both  grow  together  until  the  har- 
vest: and  in  the  time  of  harvest  I  will  say 
to  the  reapers.  Gather  ye  together  first  the 
tares,  and  bind  them  m  bundles  to  burn 
them;  but  "gather  the  wheat  into  my 
barn. 

31  fl  Another  parable  put  he  forth  unto 
them,  saying,  ^  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
like  to  a  giam  of  mustard  seed,  which  a 
man  took,  and  sowed  in  his  field: 

32  Which  indeed  is  the  least  of  all  seeds; 
but  when  it  is  grown,  it  is  the  greatest 
among  herbs,  and  becometh  a  tree,  so  that 
the  bu'ds  of  the  air  come  and  lodge  in  the 
branches  thereof. 

33  IT  Another  "'parable  spake  he  onto 
them ;  The  lungdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto 
leaven,  which  a  woman  took  and  hid  in 
three  i  meiisures  of  meal,  till  the  whole 
waa  leavened. 


Tlie  parable  of  the  sower. 


MATTHEW.  Xm. 


cfthe  vjheat  and  tares,  dc 


course.'  the  last  state  worse,  &c.— Relapse 
into  evil,  wlun  thoroughly  yielded  to,  nuikes 
the  case  ever  loorse  than  before.  The  power  of 
a  resisting  will  is  destroyed-  in  just  judgment 
God  lets  this  awful  law  of  tlie  human  soul 
take  effect ;  and  the  Enemy  is  permitted  to 
take  his  own  advantage  of  it.  45.  By  the 
ministry  of  the  Baptist  their  'heart  was 
turned  to  the  Lord,'  to  a  large  extent ;  then 
was  their  opportunity  to  receive  Christ  and 
live;  but  they  did  not;  so  they  became  worse 
than  at  the  first,  and  soon  put  their  very 
Dehverer  to  death.  It  matters  little  though 
the  devil  be  out  if  Clirist  be  not  in.  Negative 
reformations  em  in  positive  and  fatal  de- 
clension. 

4S-60.  Hi3  Mother  and  Brethren 
SEEK  TO  Speak  with  Him.  46.  Ms  brethren 
—See  on  ch.  13.  55,  56.  to  speak  with  him— for 
what  purpose  we  learn  from  ;Mk.  3. 20.  21.  In 
his  zeal  and  ardour  he  seemed  indifferent 
both  to  food  and  repose,  and  "they  went  to 
lay  hold  of  him,"  as  one  "  beside  himself."  48. 
who  is  my  mother?  .  .  .  who  my  brethren?- Ab- 
sorbed in  the  awful  warnings  he  was  pouring 
forth,  he  felt  this  to  be  an  unseasonable  iu- 
terruption,  fitted  to  dissipate  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  the  large  audience,  such  an 
interruption  as  duty  to  the  nearest  relatives 
did  not  require  him  to  give  way  to.  But  in- 
stead of  a  direct  rebuke,  he  seizes  on  the  in- 
cident to  convey  a  sublime  lesson,  expressed 
in  a  style  of  inimitable  condescension.  49, 
50.  Behold . .  .  For  whosoever,  &c.  — '  Tliere 
stand  here  the  members  of  a  family  trans- 
cending and  surviving  this  of  earth;  filial 
subjection  to  the  wiU  of  My  Father  ia  hea- 
ven is  the  indissoluble  bond  of  union  be- 
tween Me  and  all  its  members;  and  whoso- 
ever enters  tliis  haUowed  circle  '  becomes  to 
Me  "  brother  and  sister  and  mother! "  '. 
CHAPTMl  XTIT. 

Ver.  1-52.  Seven  Parables.  1,2.  "The 
same  day"  on  which  the  foregoing  solemn 
discourse  was  delivered,  and  his  kindred 
thought  him  "beside  himself"  for  his  in- 
difference to  food  and  repose— that  same  day, 
retiring  to  the  sea-shore  of  Galilee,  and  there 
seating  himself,  perhaps  for  coohiess  and 
rest,  the  crowds  again  flock  around  him,  and 
he  is  fain  to  push  off  from  them,  in  the  boat 
usually  kept  in  readiness  for  him;  yet  only 
to  begin,  without  waiting  to  rest,  a  new 
course  of  teaching  by  parables  to  the  eager 
multitudes  that  lined  the  shore.  There  is 
nothing  in  all  language  to  be  compared  to  the 
parables  of  our  Lord,  for  simpUcity,  grace, 
fulness,  and  variety,  of  spiritual  teaching. 
They  are  adapted  to  all  classes  and  stages  of 
advancement,  being  imderstood  by  each  ac- 
cording to  the  measure  of  his  spiritual  ca- 
pacity. 3-9,  18-23.  First  Parable:  The 
So  AVER.  ITiis  parable  is  introductory  to  the 
other  six,  which  consist  of  three  pairs.  For 
the  exposition  of  it,  see  on  Mk.  4.  3-9, 14-20. 

Eeason  for  Teaching  in  Parables, 
V.  10-17.  10.  why  in  parables  ?— This  seems 
to  imply  that,  though  one  or  two  parables 
had  been  spoken  before  to  illustrate  what 
was  spoken  in  another  style,  he  now  for 
the  first  time  formally  employed  this  me- 
thod of  teaching.  11.  to  you  it  is  given 
to  know  ...  to  them  not  —  Parables  serve 
the  double  purpose  of  revealing  and  con- 
cealing; presenting  'the  mysteries  of  the 
Ivingdom'  to  those  who  know  and  reUsh 
tliem,  though  in  never  so  small  a  degree,  in  a 


new  and  attractive  light;  but  to  those  who  are 
insensible  to  spiritual  things  yielding  only,  as 
so  many  tales,  some  temporary  entertain- 
ment. 12.  whosoever  hath,  &c. —  "  retains," 
or  keeps,  as  one  does  who  values  what  he  re- 
ceives: the  'hath  not'  means  the  reverse  of 
this— not  cherishing,  but  letting  go,  as  of  what 
one  sets  no  value  on.  The  one  class  are  re« 
warded  by  an  increase  of  what  they  so  much 
prize;  the  other  are  punished  by  the  judi- 
cial vAthdrawal  of  what  they  despise.     13. 

Therefore because,  &c.  —  Our  Lord  did  not 

begin  to  teach  by  parables  till  his  enemies 
perversely  ascribed  his  miracles  to  Satan. 
"  Seeing,"— for  the  light  shone  on  them  as 
never  light  shone  before—"  they  saw  not,"  for 
they  closed  their  eves;  "hearing,"  for  He 
taught  them  who  spake  as  never  man 
spake,"  they  yet  "heard  not"— taking  noth- 
ing in,  "understanding  not"  the  soul-pene- 
trating, life-giving  words  addressed  to  tnem. 
14, 15.  They  were  judicially  sealed  up  in  the 
darkness  and  obduracy  which  they  delibe- 
rately prejerrecl  to  the  light  and  the  healing 
which  Christ  brought  nigh  to  them.  16,  17. 
Not  only  were  the  disciples  blessed  above 
the  blinded  jiist  spoken  of,  but  favoured 
above  the  most  honoured  and  the  best  that 
lived  under  the  old  economy,  who  had  but 
glimpses  of  the  things  of  the  new  kingdom, 
just  sufficient  to  kindle  in  them  desires  not 
to  be  fulfilled  to  any  in  their  day. 

Second  and  Seventh  parables,  or.  First  Pair: 
The  Wheat  and  Tabes  {v.  24-30, 36-43.)  and 
The  Good  and  Bad  Fish  (v.  47-50.1— or. 
The  MIXED  character  of  the  kingdom  in  its 
present  state,  and  the  final  absolute  sepa- 
ration of  the  two  classes.  Both  parables 
teach  the  same  truth,  with  a  slight  diver- 
sity of  aspect.  24.  a  man  which  sowed— "  the 
Son  of  Man,"  v.  37.  The  most  frequent 
title  by  which  our  Lord  designates  Himself, 
but  never  given  Him  by  others  save  once, 
by  Stephen  (A.  7.  66.).  to  indicate,  it  would 
seem,  that  the  glorified  Saviour  appeared 
bodily  to  his  eyes.  "  The  one  true  and  perfect 
flower  which  had  ever  unfolded  itself  out  of 
the  root  of  humanity."  [Tiiench.]  cf.  Da. 
7. 13.  with Ps.  8. 4.  good  seed— "the  childi-en of 
the  kingdom;"  the  same  seed  of  "  the  word"  as 
in  the  former  parable,  but  now  received  into 
the  heart  and  converting  him  that  receives 
it  into  a  new  creature,  a^'  child  of  the  king- 
dom," (cf.  Ja.  1. 18;  Ho.  2. 23.).  his  field—"  the 
world,"  V.  38.  Observe,  this  vast  field  is  Christ's 
— "  His  field,"  says  the  parable  (See  Ps.  2.  S.|, 
25.  while  men  slejpt— As  it  could  oiily  be  done 
then,  no  blame  seems  intended,  nor  is  any 
such  charged  on  "  the  servants:"  'tis  just  the 
dress  of  the  parable,  his  enemy—' '  the  devil," 
V.39;  emphatically  "  His  enemy"— "  the  Son 
ot  Man's"  (Ge.  3. 15;  1  Jo.  3.  8.).  sowed— i.e. 
within  the  territory  of  the  visitjle  Chxirch. 
tares- not  what  we  call  such,  but  a  noxious 
plant,  probably  Darnel.  These  are  "  the  chil- 
dren of  the  wicked  one,"  v.  38,  resembling, 
in  religious  profession,  "'the  children  of  the 
kingdom,  and  produced  by  the  same  process  " 
("sowing.")  went  his  way— His  dark  work 
takes  time  to  develope  its  true  character, 
which  at  length  appears,  v.  26.  27.  the  ser- 
vants—Christ's ministers.— Didst  not  thou,  &c. 
—This  well  expresses  the  surprise,  cUsap- 
pointment,  and  anxiety  of  Christ's  faithful 
servants  and  people,  at  the  discovery  of 
"  false  brethren,"  among  the  members  of  the 
Church,  wiit  thou— compare  James  and  John 


the  kingdom  of  heaven. 


MATTHEW,  XIV. 


John  Baptist  beheaded. 


ci  All  these  things  spake  Jesus  nnto  the 
multitude  in  parables ;  and  without  a 
parable  spake  he  not  unto  them: 

35  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
spoken  bv  the  prophet,  saying,  *  I  will 
open  my  mouth  in  parables ;  "  I  will  utter 
things  which  have  been  kept  secret  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world. 

36  TI  Then  Jesus  sent  the  multitude  away, 
and  went  into  the  house:  and  Ms  disciples 
came  unto  him,  saying.  Declare  uuto  us 
the  parable  of  the  tares  of  the  held. 

37  He  answered  and  said  unto  them,  He 
that  ^  soweth  the  good  seed  is  the  Son  of 

38  I'he  «  field  is  the  world;  the  good  seed 
are  the  children  of  the  kingdom;  but  the 
Uires  are  6  the  children  of  the  wicked  one; 

39  The  enemy  that  sowed  them  is  the 
dcNil;  "the  haiTest  is  the  end  of  the  world - 
and  the  reapers  are  the  angels. 

40  As  therefore  the  tares  are  gathered  and 
burned  in  the  lire;  so  shall  it  be  in  the  end 
of  this  world. 

41  The  Son  of  man  shall  send  forth  his 
angels,  <*  and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his 
kingdom  all  2  things  that  offend,  and  them 
which  do  iniquity, 

42  And  *  shall  cast  them  into  a  furnace  of 
fire:  there  shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 
teeth.  ,.     ^     , 

43  Then /shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as 
the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father. 
Who  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

44  H  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  lilce 
unto  treasure  hid  in  a  field ;  the  which  when 
a  man  hath  found,  he  hideth,  and  for  joy 
thereof  goeth  and  ^  selleth  all  that  he  hath, 
and  '» buyeth  that  field. 

45  U  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like 
unto  a  merchant-man  seeking  goodly  pearls : 

46  Who,-  when  he  had  found  » one  pearl  of 
great  price,  went  and  sold  all  that  lie  had, 
and  bought  it.  .   ,., 

47  IT  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like 
unto  a  net,  that  was  cast  into  the  sea.  and 
gathered  >  of  every  kind: 

48  Which,  when  it  was  full,  they  drew  to 
shore,  and  sat  do^vn,  and  gathered  the  good 
into  vessels,  but  cast  the  bad  away. 

49  So  shall  it  be  at  the  end  of  the  world: 
the  angels  shall  come  forth,  and  sever  the 
wcked  from  among  the  just, 

50  And  shall  cast  them  into  the  furnace  of 
fire:  there  shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 
teeth,  „ 

51  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Have  ye  under- 
stood all  these  things?  They  say  unto  him, 
Yea,  Lord. 

52  Then  said  he  unto  them.  Therefore 
every  scribe  which  is  instructed  unto  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  is  like  unto  a  man  that 
is  an  householder  which  bringeth  forth  out 
of  his  treasm'e  *  things  new  and  old. 

53  H  And  it  came  to  "pass,  tluxt,  when  Jesus 
had  finished  these  parables,  he  departed 
thence. 

54  And  'when  he  was  come  into  his  own 
country,he  taught  them  in  their  sj-nagogue, 
insomuch  that  they  were  astonished,  and 
said.  Whence  hath  this  man  this  wisdom, 
and  these  mighty  works? 

55  Is  ""not  this  the  carpenter's  son?  is  not 
his  mother  called  Mary  ?  and  "  his  brethren, 
•James,  and  Joses,  and  Shnon,  and  Judas? 

56  And  his  sisters,  are  they  not  all  with 
us?  Whence  thcu  hath  thia  man  all  thtse 
thuiga? 

13 


CHAP.  13. 
«;  Pa.  78.  2. 
y  Ro.  16.  25. 

1  Cor.  2.  7. 

Epli.  3.  9. 

Col.  1.  26. 
2  Is.  01.  1. 
a  ch.  24.  14. 

Lu.  24.47. 

Ro.  10.  18. 

Col.  1.  6. 
6  Gen.  3.  13. 

Acts  13.10. 

1  John  3. 8. 
e  Jool  3. 13. 

Rov.  14.15. 
d  2  Pet  .2.1,2. 
a  Or, 

Bcandals. 
e  Rev.  19.20. 

Rev.  20.10. 
/  Dan.  12.  3. 

1  Cor.  15. 

42. 

R«v.  7.  9. 
ff  Phil.  3.  7. 
h  Is.  65. 1. 

Key.  3. 18. 
t  Prov.  2.  4. 

Pro.  3.  14. 

Pro.  8.  10. 
}  ch.  22.  10. 
k  Sor,g  7. 13. 
I  Deu.  18. 15. 

ch.  2.  23. 

Mark  6.  1. 

Lu.  4.  16. 
m  u.  49.  7. 
18.53.2,3. 
Mark  6.  3. 
Lu.  3.  23. 
John  6.4a. 
nch.  12.  46 
o  Mar.  15.  40. 
p  Ps.  22.  6. 


John  4.  44. 

r  Htb.  3.  19. 

Heb.  4.  2. 


57  And  they  ^  were  ollended  in  him.  But 
Jesus  said  unto  them,  «A  prophet  is  not 
^Nithout  honour,  save  in  his  own  country, 
and  in  his  own  house. 

58  And  ^  he  did  not  many  mighty  works 
there,  because  of  their  unbelief. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

1  Herod's  opinion  of  Christ.     3  John  Baptist 

beheaded.     15  rive  thousand  fed,  etc. 

A  T  that  time  "  Herod  the  tetrarch  heard 
■"■  of  the  fame  of  Jesus, 

2  And  said  unto  his  ser^-ants,  This  is  John 
the  Baptist:  he  is  risen  from  the  dead;  and 
therefore  mighty  works  i  do  show  forth 
themselves  in  him. 

3  IT  For  f>  Herod  had  laid  hold  on  John, 
and  bound  him,  and  put  hirn  in  prison 
for  Herodias'  sake,  his  brother  Philip's 
wife. 

4  For  John  said  unto  him,  *  It  is  not 
lawful  for  thee  to  have  her. 

5  And  when  he  would  have  put  him  to 
death,  he  feared  the  multitude,  <*  because 
they  counted  him  as  a  prophet. 

6  But  when  Herod's  *  bu-thday  was  kept, 


CHAP.  14. 

a  Mar.  6.  14. 

Lu.  9.  7. 

1  Or,  are 

wrought 

6  Pro.  10.17. 
Pro.  15.  10. 
Mar.  6.  17. 
Lu.  3. 19. 
e  Lev.  18.  IG. 
Lot.  20.21. 
Dan.  6. 
22, 23. 
Eph.  6.  U. 
2  Ti.  4.  2. 
d  ch.  21.  26. 
Lu.  20.  0. 
«  Gen.  40. 20, 

2  in  the 
midst. 

/Ti.  1.  16. 
ff  ch.  10.  23. 

ch.  12.  15. 

Mark  6. 32 


Lu. 


10. 


John  6.1,2. 
A  ch.  9.  36. 

Heb.  2.  17. 

Hob.  4.  15. 
t  2  Kin.  4. 

42.  4<. 
j  oh.  15.  36. 
A  Mar.  0.40. 


the  daughter  of  Herodias  danced 
them,  and  pleased  Herod. 

7  Whereupon  he  promised  vnth  an  oath 
to  give  her  whatsoever  she  would  ask. 

8  And  she,  being  before  instructed  of  her 
mother,  said.  Give  me  here  John  Baptist's 
head  in  a  charger. 

9  And  the  king  was  sorry:  /  nevertheless, 
for  the  oath's  sake,  and  them  which  sat 
with  him  at  meat,  he  commanded  it  to  be 
given  her, 

10  And  he  sent,  and  beheaded  John  in 
the  prison. 

11  And  his  head  was  brought  in  a  charger, 
and  given  to  the  damsel:  and  she  brought 
it  to  her  mother. 

•12  And  his  disciples  came,  and  took  up 
the  body,  and  bm-ied  it,  and  went  and  tola 
Jesus. 

13  IT  When  "  Jesus  heard  of  it,  he  departed 
thence  by  ship  into  a  desert  place  apart; 
and  when  the  people  had  heard  thereof, 
they  followed  him  on  foot  out  of  the  cities. 

14  And  Jesus  went  forth,  and  saw  a  great 
multitude,  and ''  was  moved  with  compas- 
sion  toward  them,  and  he  healed  their  sick. 

15  IT  And  when  it  was  evening,  his  disciples 
came  to  him,  saying.  This  is  a  desert  place, 
and  the  time  is  now  past;  send  the  multi- 
tude away,  that  they  may  go  into  the  vil- 
lages, and  buy  themselves  nctuals. 

16  But  Jesus  said  unto  them.  They  need 
not  depart;  »give  ye  them  to  eat. 

17  And  they  say  unto  him.  We  have  here 
but  five  loaves,  and  two  fishes. 

18  He  said.  Bring  them  hither  to  me. 

19  And  he  commanded  the  multitude  to 
sit  down  on  the  grass,  and  took  the  five 
loaves,  and  the  two  fishes,  and,  looking  up 
to  heaven,  J  he  blessed,  and  brake,  and 

tave  the  loaves  to  his  disciples,  and  the 
isciples  to  the  multitude. 

20  And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  filled: 
and  they  took  up  of  the  fragments  that 
remained  twelve  baskets  full. 

21  And  they  that  had  eaten  were  about 
five  thousand  men,  besides  women  and 
children. 

22  IT  And  straightway  Jesus  constrained 
his  disciples  to  get  into  a  ship,  and  to  go 
before  him  unto  the  other  side,  while  he 
sent  the  nailtitudts  away. 

2J  And  ''  when  he  had  sent  the  multitudes 


Parable  of  the  good  and  bad  fish,  MATTHEW.  XIIL 
L  9^X"  Wilt  thou  that  we  command  fire,"  [ 
Arc.  In  this  kind  of  zeal  there  is  nsually 
a  lar?e  mixture  of  carnal  heat.  29.  Nay, 
lest,  &c.  — '  It  wiU  be  done  in  due  time, 
but  not  now,  nor  is  it  j'our  business.'  This 
condemns  intolerance,  on  pretence  of  purging 
out  heresy,  lest  ye  root  up  the  tares— This 
plainly  teaches  tfie  dij/iculty  of  didinguish- 
ing  the  tvxf  classes,  and  so  the  impropriety 
of  sitting  in  judgment  on  men's  state  be- 
fore God.  30.  let  both  grow  together— i.e. 
in  the  visible  Church.  27i.i5,  however,  must 
not  be  stretched  so  far  as  to  justify  retaining 
s"andalous  persons  in  tlie  communion  of  tlte 
Ciitirch,  in  tlie  teeth  of  apostolic  injunctions 
(1  Cor.  5.).  till  harvest— till  the  one  have 
ripened  for  full  salvation,  the  other  for  de- 
struction, at  "  the  end  of  the  world,"  v.  39. 
reauejrs— "the  angels."  v.  39.  Observe  the 
extent  and  grandeur  of  the  ministiy  of  angels. 
In  V.  41,  they  are  called  "His  angels"  (cf.  1 
Pe.  3.  22.  I  wiU  say.  Gather,  &c.— Christ,  as 
Judge,  will  separate  the  two  classes,  cf.  ch. 
25.  32.  Observe,  the  tares  are  burned  before 
the  wheat  is  housed;  and  the  same  order  is 
observed  in  the  exposition  of  the  parable, 
V.  41.  43,  and  cf.  ch.  25.  46;  as  if  m  some 
literal  sense,  "with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou 
liehold  and  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked," 
Ps.  91.  8.  4L  Gather  out  of  his  kingdom— to 
which  they  never  belonged,  cf.  Ps,  1.  .5,  "The 
ungodly  .shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment, 
nor  sinners  (abide"  in  the  congregation  ot 
the  righteous."  that  offeud— or  cause  others 
to  stumble,  and  them  that  do  iniquity— 
The  foi-mer  class,  as  the  worst,  are  men- 
tioned first.  42.  waUing,  &c.,— see  on  ch. 
8.  12.  43.  shine  forth— as  if  under  a  cloud 
daring  their  present  association  with  un- 
godly pretenders  to  their  character,  and 
claimants  of  their  privileges.  47.  a  net—'  a 
draw-net,'  and  a  '  hauling '  net  as  distin'-;Tiish- 
ed  from  a  '  casting'  net;  a  net  of  the  largest 
size,  sufFeiing  nothing  to  escape  —  point- 
ing to  the  wide  reach  and  potent  opera- 
tion of  the  Gospel.  [Trench.]  gathered  of 
every  kind— every  variety  ot  character.  48. 
when  fuU— The  separation  will  not  be  tiU  the 
number  of  the  elect  is  accomplished,  sat 
down  —  expressing  the  deliberateness  with 
which  the  separation  will  be  made,  the  bad 
—  worthless  fish,  corresponding  to  "  the 
tares,"  "the  children  of  the  wicked  one." 
The  aifterence  between  the  two  parables  of 
this  pair,  besides  the  minuteness  in  detail  of 
the  Wheat  and  Tares,  in  contrast  with  the 
brief  generality  of  the  Draw  Net,  is  that  the 
cue  gives  more  prominence  to  the  present 
mixture ;  the  other  to  the  future  separation 
of  the  two  classes. 

Third  and  Fourth  Parables,  or  Second 
Pair:  The  Mustard  Seed,  and  The  Lea- 
VEX  (v.  31-33.},  or  The  Growth  of  the 
kingdom,  from  the  smallest  beginnings  to 
tdtimate  universality.  For  the  exposition  of 
these  parables,  see  on  L.  13. 20, 21.  34.  without 
a  parable  spake  he  not— i.  e.  on  this  occasion, 
refraining  not  only  from  all  naked  discourse, 
but  even  from  all  interpretation  in  public  of 

these  parables.    35.  in  parables things  kept 

secret,  &c.— Though  the  Psalm  here  quoted 
(Ps.  78.)  seems  to  contain  only  a  summary 
of  Israehtish  history,  the  Psalmist  himself 
calls  it  "a  parable"  and  "dark  sayings  of 
old,"  as  containing,  underneath  the  history, 
truths  for  all  time  not  fuily  brought  to  Ught 
till  the  Gospel-day. 

13. 


cf  the  hidden  treasure,  tfrc 


Fifth  and  Sixth  Parables,  or  Third  Pair: 
The  Hidden  Treasure  and  The  Pearl  of 
Great  Price  {v.  44-46.^.  or  The  priceless 
value  of  the  blessinns  of  the  Kinndom.  The 
one  parable  represents  the  kingdom  faund 
ivithout seeking; the  other,  thekm^domsought 
and  found.  44.  treasiire  hid  in  a  field— no  un- 
common thing  in  unsettled  and  half-civiUzed 
countries,  even  now  as  well  as  in  ancient 
times,  when  there  was  no  other  way  of  se- 
curing it  from  the  rapacity  of  neighl)ours  or 
marauders,  (Jer.  41.  8;  Job  3.  21;  Pr.  2.  4.). 
a  man  that  found— i.  e.  unexpectedly,  for  joy 
thereof,  &c.— perceiving  what  a  treasure  he 
had  found,  passing  the  wortli  of  all  he  pos- 
sessed, buyeth  that  field— in  which  case,  the 
treasure  would^  by  the  Jewish  law,  become 
his  own.  In  the  other  parable,  the  "  one 
pearl  of  great  price"  is  not  found  by  acci- 
dent; it  is  found  by  "a  merchant-manj" 
whose  business  is  to  "  seek  goodly  pearls;  it  is 
found  in  the  way  of  seeking  just  for  such 
treasures.  But  in  tliis  case,  as  in  the  othtw", 
it  is  seen  to  be  of  surpassing  value,  and  aU  is 
parted  with  for  it.  The  truths  taught  in 
these  captivating  parables  are  the  following: 
(1.)  The  ble^xings  of  Christ's  kingdom  are  of 
incomparable  value.  (2.)  They  oidy  deem  tliem 
so  who  are  prepared  to  part  with  all  for  them. 
(3.)  Sonic  find  Christ  withotd  seeking  him; 
others,  as  the  residt  of  Ion  g  and  anxious  search. 
Of  the  first  sort  Christ  himself  says,  "I  was 
found  of  them  that  sought  me  not;  I  was 
made  manifest  unto  them  that  asked  not 
after  me  "  iRo.  10.  20.).  And  such  was  the  wo- 
inan  of  Samaria  J  0.4.).  Of  the  second  sort 
it  is  said,  "  Ye  shall  seek  me,  and  find  me, 
when  ye  shall  search  for  me  with  all  your 
heart  ''^  (Jer.  29. 13. ) .  Such  was  Na tkanael  fJo. 
1.  45.),  (fee.  Tlie  calling  of  the  Gentiles  was 
nearly  all  of  tlie  first  sort,  as  are  the  fruits 
of  missions  still  in  heathen  lands;  the  dis- 
ciples of  John,  and  generally  "all  those  who 
in  Jerusalem  looked  for  redemption  "  (L.  2. 
3«.i,  were  of  the  second  sort,  as  are  all  nowin 
Christian  lands  reared  in  the  knowledge  of 
Christ,  and  taught  to  seek  htm  early,  yet 
often  long  of  finding  liim.  (3.i  Tliose  %vho 
find  Christ v-ithout  seeking  him  liave  u.'iuMly 
the  liveliest  joy;  while  those  who  find  him,  after 
long  and  anvious  search  have  usually  the 
deepest  apprehension  of  his  value.  It  will  be 
observed  that  the  joy  of  discovery  is  only  in 
the  fonner  parable;  as  if  to  express  not  the 
value  set  upon  tlie  treasure,  but  the  unea>- 
pectedness  of  it.  So,  there  was  "more  joy" 
over  the  unexpected  return  of  the  "  prodigal 
son"  than  over  the  son  who  had  been  with 
his  father  all  his  days.  Yet  not  less,  nay 
rather  more,  profound  is  the  sense  of  Christ's 
preciousness  when  fo\iud  after  lon^  and 
anxious  search  has  deepened  the  craving  df 
the  soul  after  him.  52.  therefore— q.  d. '  WelL 
then.'  scribe— Chri.stian  teacher;  so  called 
from  that  well-known  class  amon.g  the  J  ews 

ch.  23.  34.).  instructed  unto  the  kingdom  of 
heaven— himself  taught  and  trained  in  the 
mysteries  of  the  Gospel,  bringeth  forth  — 
■  dealeth  out.'  treasure— storehouse,  things 
new  and  old— old  truths  in  ever  new  forms 
and  applications,  and  with  ever  new  illustra- 
tions.    5x-56.   his  own  country —Nazareth. 

whence  this  wisdom? carpenter's  son?  <fec. — 

'Do  we  not  know  all  about  his  parentage? 
Has  he  not  gi-owu  up  in  the  midst  of  usV  are 
not  all  his  relatives  our  own  townsfolk? 
Y/hence  then  such  wisdom  and  such,  works.?' 


Christ  walh  fh  on  Ihc  sea. 


MATTHEW.  XV. 


Up,  he.alfith  preat  mnltihides. 


Bway.  he  went  up  into  a  mountain  apart 
to  pray:  '  and  when  the  eremiig  was  come, 
he  was  there  alone. 

24  liut  the  ship  was  now  in  the  midst  of 
the  sea,  tossed  with  waves:  for  the  wind 
was  contrary. 

25  And  in  the  fourth  watch  of  the  night 
Jesus  went  unto  them,  walking  on  the  sea. 

26  vVoid  when  the  disciples  saw  him  "*  walk- 
ing on  the  sea,  they  were  troubled,  saying, 
It  is  a  spirit:  and  they  cried  out  for  fear. 

27  But  straightway  Jesus  spake  unto  them, 
saying.  Be  of  good  cheer:  it  is  I;  be  not 
afraid. 

28  And  Peter  answered  him  and  said. 
Lord,  if  it  be  thou,  bid  me  come  ujito  thee 
on  the  water. 

29  And  he  said,  Come.  And  when  Peter 
was  come  down  out  of  the  ship,  he  walked 
on  the  water,  to  go  to  Jesus. 

30  But  when  he  saw  the  wind  3  boisterous, 
he  was  afraid:  and,  beginning  to  sink,  he 
cried,  saving,  Lord,  save  me ! 

31  And  immediately  Jesus  stretched  forth 
his  hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said  uuto 
him,  O  thou  of  little  Ikith,  wherefore  "  didst 
thon  doubt? 

32  And  when  they  were  come  into  the  ship, 
the  "  wind  ceased. 

33  Then  they  that  were  in  the  ship  came 
and  worshipped  him,  saying.  Of  a  truth 
thou  *  art  the  Son  of  God. 

34  TT  And  '  when  they  were  gone  over,  they 
came  into  the  land  of  Gennesaret. 

35  And  when  the  men  of  that  place  had 
knowledge  of  him,  they  sent  out  into  all 
that  country  round  about,  and  brought 
unto  him  all  that  were  diseased; 

3ti  And  besought  him  that  they  might  only 
touch  the  hem  of  his  garment:  and  '"as 
many  as  touched  were  made  perfectly 
whole. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
1  Of  God's  eommandments,  and  m^n's  traditions. 

40   Christ  showet/i  what  defiUth  a  man:  29  he 

healetit  great  muUiUtdes,  et<;, 
H'^IIEN  "  came  to  J  esus  scribes  and  Phari- 
■*■   sees,  which  were  of  Jerusalem,  saying, 

2  Why  *do  thy  disciples  transgress  "the 
tradition  of  the  elders?  for  they  wash  not 
their  hands  when  th-ey  eat  bread. 

3  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
Why  do  ye  also  transgress  the  command- 
ment of  God  by  your  tradition? 

4  For  God  commanded,  saying,  *  Honour 
thy  father  and  mother :  and,  *  He  that 
cm-seth  father  or  mother,  kt  him  die  the 
death. 

5  But  ye  say.  Whosoever  shall  say  to  Ms 
father  or  his  motlier,  f  It  is  a.  gift,  by  what- 
soever thou  mightest  be  nrofited  by  me; 

6  And  honour  not  his  father  or  his  mother, 
lie  shall  be  free.  Thus  have  ye  made  the 
commandment  of  God  of  none  eflect  by 
your  tradition. 

7  Yt "  hypocrites,  well  did  Esaias  prophesy 
of  you,  saying, 

8  This  *  people  draweth  nigh  unto  me 
with  their  mouth,  and  honoureth  me  with 
their  lii's;  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me. 

9  But  m  vain  they  do  worship  me,  *  teach- 
ing fr/r  docti^ines  the  commaudments  of 
men. 

10  t  And  }  he  called  the  multitude,  and 
eaid  unto  them.  Hear,  and  undersUmd: 

11  Not  *that  which  goeth  into  the  mouth 
detileth  a  man;  but  that  which  cometh 
oat  of  tile  luouth,  tliis  detileth  a  mau. 

14 


CHAP.  14. 

I  John  6.  16. 
"»  Job  9.  8. 
3  Or,  strong. 
♦*  Jam.  1.  6. 
0  Pi.  107.  29. 
P  Ps.  2.  7. 

Mark  1.  1. 

ch.  16.  16. 

ch.  26.  53. 

Lu.  4.  41. 

John  1.  49. 

John  6.  C9. 

John  11.27. 

Ads  8.  37. 

Kom.  1.  4. 
9  Mar.  6.  53. 
••  ch.  9.  20. 

Mar.  3.  10. 

Lu.6.  19. 

Acta  19  12. 


CHAP.  15. 
«  Mark  7.  1. 
6  .Mark  7.  5. 
«  Gal.  1.  14. 

Col.  2.  8. 
d  Ei.  20.  12. 

Lev.  19.  3. 

Deu.  5.  10. 

Pro.  £3.22. 

Eph.  6.  2. 
e  Ex.  21.  17. 

Lev.  20.9. 

Deu.  27. 16. 

Pro.  20.20. 

Pro.  30.17. 
/Mar.  7.  11. 
ff  Mar.  7.  6. 
h  la.  29.  13. 

Ee.  33.  31. 
i  U.  29.  13. 
Col.  2.  18. 
1  Ti.  1.6,7. 


I  John  15.  2. 

1  Cor.  3.12. 

mHoa.4,14, 


ch.  23. 16. 
Lu.  6.  39. 
o  Mar.  7.  17. 
P  ch.  16.  9. 

Mar,  7.  18. 
q  1  C«r.  6.13. 
r  Jam.  3.  6. 
8  Gen.  6.  5. 
Geo.  8.  21. 
Pro.  6. 14. 
J«r.  17.  9. 
Mar.  7.  21. 
t  Is.  5:i.  6. 
ch.  10.  5,  6. 
AcU  3.  25, 
26. 

AcU  13.46. 
Rom.  15.  a. 
«  ch.  7.  6. 
Eph.  2. 12. 
Phil.  3.  2. 

V  Mar.  7.  31. 
M'  ch.  4.  18. 
«  la.  35.5,6. 

ch.  11.  5. 
Lu.  7.  22. 

V  ilark  8.  1. 
»  P».  103. 13. 

Hob.  2.  17. 
ONu.  11.  21, 
22. 
2  Ki.  4.  43. 


12  Then  came  his  disciples,  and  said  unto 
him,  Knowesft  thou  that  the  Pharisees  were 
ollended,  after  they  heard  this  saying? 

13  But  he  answered  and  said,  '  Every 
plant,  which  my  heavenly  Father  hath  not 
planted,  shall  be  rooted  up. 

14  Let  *"  them  alone  :  "  they  be  blind 
leaders  of  the  blind.  And  if  the  blind  lead 
the  blind,  both  shall  fall  into  the  ditch. 

15  Then  "answered  Peter  and  said  unto 
him,  Declare  unto  us  this  parable. 

16  And  Jesus  said,  ^  Are  ye  also  yet 
without  understanding? 

17  Do  not  ye  yet  understand,  that '  vfhaU 
soever  entereth  in  at  the  mouth  goeth  into 
the  belly,  and  is  cast  out  into  the  draught? 

18  But  *■  those  things  which  proceed  out 
of  the  mouth  come  forth  from  the  heart; 
and  they  defile  the  man. 

19  For  *out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornications, 
thefts,  false  witness,  blasphemies: 

20  These  are  the  things  which  defile  a 
man  :  but  to  eat  with  uuwashen  hands 
detileth  not  a  man. 

21  U  Then  Jesus  went  thence,  and  de- 
parted into  the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon. 

22  And,  beht>ld,  a  woman  of  Canaan  came 
out  of  the  same  coasts,  and  cried  unto  him, 
saying,  Ha\'e  mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  thou 
son  of  David;  my  daughter  is  grievously 
vexed  with  a  devil. 

23  But  he  answered  her  not  a  word. 
And  his  disciples  came  and  besought  him. 
saying,  iSeud  her  away;  for  she  crieth  after 
us. 

24  But  he  answered  and  said, « I  am  not 
sent  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel. 

25  Then  came  she  and  worshipped  him, 
saying,  lx)rd,  help  me! 

26  But  he  ansAvered  and  said.  It  ia  not 
meet  to  take  the  children's  bread,  and  to 
cast  it  to  "  dogs. 

27  And  she  said.  Truth,  Lord:  yet  the  dogs 
eat  of  the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their 
master's  table. 

28  Then  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
her,  O  woman,  great  is  thy  faith:  be  it  unto 
thee  even  as  thou  wilt.  And  her  daughter 
was  made  whole  from  that  ver^  hour. 

20  H  And  "Jesus  departed  trom  thence, 
and  came  nigh  "'unto  the  sea  of  Galilee; 
and  went  up  into  a  mountain,  and  sat  down 
there. 

00  And  "great  multitudes  came  unto  him, 
having  with  them  tJtose  tluxt  were  lame, 
blind,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many  others, 
and  cast  them  down  at  Jesus'  leet;  and  he 
healed  them: 

31  Insomuch  that  the  multitude  wondered, 
when  they  saw  the  dumb  to  speak,  the 
maimed  to  be  whole,  the  lame  to  walk,  and 
the  blind  to  see:  and  they  gtoiified  the  God 
of  Israel. 

32  ^  Then  i*  Jesus  called  his  disciples  unto 
him,  and  said,  1  *  have  compassion  on  the 
multitude,  because  they  continue  with  me 
now  three  days,  and  have  nothing  to  eat: 
and  1  will  not  send  them  away  fasting,  lest 
they  faint  in  the  way. 

33  And  "  his  disciples  say  unto  him. 
Whence  should  we  have  so  much  bread  in 
the  w  ilderuess  as  to  till  so  great  a  multi- 
tude? 

34  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  How  many 
loaves  have  ye?  And  they  said,  Seven,  and 
a  few  little  fishes. 


Discovrsc  on  ceremonial  vollution.  flLVl''.l.'llE\V,  XIV.  XV.         Miracles  of  Ixealinrf,  cfff.' 

These  particulars  of  the  hvmnn  his*-oiT  ofi  to  drink  in  everv  thins  he  said,  and -with  ad- 
our  Lord  are  the  most  vahiahle  testimony  niirable  plainness,  pithiness,  and  brevity 
not  only  to  his  perfect  humanity,  but  to  the  lays  down  the  great  principle  of  real  poUu- 
divine  character  of  his  whole  rnisnpn.  his  tion.  by  wliidi  a  world  of  bondage  and  un- 
hrethren ...  his  sisters— Either  l.i/«Uoro«/wrs  easiness  of  conscience  would  be  dissipated 
and  siders;  or  (•-'.)  s'tv-hrothers  and  sisters,  \ia  a  moment,  and  the  sense  of  sin  be  re- 
children  of  Joseph  hy  a  former  marriage  ;  or.  served  for  deviations  from  the  holy  and 
(3.)  coiisins,  according  to  a  common  way  of  eternal  law  of  God.  12.  the  Fharisees,  &c. 
speaking  amon?  the  Jews,  for  the  second  —they  gav6  vent  to  their  irritation,  and 
opinion  there  is  no  ^ound  but  a  vasrue  tra-  perhaps  threat.s,  not  to  our  Lord  him  .-elf, 
dition,  probably  arising  from  tlie  wish  for  I  from  whom  they  seem  to  have  slunk  away, 
some  such  exidanation.  Tlie  first  opinion  i  but  to  some  of  the  disciples,  who  report  it  to 
.suits  the  text  best  in  all  the  places  ;  but  as  it  |  their  Waster.     13.  '  They  are  ofiended,  are 

they?  Heed  it  not;  their  corrupt  teaching  is 
already  doomed;  the  Garden  ol  the  Loid 
upon  earth  shall  ^-et  be  purged  of  them  and 
their  system;  yea  and  v.hatsoever  is  not  uf 
"  my  Father,  the  Husbandman"  (J.  15  i  t.}. 
14  Striking  expression  ol  the  ruinous  effects 
ol  erroneous  teaching  !  16.  Sloumeas  of  spiri- 
tual avvrchension  grieves  the  Saviour.  17-20. 
How  searching  is  this  !  As  notliing  outward 
can  defile,  so  neither  can  it  sanetify,  of  iiaeli 
—as  the  Church  of  Eome  teaches  that  sacra- 
ments do  of  themselves:  But  all  the  evil  that 
is  in  tlte  heart,  that  is  allowed  to  rise  up  in 
thought  and  affection,  and  that  flows  forth 
in  voluntary  action— that  is  defiling.  How 
appalling  is  tjie  black  catalogue  here  given, 
(and  even  more  minutely  in  Mark],  of  the 
heart's  depravities ! 

21-28.  The  SYPvOPHENiciANWoiyiAii    See 
on  ]Mk.  7.  24-so. 

29-30.     MIRACLE3    OF    HeaLING  — FOUK, 

Thousand  Fed.  29.  a  mountain— the  moun- 
tain-range bounding  the  lake  on  the  north- 
east, in  Decapolis.  See  ilk.  7.  31.  30.  casi 
them  down  at  Jesus'  feet—'  a  graphic  descrip- 
tion of  their  appeal  to  his  compassion  and 
reliance  on  lii  s  power  '  [  W.  &  W.]    31.  maimed 

whole  — The  word  "maimed"  probably 

means  here,  not  *  mutilated,'  but '  deformed:' 
Jesus  restored  them,  glorifieii  the  God  of 
Israel— thty  saw  in  these  glorious  miracles, 
with  delight  and  thanksgiving,  an  evidence 
that  the  God  of  their  fathers,  after  long 


is  difficult  to  account  for  our  Lord's  com-' 
mitting  his  mothei-  to  John,  if  he  had  full 
brothers  of  his  own  then  living,  many  of  the 
best  interpreters  prefer  the  third  opinion 
Still  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  tmt  our  Lord 
might  have  reasons  for  appointing  the  be- 
loved disciple  the  adopted  son  of  his  doubly 
widowed  mother,  in  preference  even  to  ful 
brothers  of  his  own.     57.  fc^ee  on  L.  4.  24 
58.  did  not  manv  mighty  works— "save  that 
lie  laid  his  hands   on  a  few  sick  iolk,  and 
healed  them"  'Mk.  c.  .5.).  ,    _ 
CHT AFTER  XIV. 
Ver.  1-12.    Hekod  Thinks  Jestts  a  Ee- 

HTJRRECTION'  OF  THE  MURDEBED  E.^PTIST— 

Account  os-  His  Death.     See  on  JVIk.  6. 

14-30. 

15-21.  Five  Thousand  Miraculously 
Fed.    See  on  Jo.  6.  i-i  3. 

22-23.  Jesus  Walks  on  the  Sea.  See 
on  J.  6. 14-21. 

34-36.  Incidents  on  Landing,  v.  M. 
land  of  Gennesaret  —  from  which  the  lake 
sometimes  takes  its  name,  stretching  .-i-lon  - 
its  western  shore.  Capernaum  was  his  land- 
ing-place, J.  6.  24,  25.  35,36.  SeeMk's.  more 
graphic  narrative,  ch.  6.  54-56.  Our  Lord's 
l.opularity  was  now  at  its  height. 
CHAPTER  XV. 

Ver.  1-20.  Discourse  on  Ceremoniai. 
Pollution.  1.  Scribes  and  Pharisees  of 
Jerusalem— As  our  Lord  did  not  attend  that 

Passover  which  was  "nigh  at  hand"  when  .  

hefedthefive  thousand  I  J.  6.  4.J— on  account  I  silence  and  apparent  distance,  had  anew 


of  the  plots  against  his  life  which  were 
hatching  in  Judea  J.  7. 1.)— but  "walked  in 
GaUlee,    where  his  influence  was  daily  in 


visited  his  people,"  L.  7.  16.  32.  I  have 
compassion— an  expression  of  that  deep  emo- 
tion in  the  Redeemers  heart  which  always 


creasin  .'these  rulers  followed  him  north  preceded   some   remarkable    interposition 

(Mk.  7. 1.),  expressly  to  watch,  and  if  possible  ' '■  '     '^' "^    "    ^•- ""   ".a,,.    .    .. 

give  him  a  check.  2.  wash  not  when  they  eat— 
!See  on  JNIk.  7.  2-4.  3.  ye  also  transgress— The 
charge  is  retorted  with  startling  power. 
*  The  tradition  they  tran.sgress  is  but  man's, 
and  is  itself  the  occasion  of  heavy  transgres- 
sion, undermining  the  authority  of  Gods 
law:  5,6.  but  ye  say,  <fec.  — To  dedicate 
property  to  Gk)d  is  lawful  and  laudable, 
but  the  support  of  a  parent  is  a  first  duty, 
tradition  taught  the  reverse;  so  that  parents 
were  allowed  to  want  rather  than  touch 
what  had,  in  a  fit  of  superstition,  or,  it 
might  be,  anger,  been  dedicated  to  more 
'  pious  uses'— "ye  sutler  him  no  more  to  do 
an  gilt  for  his  father  or  his  mother"  iMk.7. 12.). 
How  has  the  Romish  Church  served  itself 
heir  to  the  worst  features  of  Rabbinical 
Judaism  !  7.  hypocrites— Wliat  hypocrisy  can 
exceed  that  just  described?  10,  11.  the  miU- 
ticule.  &c.— the  foregoing  dialogue,  though 
in  the  people's  hearing,  was  between  .Jesus 
and  the  Pharisaic  cavillers,  whose  object 
was  to  disparage  Him  with  the  people.  But 
Jesus  having  put  them  down,  turns  to  the 


multitude  who.  at  this  time 
14 


lor  relief.  See  ch.  14.  14;  20.  34;  JNlk.  l.  41: 
L.  7. 13;  also  ch.  9.  36,  before  the  mission  of 
the  twelve,  (cf.  Ju.  2. 18;  lo.  10.).  have  been 
with  me—'  are  in  constant  attendance  upon 
me.'  "Tlie  multitude  was  very  great,  and 
they  had  nothing  to  eat"  (Aik.  8. 1.),  yet  in  their 
eagerness  they  seem  not  to  have  thought  of 
it,  though  "  divers  of  them  came  from  far" 
(INIk.  8.  3.).  But  the  Lord  thought  of  it.  I 
will  not  send— 'I  am  imwilling  to  send.' 
33,  37.  Tlie  only  ditierence  between  this 
miracle  and  that  of  the  five  thousand,  is  the 
number  fed,  the  number  of  the  loaves  and 
fishes,  and  the  number  of  the  baskets  of 
frg,gments  taken  up.  But  it  is  remarkable 
tnat  the  word  for  "baskets"  in  the  two 
cases  is  quite  dillerent,  and  that  this  differ- 
ence is  marked  not  only  in  the  narratives 
themselves,  both  of  M.  and  Mk.,  but  in  the 
allusion  to  the  two  miracles  afterwards,  ch. 
16. 10.  Tlie  word  used  in  the  present  case- 
that  of  the  four  thousand— denotes  a  ba.^.ket 
large  enough  to  hold  a  man's  body,  for  Paul 
was  let  down  in  one  of  these  from  the  waU  of 
Damascus,  A.  9.  25.  39.  coasts  of  Magdala— 
were  orepared  on  the  W.  shove  ol  lue  ialie.  from  wluvh 


Christ  healefh  a  lunafis. 


MATTHEW.  XVIII. 


Of  htimility  andforgivencfs. 


11  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
fhem,  Elias  truly  shall  first  come,  and 
restore  •  all  things. 

12  But  }  1  say  unto  yon,  That  Elias  is 
come  already,  and  they  knew  him  not,  hut 
have  *  done  unto  him  whatsoever  they 
listed.  Likewise  shall  also  the  Son  of  man 
suffer  of  them. 

13  Then  the  disciples  trnderstood  that  he 
spake  unto  them  of  John  the  Baptist. 

14  H  And  '  when  they  were  come  to  the 
multitude,  there  came  to  him  a  certain 
man,  kneeling  down  to  him,  and  saving, 

15  Lord,  have  mercy  on  my  son:  for  he  is 
lunatic,  and  sore  vexed:  for  ofttimes  he 
falleth  into  the  fire,  and  oft  into  the  water. 

16  And  I  brought  him  to  thy  disciples, 
and  they  could  not  cure  him. 

17  Then  Jesus  answered  and  said,  O  faith- 
less and  per\erse  generation,  how  long 
shall  I  be  with  youl  how  long  shall  1  sutilr 
you!    Bring  him  hither  to  me. 

18  And  Jesus  rebuked  the  devil;  and  he 
departed  out  of  him:  and  the  child  was 
cured  from  that  very  hour. 

19  Then  came  the  discijiles  to  Jesus  apart, 
and  said.  Why  could  not  we  cast  him  out? 

20  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Because  of 
your  unbelief:  for  veiily  I  say  uuto  you. 
If  *"  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  ye  shaD  say  unto  this  mountain,  Ue- 
move  hence  to  yonder  place ;  and  it  shall 
remove;  and  nothing  shall  be  impossible 
unto  you. 

21  Ilowbeit  this  kind  goeth  not  out  but 
by  prayer  and  fastins:. 

22  II  And  "while  they  abode  in  Galilee, 
Jesus  said  unto  them.  The  Son  of  man 
shall  be  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  men; 

23  And  they  shall  kill  him,  and  the  third 
day  he  shall  be  raised  again.  And  they 
were  exceeding  sorry. 

24  II  And  "  when  they  were  come  to 
Capernaum,  they  that  received  i  tribute 
money  came  to  Peter,  and  said,  Doth  not 
your  master  pay  tribute? 

25  He  saith,  Yes.  And  when  he  was  come 
into  the  house,  Jesus  prevented  him,  say- 
ing. What  thinkest  thou.  Simon?  of  wliom 
do  the  Kings  of  the  earth  take  custom 
or  tribute?  of  their  own  children,  or  of 
strangers? 

2(J  I'eter  saith  unto  him.  Of  strangers. 
Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Then  are  the  children 
free. 

27  Notwithstanding,lest  we^  should  ofiend 
them,  go  thou  to  the  sea,  and  cast  an  hook, 
and  take  up  the  fish  that  first  cometh  up; 
and  when  thou  hast  opened  his  mouth, thou 
Shalt  find  2  a  piece  of  money:  that  take,  and 
give  uuto  them  for  me  and  thee. 
CHAPTER  XVIU. 
1  Christ  tfacheth  to  be  humble.  7  Touching  of- 
ffiices,  21  and  forgiving  one  another. 

AT  "the  same  time  came  the  disciples 
■*■*-  vmto  Jesus,  saying.  Who  is  the  greatest 
in  the  kingdom  ot  heaven  ? 

2  And  Jesus  called  a  little  child  unto  him, 
and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them, 

3  And  said.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  6  Ex- 
cept ye  be  converted,  and  become  as  little 
children,  ye  sliall  not  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven. 

4  Whosoever  "  therefore  shall  humble  him 
self  as  this  little  child,  the  same  is  greatest 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

b  And  i*  whoso  shall  receive  one  such  litUe 
child  in  my  name  rtceiveth  me. 
16 


t  Mai.  4.  6. 


Lu. 


16. 


Acts  3.  21. 
j  >Urk  9. 12. 
%  ch.  14.  3. 
I  Lu.  9.  37. 
»»  Mar.  11. 23. 
Lu   17.6. 


»»ch.  16.21, 
Mark  !<.31. 
Lu.  9.  22. 
Lu.  18.  31. 
Lu.  24.6.7. 

0  Mark  9,  33. 

1  didrachma, 
ID  value 
fifteen- 
pence. 

P  Mar.  12  17. 
1  Cor.  10. 
32. 

2  Or,  a 


luo  2s  6d. 
after  63. 
the  ounce. 


iPs.  131.2. 

Mar.  10.14. 

Lu.  \».  16. 

1  Cor.  14. 

2<J. 

1  Pet.  2.  2. 
c  P».  67   15. 

Ps.  66.  2. 
d  ch.  10.  42. 
e  Lu  17.  1. 

1  Cor.  11. 

19. 
/ch.  26.  24. 
a  Mar.  9.  43. 
ft  P..  34.  7. 

Zech.  13  7. 

Heb.  1.  14. 
i  Esth.  1. 14. 


Lu. 


19. 


;■  Lu.  15.  4. 
*Lev.  19.17. 
I  Jam.  5.  20. 
1  Pet.  3.  1. 
m  Deu  19  16. 

2  Cor.13  1. 

Heb.10.28. 
n  1  Ti.  5.  20. 

0  Ro.  16.  17. 

1  Cor.  6. 9. 

2  John  10. 
P  John  20.23. 

1  ch.  6.  24. 

r  Jam.  5.  16. 

1  John  3. 

22. 

«  Em.  48.  35. 

Zech.  2.  6. 

ch.  28.  20. 

Rev.  1.  13. 

Rev.  2.  1. 

Rev.  21.  3. 

t  Lu.  17.  4. 

«  Col.  3. 13. 

1  A  talent  is 

7.TU  ounces 

of  silver, 


187(.  lOs. 
'2  Kin.  4.  L 


6  But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these 
little  ones  which  believe  in  me,  it  were 
better  for  him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged 
about  his  neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned 
in  the  depth  of  the  sea. 

7  ^  Woe  unto  the  world  because  of  offen- 
ces !  for  '  it  must  needs  be  that  offences 
come;  but  /woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the 
offence  cometh ! 

8  Wherefore  o  if  thy  hand  or  thy  foot 
offend  thee,  cut  them  off,  and  cast  them 
from  thee:  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter 
into  life  halt  or  maimed,  rather  than  hav- 
ing two  hands  or  two  feet  to  be  cast  into 
everlasting  fire. 

9  And  if  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it 
out,  and  cast  it  from  thee:  it  is  better  for 
thee  to  enter  into  life  with  one  eye,  rather 
than  having  two  eyes  to  be  cast"  into  hell 
fire. 

10  IT  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  ore  of 
these  little  ones;  for  1  say  unto  you.  That 
in  heaven  '^  their  angels  do  always  « behold 
the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

11  For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  save 
that  which  was  lost. 

12  How  /think  ye?  If  a  man  have  an 
hundred  sheep,  and  one  of  them  be  gone 
astray,  doth  he  not  leave  the  ninety  and 
nine,  and  goeth  into  the  mountains,  and 
seeketh  that  which  is  gone  astray? 

13  And  if  so  be  that  he  find  it,  verily  I 
say  unto  you.  He  rejoiceth  more  of  that 
sheep,  than  of  the  muety  and  nine  which 
went  not  astray. 

14  Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of 
these  little  ones  should  perish. 

15  H  Moreover,  *  if  thy  brother  shall  tres- 

Eass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
etween  thee  and  him.  alone :  if  he  shall 
hear  thee, '  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother. 

16  But  if  he  will  not  near  thee,  then  take 
with  thee  one  or  two  more,  that  in  "^  the 
mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
word  may  be  established. 

17  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them, 
tell  it  unto  " the  church:  but  if  he  neghct 
to  hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto  theeaa 
an  "  heathen  man  and  a  pubHcan. 

18  Verily  1  say  tmto  you,  ^  W'hatsoever  ye 
shall  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in 
heaven;  and  whatsoever  ye  shall  loose  on 
earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven. 

19  Again  « 1  say  unto  you.  That  if  two  of 
you  shall  agree  on  eartn  as  touchhig  any 
thing  that  they  shall  ask,  *"  it  shall  be  done 
for  them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

20  For  where  two  or  three  are  gathered 
together  in  my  name,  •  there  am  1  in  the 
midst  of  them. 

21  H  Then  came  Peter  to  him,  and  said. 
Lord,  how  oft  shall  my  brother  sin  against 
me,  and  1  forgive  him? '  till  seven  times? 

22  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  1  say  not  unto 
thee.  Until  seven  times; "  but.  Until  seventy 
times  seven. 

23  ^  Therefore  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
likened  unto  a  certain  king,  which  would 
take  account  of  his  senauts. 

24  And  when  he  had  begun  to  reckon,  one 
was  brought  unto  hun,  which  owed  him 
ten  thousand  l  talents: 

25  But  forasmuch  as  he  had  not  to  pay. 
his  lord  commanded  him  "to  be  sold,  and 
his  wife  and  children,  and  all  that  he  had, 
and  payment  to  be  made. 

26  The  servant  therefore  fell  down,  and 


Jesus  tranfftrtured. 


MATTHEW.  XVIJ,  XYUl. 
"  free." 


the  Lord  shook  off  with  horror.    Thou  art 

an  offence  to  me— 'Tliou  playest  the  Temp-  „  ,   ~ 

ter,  castins?  a  stumbling-block  in  my  way  to  tlie_one  and  oUii/atory  for  the  other, 
the  cross.  Could  it  siicceed.where  wert  thou  ? 
and  how  should  the  seri)ent's  head  be  bruis- 
ed V  savo:irest  not  the  things  of  God,  but  of  men 
— 'throwest  thy  soul  into  human  views  of 
the  way  of  setting  up  Messiah's  kingdom, 
clean  contrary  to  those  of  God.'  This  was 
said  to  explain  why  Peter  was  so  addressed. 
How  possible  is  it  even  for  Christians,  by 
falling  into  unspiritual  conceptions  of  the 
things  of  God,  to  throw  stumbling-blocks  mi, 
the  way  of  devoted  servants  of  Christ,  think- 
ing they  are  only  checking  fanatical  or  inju- 
dicious proceedings,  when  they  themselves 
are,  in  so  doing,  the  mere  tools  of  Satan. 
Would  that  they  met  vAth  cls  little  success 
as  Peter  did  with  his  blessed  Master!  24- 
28.  See  onMk.  8.  ;i  <\  .and  L.  9,  23-27. 
CHAPTER  XVn. 

Ver.  1-13,  Jesus  Tkansfigxtked— Con- 
VERSATioK  ABOUT  Elias.  See  on  L.  9. 28-36. 

14-21.  Demokiac  and  Lunatic  Boy 
Healed.    See  on  Mk.  9.  14-29. 

22,23.  Second  Explicit  Announcement 
BY  OUR  Lord  of  His  Death  and  Resur- 
rection. The  proper  parallels  to  this  are 
Mk.  9.  30-32,  and  L.  9.  43-45.  exceeding  sorry 
—shocking  against  all  their  ideas  of  Him  and 
his  kingdom,  of.  ch.  16.  22. 

24-27.  The  Tribute-Money.  24.  tribute 
—the  word  here  means  an  Attic  coin  corres- 
ponding to  the  Jewish  half -shekel,  payable, 
towards  the  maintenance  oi  the  temple  and 
its  services,  by  every  male  Jew  of  twenty 
years  old  and  upward— a  sacred  tax.  Ihe 
word  rendered  "  tribute  "  in  the  next 
verse  means  the  poU-tax  payable  to  the 
Romans  by  every  one  whose  name  was  in 
the  'census'  — a  ciml  tax.  The  question 
related  to  the  sacred  tax  (see  Ex.  30.  13;  2 
Chr.  24.  6,  9.).  It  seems  implied  that  the 
payment  of  this  tax  was  volurdary,  though 
expected.  25.  Yes— gr.  d.  'To  be  sure  he  does;' 
as  ii  eager  to  remove  even  the  suspicion  of 
the  contrary.  If  Peter  knew  that  there  was 
no  money  in  the  bag,  this  reply  was  a  great 
act  of  faith  in  his  JNIaster.  prevented-'  anti- 
cipated' him.  Simon— his  family  name, 
used  for  familiarity,  custom— customs  on 
goods  exported  or  imported,  tribute  — See 
on  V.  24.  strangers  —  not  'foreigners,'  but 
•subjects' not  ot  their  own  family.  26,27. 
Then  ...  the  children  free  . . .  Notwithstanding 
— g.  d.  '  2'his  tax  is  for  unhoMing  my  Father  s 
House:  As  His  Son  the  tax  is  not  due  by  Me, 
I  AM  Free:  Yet,  let  us  pay  it,'  "lest  we 
should  offend  ibe  a  stumbling-block  to) 
them,"  who  know  not  my  relation  to  the 
Lord  of  the  temple.  A  more  direct  claim  to 
essential  Deity,  as  "  own  Son  "  of  the  Father, 
cannot  well  be  conceived,  a  piece  of  money 
— '  a  stater,'  equal  to  two  of  the  coins  first 
mentioned,  and  so  the  exact  sum  required 
for  both.  The  wonders  of  this  miracle 
are,  (I.)  That  the  exact  sum  required 
should  be  found  in  a  fish's  mouth.  (2.)  That 
Jesus  should  know  it.  (3.)  That  this  very 
fish  fJiould  come  to  the  spot  where  Peter's 
nook  was  to  be  cast,  and  be  caught  by  it,  re- 
taining and  yielding  the  coin  required.— Yet 
at  this  moment  the  Lord's  whole  means  of 
subsistence   were   exhausted!    See  2  Cor. 

9.    for— lit.  '  instead  ot ;  '  for  the  payment 


was  a  redemption  paid  for  the  person  (Ex. 

80.  12.},  in  wnich  sense  certainly  Jesus  was  j  liim  aside,  show  lum  his  lault.and  if  he  own 


Strife  among  the  twelve,  etc. 

for  Tile  and  thee  —  "  not  for  us,"  to 
distinguish  between  voluntary  pajTueut  for 
the  one  and  obligatory  for  the  other.  See  on 
J.  20, 17. 

CHAPTER  XVm, 
Ver.  1-35.  Strife  among  the  Twelve, 
"WHO  Should  be  Greatest  in  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven,  v.  1.  Tlie  dispute,  it 
seems,  (Mk.  9.  33,  34,!,  was  "  on  the  way"  to 
Capernaum;  and  "among  themselves;' 
Jesus,  though  aware  of  it,  waited  till  they 
were  "in  the  house,"  and  then  questioned 
them  about  it,  which  put  them  to  the  blush, 
conscious  of  the  temper  towards  each  other 
which  it  had  kindled.  This  raised  the  whole 
question  afresh,  and  at  this  point  Matthew 
here  takes  it  up.  The  subject  was  suggested 
by  the  recent  announcement  of  the  King- 
dom (ch.  16.  19,  28.),  the  transfiguration  of 
their  Master,  and  especially  the  preference 
given  to  three  of  them  at  that  scene.  2.  set 
him  in  the  midst—"  and  (after  this]  took  him 
in  his  arms"  (Mk.  9.  36.).  3,  4.  except  ye  be 
converted  ...  not  enter,  (fee.  — '  Look  at  thnt 
child— what  absence  of  all  seJ f -seeking,  vthiit 
simplicity,  humility,  confidence  !  Except  ye 
be  "converted"  from  carnal  ambition  into 
this  cliild-Iike  frame  of  mind,  you  have 
neither  part  nor  lot  in  the  Kingdom  at  all; 
and  he  who  has  most  of  it  is  highest  there. 
See  Llk.  9.  35.  5.  one  such  little  child  —who, 
as  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  cultivates  and  mani- 
fests the  spirit  which  this  child  involunta- 
rily displays,  in  my  name— from  love  to  Me. 
(Here  comes  in  the  incident  about  one  cast- 
ing out  devils,  for  which  see  L.  9.  49,  50.) . 
offend— cause  to  stumble  or  fall,  refenlng 
probably,  to  the  effect  which  their  unsa- 
voury disputes  would  have  on  "  those  with- 
out," leading  to  the  belief  that  they  were  no 
better  than  others,  the  world  because  of  of- 
fences—' There  will  be  stumblings  and  falls 
and  loss  of  souls  enough  from  the  world's 
treatment  of  disciples,  without  any  addition 
from  you:  dreadful  will  be  its  doom  in  con- 
sequence; see  that  ye  share  not  in  it.'  it  must 
needs  be,  &c.—'  The  stni^gle  between  light  and 
darkness  will  inevitably  cause  stumbhngs, 
but  not  less  giulty  is  he  who  wilfully  makes 
any  to  stumble.'    8,  9.  See  on  Mk.  9.  43-50. 

10.  their  angels  behold,  &c.— Among  men, 
those  who  nurse  and  rear  the  royal  children, 
however  humble  in  themselves,  are  allowed 
free  entrance  with  their  charge,  and  a  degree 
cf  familiarity  which  even  the  highest  state 
ministers  dare  not  assume.  Pi'obably  our 
Lord  means  that,  in  virtue  of  their  charge 
over  his  disciples  (Heb.  1.  13;  Jo.  1.  51.),  the 
angels  have  errands  to  the  throne,  a  icelcome 
there,  and  a  dear  familiarity  in  dealing  with 
"His  Father  which  is  in  heaven,"  which  on 
their  own  matters  they  could  not  assume. 

11.  'The  whole  object  and  errand  ot  the  Son 
of  Man  into  the  world  is  to  "  save  the  lost: " 
Take  heed  that  ye,  by  causing  "  offences,"  do 
not  lose  the  saved.'  See  v.  14.  12,  13.  See 
on  L.  15.  3-7.  15,  17.  If  thy  brother  trespass 
against  thee— Each  would  be  saying,  in  re- 
ference to  the  late  dispute.  It  was  not  I  that 
began  it,  I  that  threw  oxit  imworthy  and 
irritating  insinuations  against  my  brethren. 
Ee  it  so,  says  our  Lord;  but  as  such  things 
wiU  often  arise.  I  wiU  direct  you  how  to  pro- 
ceed. (1.)  Neither  harbour  a  eiiidge  against 
your  offending  brother,  nor  break  forth  upon 
him  in  presence  of  the  unbelieving,  hut  take 


Of  divorcement. 

*  worshipped  him,  sayins,  Lord,  have  pa^- 
tience  with  me,  and  1  will  pay  thee  all. 

27  Then  the  lord  of  that  servant  was  moved 
with  compassion,  and  loosed  hun,  and  for- 
gave him  the  debt. 

28  But  the  same  servant  went  out,  and 
found  one  of  his  fellow-servants,  which 
owed  him  an  hundred  ''pence;  and  he  laid 
hands  on  him,  and  took  him  by  the  throat, 
Baying,  Pay  me  that  thou  owest. 

29  And  hi's  fellow-servant  fell  down  at  his 
feet,  and  besought  him,  saybig.  Have  pa^ 
tience  with  me,  and  1  will  pay  thee  all. 

80  And  he  would  not:  but  went  and  cast 
him  into  prison,  till  he  should  pay  the 
debt. 

31  So  when  his  fellow-servants  saw  what 
was  done,  they  were  very  sorry,  and  came 
and  told  unto  their  lord  all  that  was  done. 

32  Then  his  lord,  after  that  he  had  called 
him,  said  unto  him,  O  thou  wicked  servant, 
I  forgave  thee  all  that  debt,  because  thou 
desiredst  me: 

33  Shouldest  ""not  thou  also  have  had 
compassion  on  thy  fellow-sen'axit,  even  as 
I  had  pity  on  thee? 

34  And  his  lord  was  wroth,  and  delivered 
him  to  the  tormentors,  till  he  should  pay 
all  that  was  due  unto  him. 

35  So  *  likewise  shall  my  heavenly  Father 
do  also  unto  you,  if  ye  from  your  hearts 
forgive  not  every  one  his  brother  their 
trespasses. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
1  Christ  htaUth  tlie  sick;  3  tie  answereth  the  Fhari- 
tees  touching  divorcement ;  16  he instructeth  how 
to  attain  ev'erlastittg  life,  etc. 
A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  "  that  when  Jesns 
■*^  had  finished  these  sayings,  he  departed 
from  Galilee,  and  came  into  the  coasts  of 
Judea  beyond  Jordan; 

2  And  *  great  multitudes  followed  him; 
and  he  healed  them  there. 

3  %  The  Pharisees  also  came  unto  him, 
tempting  him,  and  saying  unto  him.  Is  it 
lawful  for  a  man  to  put  away  his  wife  for 
every  cause? 

4  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
Have  ye  not  read,  *=that  he  which  made 
them  at  the  beginning  made  them  male  and 
female, 

5  And  said,  ^  For  this  cause  shall  a  man 
leave  father  and  mother,  and  shall  cleave 
to  his  wife:  and 'they  twain  shall  be  one 
flesh? 

6  Wherefore  they  are  no  more  twain,  but 
one  flesh.  What  therefore  God  hath  joined 
together,  let  not  man  put  asunder, 

7  They  say  unto  him,  /Why  did  Moses  then 
command  to  give  a  writing  of  divorcement, 
and  to  put  her  away? 

8  He  saith  unto  them,  Moses  because  of 
the  hardness  of  your  hearts  suffered  you  to 
put  away  your  wives:  but  ^  from  the  begin- 
ning it  was  not  so. 

9  And  ''  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall 
put  away  his  wife,  except  it  be  for  fornica- 
tion, and  shall  marry  another,  committeth 
adultery;  and  whoso  marrieth  her  which  is 
put  away  doth  commit  adultery. 

10  H  His  disciples  say  unto  him,  » If  the 
case  of  the  man  be  so  with  his  wife,  it  is  not 
good  to  n:arry. 

11  But  he  said  unto  them, }  All  men  can- 
not receive  this  saying,  save  they  to  whom 
it  is  given. 

12  For  there  are  some  eunuchs,  which 
were  so  boru  from  their  mother's  womb: 

17 


MATTHEW,  XIX,  XX. 


Bow  to  attain  etenml  H^dr 


3  The  Ro- 
man penny 


ounce, 
whichgfter 
fire  thil- 
linga  the 
ounce  is 
Bevenpenoe 
halfpenny. 

o..  aj.  a. 

f  Eph.  i.  B2. 

Ep».  5  2. 

Col.  3.  13. 
*  Pro.  81. 13. 

ch.  6.  12. 

BL-ir.11.26. 

Jam.  2. 13. 


CHAP.  19. 

a  JIar.  10.  1. 

John  1U.40. 
6  ch.  12.  16. 
c  Gen.  1.  27. 

Gen.  5.  2. 

JIal  2.  15. 
d  Gen.  2  24. 

Blar  10.5,9. 

Eph.  6.  31. 
ei  Cor.  0.16. 

1  Ciir.  7.  2. 
/  De\u  94.  1. 

ch.  5.31. 
g  Jer.  6.  16. 
A  ch.  5.  32. 

Mar.lO.ll. 

Lu   16.  1«. 

1  Cor.  7. 

10,  11. 
i  Pro.  21. 19. 
i  1  Oor.  7.  2, 

7,  9,  17. 
k  1  Cor.  7. 

32,34. 

1  Cor.  9.  5, 

15. 
I  Mark  10.13. 

Lu.  18.  15. 
»»ch.  18.  3. 
1  Pe.2.1,2, 
n  Lu.  10.  25. 
0  Rom.  9.  31. 
p  Ex.  20.  13. 

r>eu.  5. 17. 
9  ch.  15.  4. 
r  Lev.  19.  18. 

Kom.  13.  9. 

G»l.  5.  14. 

Jam.  2.  8. 
«  Lu.  12.  33. 

Lu.  16.  9. 

Acts  2.  45. 

Acts  4.  34. 
.  1  Ti.  6.  18. 
t  1  Cor.  1.26. 

1  Tim.  6.9. 
u  Gen.  18.14. 

Job  42.  2. 

Jer.  32. 17. 

Zech.  8.  6. 

V  Mar.  10.28. 

«'X)eu.33.9. 

eh.  4.  20. 

Lu.  5. 11. 

*  2  Cor.  5. 

17. 


Kcv.  2.  26, 

Sch.  20.  16. 

Mar.  10.31, 


and  there  are  some  eimuchs,  which  were 
made  eunuchs  of  men;  and  *  there  be 
eunuchs,  which  have  made  themselves 
eunuchs  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven's  sake. 
He  that  is  able  to  receive  it,  let  him  receive 
it. 

13  IT  Then  '  were  there  brought  unto  him 
little  children,  that  he  should  put  Ais  hands 
on  them,  and  pray:  and  the  disciples  re- 
buked them. 

14  But  Jesus  said,  Suffer  little  children, 
and  forbid  them  not,  to  come  unto  me;  fot 
of"*  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

13  And  he  laid  his  hands  on  them,  and 
departed  thence. 

16  TT  And,  behold,  one  came  and  said  unto 
him,  "  Good  Master,  what  "  good  thing 
shall  I  do,  that  I  may  have  eternal  life? 

17  And  he  said  unto  him.  Why  callest 
thou  me  good?  there  is  none  good  but  one, 
tJuit  is,  God:  but  if  thou  wilt  enter  into 
life,  keep  the  commandments. 

18  He  saith  unto  him.  Which?  Jesus  said. 
Thou  P  Shalt  do  no  mm-der.  Thou  shalt  not 
commit  adultery.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 
Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness, 

19  Honour  9  thy  father  and  thy  mother; 
and,  ''Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as 
thyself. 

20  The  young  man  saith  unto  him,  All 
these  things  have  I  kept  from  my  youth  up: 
what  lack  I  yet? 

21  Jesus  said  unto  him.  If  thou  wilt  be 
perfect,  *  go  tt»id  sell  that  thou  hast,  and 
give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have 
treasure  in  heaven;  and  come  and  follow 
me. 

22  But  when  the  young  man  heard  that 
saying,  he  went  away  sorrowful:  for  he  had 
great  possessions. 

23  H  Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disciples, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you.  That  *  a  rich  man 
shall  hardly  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. 

24  And  again  I  say  unto  yon,  It  is  easier 
for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a 
needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God. 

25  When  his  disciples  heard  it,  they  were 
exceedingly  amazed,  saying,  Who  then  can 
be  saved? 

26  But  Jesus  beheld  them,  and  said  unto 
them.  With  men  this  is  impossible;  but 
with  "  God  all  things  are  possible. 

27  %  Then  "  answered  Peter  and  said  unto 
him.  Behold,  "■  we  have  forsaken  all,  and 
followed  thee ;  what  shall  we  have  there- 
fore? 

28  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you.  That  ye  which  have  followed  me, 
in  *  the  regeneration,  when  the  Son  of  man 
shall  sit  in  the  throne  of  his  gloiT,  ^  ye  also 
shall  sit  upon  twelve  thrones,  judging  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 

29  And  every  one  that  hath  forsaken 
houses,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or 
mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for 
niv  name's  sake,  shall  receive  an  hundred- 
fold,  and  shall  inherit  everlasting  life. 

30  But  *  many  tliat  are  first  shall  be  last; 
and  the  last  shall  be  first. 

CHAPTEll  XX. 

1  Of    the  labourers  m  the  vineucird.    17  Christ 

foreUlleth  his  passioin  2U  Teachcth  his  disci fles 

to  be  lowly  t  W  and  giveth  sight  to  two  bUud 

men, 

"r"OK  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto 

■*    a  man  lliat  is  an  householder,  which 


Final  dcparlurc  from  Ccdilec.  MATTHEW,  XIS,  XX.    The  rnrahle  of  the  la'mircrs,  etc. 


and  make  reparation  for  it,  you  have  done 
more  service  to  him  tlian  even  justice  to  your- 
self.(2.]  If  this  fail,  take  two  ortnree  to  w  itness 
how  just  your  complaint  is,  and  how  broth- 
erly your  spirit  in  dealing  with  him.  (3.)  If 
this  fail,  bring  him  before  the  Church,  to 
which  both  own  subjection.  (4.)  If  this  fail, 
regard  him  as  no  longer  a  brother  Christian, 
but  as  one  "  without,"  as  the  Jews  did  Gen- 
tiles and  Publicans.  18.  See  on  ch.  16.  19, 
and  J.  20.  23.  19,  20.  \Miat  precious  en- 
couragement to  united  prayer!  Observe 
the  connexion  of  the  two  verses.  ISvo  or 
three  met  in  Jesus'  name  are  assured  that 
tl:ey  have  Him  in  the  midst  of  them;  and 
this  secures  that  "Hw  Father  in  heaven  will" 
do  for  them  what  they  "  agree  to  ask."  Ob- 
serve also  the  answer  "in  heaven"  to  the 
asking  "'on  ea?-Wi."— Jesus  being  the  link  of 
connexion,  the  living  Conductor  of  the 
prayer  upward,  and  the  answer  downward  I 
21.  Peter  .  .  .  Lord,  how  oft  shall  my  brother 
—In  the  recent  dispute,  Peter  had  probably 
been  an  object  of  special  en'^'y,  and  his  for- 
wardness in  continually  answering  for  all 
the  rest  would  likely  be  cast  up  to  him, 
(by  Judas?  notwithstanding  Ids  Master's 
commendations.  And  as  such  insinuations 
had  been  made  once  and  again,  he  wished 
to  know  how  often  and  how  long  he  was  to 
bear  it.  22.  seventy  times  seven— As  long  as 
needed;  i.  e.  never  coming  to  the  point  of 
refusal  when  sincerely  asked.  See  on  L.  17. 
3.  4.  23.  Therefore— Q.  d.  'in  reference  to 
this  matter.'  take  account  of  his  servants— 
'overhaul  the  accounts  of  his  revenue-col- 
lectors.' 24.  ten  thousand  talents— if  of  silver, 
equal  to  the  revenue  of  a  province;  much 
more  if  gold.  25.  sold— See  Marg.  and  Le. 
25.  39.  26.  fell  down  .  .  .  worshipped,  &c.  — 
This  is  just  an  aclmowledgment  of  the  jus- 
tice of  tlie  claim  against  hirn,  and  a  piteous 
impl  oration  of  mercy.  27.  Payment  being 
hopeless  and  the  case  desperate,  the  Master 
(1.1  is  "moved  with  compas.sion;"  ,2.)  libe- 
rates Ms  debtor  from  prison;  3.  cancels  the 
debt— freely.  28.  one  of  liis  feUow-servants— 
Jlark  the  different  footing  of  these  two  Irom 
that  of  Master  and  servant— which  was  the 
other  case.  See  v.  33.  an  hundred  pence— a 
proportion  to  the  other  of  about  one  to  a 
hundred,  took  by  throat— thrusting  the  hand 
between  the  upper  part  of  a  close-fitting 
tunic  and  the  throat,  and  so  griping  him. 
[w.  &  \v.]  pay,  &c.— Mark  the  mercilessness 
even  of  the  tone.  29.  The  same  words  which, 
from  his  own  lips,  drew  compassion  from  his 
]\laster.  31.  This  expresses  their  sense  of 
the  intolerable  injustice  and  impudence  of 
the  act,  in  one  so  recently  laid  imder  the 
heaviest  obligations  to  their  common  mas- 
ter. 34.  tormentors- more  than  j«t/ers— de- 
noting additional  severity.  35.  So  likewise, 
&c.— in  this  spirit-  for  God  cannot  mistake 
the  character  of  those  he  pardons,  as  men 
often  do.  In  this  beautiful  parable,  it  is 
presupposed  that  God's  forgiveness  of  us  pre- 
cedes our  forgiveness  of  each  other,  begets  the 
forgiving  disposition  in  us,  and  furnishes 
the  grand  model  of  mercy  which  we  are  to 
copy.    See  ch.  <;.  15. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Ver.  1-12.  PiNAL  Departtjke  from 
Galilee  — Divorce.  1.  departed  — but  a 
considerable  time  elapsed  between  the 
events  of  ch.  18.  and  those  of  this  chapter. 
iL.  9.  61  to  18.  14;  J.  7.  2-10,  40.).    beyond 


Jordan— on  the  E.  side.  3.  put  away  ...  for 
every  cause— See  on  ch.  5.  31,  32.  IVo  rival 
JewLsh  schools  were  divided  on  this  question 
—a  delicate  one  in  Herod  Antipas'  domin- 
ions De  W.).  4-6.  Jesus  sends  them  back 
to  the  original  constitution  of  man  as  one 
pair,  a  male  and  a  female;  to  their  marriage, 
as  such,  by  divine  appointment;  and  to  the 
purpose  of  God,  expressed  by  the  sacred 
historian,  that  in  all  time  one  man  and 
one  woman  should  by  marriage  become 
one  flesh,  i.  e.  so  long  as  both  are  in  the 
flesh.  ITiis  being  God's  constitution,  let 
not  man  break  it  up  by  causeless  divorces. 
8.  Moses— as  a  civil  lav:giver.  for— 'having 
respect  to.'  the  hardness,  fcc— their  low 
moral  state,  their  inability  to  endure  the 
strictness  of  the  original  law.  F^iffered— 
tolerated  a  relasation.of  the  strictne^-s  of  the 
marriage  bond:  not  in  approbation  of  it,  but 
to  prevent  still  greater  evils,  but  from  the 
beginning,  izc.  —  this  is  repeated  to  enforce 
the  temporary  and  civil  nature  of  this  INIosaic 
relaxation.  10.  If,  <i:c.  — "In  this  view  of 
maiTiage,  it  must  prove  only  a  snare,  and 
had  better  be  avoided  altogether.'  11, 12. 
this  saying— that  the  unmarried  state  is 
better:  A  state  of  celibacy,  says  our  Lord,  is 
for  (1.)  Persons  constitutionally  incapable 
of  or  indisposed  to  maniage;  (2.)  Persons 
rendered  incapable  by  others;  (3.^  Persons 
who,  to  do  God  s  work  better,  choose  this 
state.  Such  was  Paul  ilCor.  7.  26.  >.  He  that 
is  able,  izc.—'  who  feels  it  to  be  his  own  vo- 
cation, let  him  embrace  it— i.  e.  he  only. 
Thus,  all  is  free  in  this  matter. 

13-15.  Little  Children  Brought  to 
Christ.    See  on  L.  18.  15-17. 

16-30.  The  EiCH  Young  Euler.  See  on 
L.  18. 18-30. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Ver.  1-16.  The  Parable  of  theLabottr- 
ERS  in  the  Vineyard.  1.  For,  (tc— This 
parable  is  closely  connected  with  the  close 
of  ch.  19,  being  spoken  with  reference  to 
Peter's  question,  how  it  should  fare  with 
those  who.  Like  himself,  had  left  all  for 
Christ.  It  is  designed  to  show  that  while 
they  would  be  richly  rewarded,  a  certain 
equity  would  still  be  observed  towards  later 
converts  and  workmen  in  his  service,  early 
in  the  morning- At  vintage  time  labour  was 
scarce  and  masters  were  obhged  to  be  early 
in  the  market  to  secure  it.  Perhaps  the 
pressing  nature  of  the  work  of  the  Gospel, 
and  the  comparative  paucity  of  labourers, 
may  be  incidentally  suggested,  ch.  9.  37,  38. 
[W.  &  W.J  labourers— first,  the  official  ser- 
vants of  the  Church,  and  next,  all  the  ser- 
vants of  Christ,  considered  as  lying  under 
an  obligation  to  engage  in  the  work  of  His 
kingdom.  2.  penny— a  usual  day's  liire.  3. 
third  hour— after  a  tourth  of  the  working-day 
had  expired,     whatsoever  is  right— a.  e.  in 

Eroportion  to  their  time.  6.  the  eleventh 
our— a  most  unusual  time  of  day  both  to 
offer  and  engage.  7.  No  man  hired  us— Of 
course  they  had  not  been  there  at  the  pro- 
per time.  But  as  they  were  now  willing, 
they  also  are  engaged,  and  on  similar  terms. 
8.  even— the  reckoning-time  with  servants, 
Deu.  ^4  1.5,  pointing  to  the  day  of  flniu  ac- 
count, his  steward—"  Christ  as  a  Son  over 
his  own  house,"  Heb.  3.  6;  M.  11.  27;  J.  3.  35' 
5.  27.  beginning  from  the  last— the  last  hired 
the  first  paid.  Here  is  support  against  de- 
spair to  those  who,  reading  the  encourage- 


Of  the  Uihourers  m  the  vincj/rrrd.       MATTHEW.  XXI. 


CJirist's  entry  ivto  Jnifsnlcm. 


went  out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire 
laboinvrs  into  his  vineyard. 

2  And  when  Jie  had  as,Teed  with  the 
labourers  for  a  i  penny  a  day,  he  sent  them 
into  his  vineyard. 

3  And  he  went  out  about  the  third 
hour,  and  saw  others  standing  idle  iu  the 
market-place, 

4  And  said  unto  them.  Go  ye  also  into 
the  vinevard,  and  whatsoever  is  right  I 
will  give  jou.  And  they  went  their 
way. 

5  Again  he  went  ont  about  the  sLx.th  and 
ninth  hour,  and  did  likewise. 

6  And  about  the  eleventh  hour  he  went 
out,  and  I'ound  otliers  standing  idle,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Why  stand  ye  here  all 
the  day  idle? 

7  They  say  unto  him.  Because  no  man 
hath  hired  us.  lie  saith  unto  them,  Go  ye 
also  into  the  vineyard;  and  whatsoever  is 
right,  that  shall  ye  receive. 

8  So  when  "  even  was  come,  the  lord  of 
the  vineyard  saith  unto  his  steward.  Call 
the  labourers,  and  give  them  their  hire, 
beginning  from  the  last  mito  the  first. 

9  And  when  they  came  that  wtre  hired 
about  the  eleventh  hour,  they  received 
eveij  man  a  penny. 

10  But  when  the  first  came,  they  supposed 
that  they  should  have  received  more;  and 
they  likewise  received  every  man  a  penny. 

11  And  when  they  had  received  it,  they 
munnured  against  the  goodman  of  the 
bouse, 

12  Saying,  These  last  2  have  wrought  hut 
one  hour,  and  thou  hast  made  thtm  equal 
unto  us,  which  have  borne  the  burden  and 
heat  of  the  day. 

13  But  he  answered  one  of  them,  and 
Baid,  Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong:  didst  not 
thou  asree  with  me  for  a  penny? 

14  Take  that  thine  is,  and  go  thy  way: 
I  will  give  mito  this  last  even  as  unto 
thee. 

15  Is  6  it  not  la'ivfiil  for  me  to  do  what  I 
will  with  mine  owa'i  'Is  thine  eye  evil,  be- 
cause lam  good? 

16  So  ''the  last  shall  be  first,  and  the 
first  last:  *  for  many  be  called,  but  few 
chosen. 

17  H  And /Jesus  going  up  to  Jerusalem 
took  the  twelve  disciples  apart  in  the  way, 
and  said  unto  them, 

18  Behold,  » we  go  up  to  Jerusalem;  and 
the  Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed  unto  the 
chief  priests  and  unto  the  scribes,  and  they 
shall  condemn  him  to  death, 

ly  And  ''shall  deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles 
to  mock,  and  to  scourge,  and  to  crucify 
him:  and  the  third  day  he  shall  rise 
again. 

2011  Then  <came  to  him  /the  mother  of 
Zebedee's  *  children  with  her  sons,  worship, 
ping  him,  and  desu'ing  a  certain  thing  of 
him. 

21  And  he  said  unto  her.  What  wilt  thou? 
She  saith  unto  him.  Grant  that  these  my 
two  sons  'may  sit,  the  one  on  thy  riyht 
hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left,  in  thy 
kingdom. 

•22  But  Jesus  answered  and  said.  Ye  know 
not  what  ye  ask.  Are  ye  able  to  drink  of 
the  "*  cup  that  I  shall  drink  ot',  and  to  be 
bnptized  with  "the  baptism  that  1  am 
baptized  with?  They  say  unto  hun.  We  are 
alile. 

Td  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Te  shall 


1  The  Ko. 


which  after 
five  ahU- 
Linga  tho 

eevenpenc© 

halfpcHDy. 

a  Acts  17.31. 

1  Thoss.  i. 
15. 

2  Or,  have 

continued 

one  hour 

only. 
6  Kom.  9.  21. 
c  Dcu.  16.  9. 

Pro.  23.  6. 

Jonah  4.  1. 

ch.  6.  23. 
d  ch  19.  m. 
e  ch.  22. 14. 
/  John  12.12. 
g  ch.  16.  21. 
h  ch.  27.  2. 

John  18.28. 

Acts  i.  13. 
i  JUrk  10.B6. 
J  cli.  27.  66. 

Mark  15.10. 
fcch.  4.21. 
{  ch.  19.  28. 

James  4.3. 

m  ch.  26.  o9. 

Mar. 14.36. 

John  18. 

11. 

n  Lu.  12.  50. 

o  Acts  12.  2. 

Rom.  8. 17. 

2  Cor.  1.  7. 
Rev.  1.  9. 

J>  ch.  25.  34. 
9  Lu.  22.  24. 

1  I'ct.  5.  3. 
U. 

Mark  9.  35. 

Mark  10.43. 
t  ch.  18.  4. 
«  John  13.  4. 

Phil.  2.  7. 
V  Lu.  22  27. 

John  13.14. 
tv  la.  53. 10. 

Dan.  9.  24. 

Johnll.51. 

1  Tim.  2.6. 

Tit.  2. 14. 

1  Pet.1.19. 
'  ch.  2ti.  23. 

Kom.  5. 15. 

Heb.  9.  28. 
y  Mar.  10.16 

Lu.  18.  35. 
s  cb.  9.  27. 
a  Pa.  146.  8. 

Heb.  4. 15. 


»ch. 


CHAP.  21. 
a  Mark  11.1. 

Lu.  19.  29. 
6  Zech.  14. 4. 
c  Ps.  24. 1. 
d  2  Cor.  8.  9. 
e  1  Kin.  1.33. 

Is.  62.  11. 

Zech.  9.  9. 
/Mark  11.4. 
a  2  Ki.  8.  13. 
A  I-uv.  23.40, 

John  12.13. 
i  Ps.  1 10. 25. 
/  ch.  23.  39. 


drink  indeed  of  my  cup,  and  be  baptized 
witli  the  baptism  that  L  am  baptized  with: 
but  to  sit  on  my  ri^ht  hand,  and  on  my  left, 
is  not  mine  to  P  give,  but  it  shall  be  given 
to  them  for  whom  it  is  prepared  of  my 
Father. 

24  And  '  when  the  ten  heard  it,  they  were 
moved  with  indignation  against  the  two 
brethren. 

25  13ut  Jesus  called  them  unto  him,  and 
said.  Ye  know  that  the  jjiinces  of  the  Gen- 
tiles exercise  dominion  over  them,  and 
they  that  are  great  exercise  authority  upon 
them. 

2G  But  ''it  shall  not  be  so  among  you:  but 
whosoever  *will  be  great  among  you,  let 
him  be  your  minister; 

27  And  *  whosoever  will  be  chief  among 
you,  let  him  be  your  servant: 

28  Even  "  as  the  Son  of  man  came  not  to 
be  ministered  unto,  "  but  to  minister,  and 
to  '*  give  his  life  a  ransom  '^  for  many. 

29  H  And  S'as  they  departed  from  Jericho, 
a  great  multitude  followed  him. 

30  And,  behold,  ''two  blind  men  sitting  by 
the  way-side,  when  they  heard  that  Jesus 
passed  by,  cried  out,  saying.  Have  mercy 
on  us,  0  Lord,  thou  son  of  David ! 

31  And  the  multitude  rebuked  them,  be- 
cause they  shuuld  hold  their  peace :  but 
they  cried  the  more,  saying,  Have  mercy 
en  us,  O  Lord,  thoii  son  of  David! 

32  And  Je-sus  stood  still,  and  called  them, 
and  said.  What  will  ye  that  I  shall  do  unto 
you? 

33  They  say  unto  him.  Lord,  that  our  eyea 
may  be  opened. 

34  So  Jesus  had  "  compassion  on  them, 
and  touched  their  eyes;  and  immediately 
their  eyes  received  sight,  and  they  followed 
him. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
1  Christ  rideth  into  Jerusalem  wfon  an  ess:   12 

drivetk  the  buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the  (emj'le: 

18  curseth  the  Jig  tree.    2a  JfarabU  of  the  two 

sons:  33  of  the  husbandmen. 

A  KD  "when  they  drew  nigh  unto  J  era- 
■'^  salcm,  and  were  come  to  Bethphage, 
unto  *  the  mount  of  Olives,  then  sent  Jesus 
two  disciples, 

2  Saying  unto  them.  Go  into  the  village 
over  against  you,  and  straightway  ye  shall 
find  an  ass  tied,  and  a  colt  with  her:  loose 
them.,  and  bring  them  unto  me. 

3  And  if  any  »nan  say  ought  unto  you,  ye 
shall  say.  The  '  Lord  hath  <i  need  ot  them; 
and  straightway  he  will  send  them. 

4  (All  this  was  done,  that  it  might  be  ful- 
filled which  was  spoken  by  the  prophet, 
saying, 

5  Tell  '  ye  the  daughter  of  Sion,  Behold, 
thy  King  cometh  mito  thee,  meek,  and 
sitting  upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the  foal  of 
an  ass.) 

C  And  /  the  disciples  went,  and  did  as  Jesus 
commanded  them, 

7  And  brought  the  ass,  and  the  colt,  and 
put  ^  on  them  then:  clothes,  and  they  set 
/(iw  thereon. 

8  And  a  very  great  multitude  spread  their 
garments  in  tne  way;  ''others  cut  down 
branches  from  the  trees,  and  strawed  Ihtm 
in  tlie  Avay. 

y  And  the  multitudes  that  went  before, 
and  that  followed,  cried,  saying,  »iiosannrt 
to  the  son  of  David!  J  Blessed  is  he  that 
cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord!  iiosanna 
in  the  highest! 


Of  the  labourers  in  the  vineyard.    MATTHEW,  XXI.  Second  cleansing  of  the  temple,  etc. 


ments  to  early  piety  are  yet  conscioiis  of  hav- 
ing come  in  late.  10-12.  supposed  they  should 
have,  &c.— the  calculating,  mercenary  spirit 
which  had  peeped  out  in  Peter's  question 
(ch.  19.  27,),  which  this  parable  was  spoken  to 
rebuke,  neat  and  burden,  &c.  — '  working 
not  only  longer  but  during  a  more  trying 
period  oi  the  day.'  13-15.  one  of  them— the 
spokesman  of  the  party,  in  their  protestations 
of  injustice,  no  wrong— 'You  appeal  to  jus- 
tice, and  by  that  your  mouth  is  shut;  for  the 
sum  you  agreed  for  is  paid  you:  Your  case 
being  disposed  of,  with  the  terms  I  make  with 
other  labourers  you  have  nothing  to  do;  and 
to  grudge  the  benevolence  shown  to  others, 
when  by  your  own  showing  you  have  been 
honourably  dealt  with,  is  both  unworthy 
envy  of  your  neighbour,  and  discontent 
with  the  goodness  that  engaged  and  rewarded 
you  in  his  service  at  all.'  16.  last  first,  and 
first  last—'  Take  heed,  lest  by  indulging  the 
spirit  of  these  "murnmrers  "at  the  "penny" 
given  to  the  last  liired,  you  miss  not  your 
own  penny,  though  first  in  the  vineyard; 
while  the  consciousness  of  having  come  in 
so  late  may  inspire  these  last  with  such  a 
humble  frame,  and  such  admiration  of  the 
grace  that  has  hired  and  rewarded  them  at 
all,  as  will  put  them  into  the  foremost  place 
in  the  end.'  Taking  the  parable  thus,  the 
difficulties  which  have  divided  so  many 
commentators  seem  groundles.s.  It  teaches 
that  there  are  gracious  revards  common  to 
aW,  the  true  servants  of  Christ;  nor  is  this 
inconsistent  with  the  specicd  rewards  of  dis- 
tinguished Christians  promised  at  the  close 
ol  ch.  19.  And  it  teaches  the  unreasonable- 
ness and  ingi-atitiide  of  those  who,  not  con- 
tented with  being  called  into  the  service  of 
Christ— itself  a  high  privilege— and  gracious- 
ly rewarded  for  aU  they  do,  envy  their  fel- 
low-servants, and  reflect  upon  their  common 
Master,  for  seeming  to  do  to  others  more 
than  is  consistent  with  justice  to  themselves. 
Such  was  the  spirit  of  the  elder  brother  of  the 
prodigal  son  (L.  15. ) .  Those  Christians  who  ap 
peal  to  God's  justice  will  find  their  mouth  closed 
*  in  the  day  that  he  deals  with  them."  Eut 
this'is  not  all  the  teaching  ol  this  parable;  for 
tlie  parables  are  '  Uke  many-sided  i)recious 
stones,  cut  so  as  to  cast  their  lustre  in  more 
than  one  direction.'    [Olsh.] 

17-19.  Fuller  Announcement  of  Hts 
Approaching  Death  ani>  Eesurrec- 
TION.    See  on  Mk.  10.  32,  and  L.  18.  31-.'i4. 

20-28.  AJMBITIOUS  KEQUE.ST  OF  ZEBEDEE'S 

Children,  and  the  Eeply.    See  on  Alk. 

10.  35-45. 

29-34.  Two  Blind  Men  Healed.  See  on 
L.  18.  35-43. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Ver.  1-11.  Christ's  Triumphal  Entry 
into  Jerusalem.  This  grand  and  impos- 
ing scene  is  recorded  by  all  the  evanselists, 
1).  1-3.  See  on  L.  19.  29-31.  4,  5.  daughter  of 
Zion— the  members  of  the  Church,  as  we 
should. say, by  a  beautiful  figure,  as  being  the 
osj'spring  of  Zion's  ordinances,  thy  King- 
magnificent  regal  title  of  Messiah:  cf.  Ps. 
2.  6,  "  I  have  set  my  King  upon  my  holy  hill 
of  Zion."  meek— entering  the  city  with  royal 
autliority,  yet  waiving,  during  his  humbled 
state,  all  the  external  grandeur  that  shall  yet 
accompany  tl.at  royalty,  an  ass  and  colt— used 
by  magistrates  and  persons  of  distinction, 
Ju.  5.  10;  10.  4;  12.  14,  but  only  on  peaceful 
occasions.  The  Lord  sat  on  the  focd,  (Mk. 
13 


11.  7;  L.  19.  35.),  the  mother  accompanying. 

8.  a  very  great  multitude— "  that  were  come 
to  the  fea.st  (of  the  passover:,  when  they 
heard  that  Jesus  was  coming  to  Jerusalem" 
{J.  12.  12.1,  which  they  woidd  do  from  those 
who  had  gone  to  Bethany,  to  see  Lazarus 
whom  he  had  raised  i  J.  12.  9.),  and  the  re- 
port of  whose  resurrection,  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood,  woidd  set  the  whole  city 
astir.  This  multitude  "went  forth  to  meet 
Him"  (J.  12.  13,  18.'.  spread,  &c.-this  was 
expressly  to  do  him  royal  honour,  2  Ki.  9. 13. 

9.  went  before  . .  .  followed  —  This  arrange- 
ment, of  one  company  before  and  another 
behind,  was  doubtless  intentional,  to  make 
it  a  state-procession.  Hosanna,  Arc— See  on 
L.  19.  37,  38.  10,  11.  Who  is  this  ?  — naturally 
suggested  by  the  advancing  crowd,  the 
prophet— in  the  sense,  probably  of  J.  6. 14, 15. 

12  - 17.  Second  Cleansing  of  the 
Temple,  and  other  Transactions  the 
Same  Day.  12,  13.  See  on  L.  19.  45,  46. 
14.  These  miracles,  in  the  very  temple-court 
from  which  the  money-changers  had  been 
cleared  out,  would  set  a  divine  seal  on  that 
act  of  mysterious  authority.  15,  16.  chil- 
dren crying,  &c.  —  the  prolonged  echo  of 
the  popular  acclamations  on  his  triumphal 
entry,  but  drawn  forth  anew  from  these 
children,  on  witnessing  what  doubtless  filled 
their  unsophisticated  minds  with  wonder 
and  admiration.  Hearest  thou  —  stung, 
most  of  all,'by  this  novel  testimony  to  Jesus, 
as  showing  to  what  depths  his  popularity 
was  reachin"  down,  and  from  the  mysterious 
effect  of  siirn  voices  upon  the  human  spirit. 
Have  ye  never  read,  &c.  —  This  psalm  is  re- 
peatedly referred  to  as  prophetic  of  Christ. 
The  testimony  he  would  receive  from 
"  babes  "—a  v«ry  remarkable  feature  of  the 
prophecy,  though  here  fulfilled  UteraUy— 
reaches  deeper  see  M.  11.  25.  ;  as  is  the  case 
with  other  prophecies  of  Christ. 

18-22.  The  Barren  Pig-Tree  Cursed, 
AND  Lesson  from  It.    See  on  Mk.  ll.  12- 

14,  20-26. 

23-32.  The  Authority  of  Jesus  Ques- 
tioned.—His  Reply.  'Now  commences 
that  series  of  parables  and  discourses  of  our 
Lord  \nth  his  enemies,  in  which  He  deve- 
lopes,  more  completely  than  ever  before, 
His  hostility  to  their  hypocrisy  and  iniquity: 
—and  so  they  are  stirred  up  to  compass  Ids 
death.'  [AlfJ  23—27.  See  on  L.  20.  1-8. 
28.  two  sons— From  the  application  of  this 
parable,  v.  31,  32,  it  is  plain  that  the  ^rs^  son 
means  that  class  of  men  to  which  "the  pub- 
licans and  the  harlots"  belonged,  and  the 
second  that  of  '"the  chief  priests  and  the 
elders  of  the  people"  [v.  23.',  whom  He  was 
addressing.  Go  work  in  my  vineyard— a  strik- 
ing evidence  of  the  vracticul  character  and 
aim  of  all  true  religion,  as  a  "  bringing  forth 
Iruit  unto  God."  29.  I  will  not— 'The  rude- 
ness oi  the  answer,  and  the  total  absence  of 
any  attempt  to  excuse  his  disobedience,  are 
both  characteristic,  representing  careless, 
reckless  sinners'  [Trench.],  'who  di.^^obey 
God  to  his  face.'  fAxF.]  afterv/ard  repented  and 
went— See  on  v.  31,  32.  30.  I,  sir— The  em- 
phatic "I"  is  meant  to  denote  the  self- 
righteous  "  God,  1  thank  thee  that  I  am 
not  as  other  men,"  (L.  18.  11.).  and  went 
not— He  did  not  "afterwards  repent"  and  re- 
fuse :  there  was  in  this  case  no  intention  to  go. 
For  the  class  intended  "said  and  did  not" 
(ch.  23.  3.)— 'a  falseness  more  abominable 
C 


TTie  priests  and  elders  rehul-ed.  MATTHEW,  XXIL 


ParaUe  of  the  hvsband/nen. 


10 II  And  *  when  he  was  come  iuto  Jenisa- 
lem.  all  the  city  was  moved,  sajing,  Who 
is  this? 

11  And  the  multitude  said,  This  is  Jesus 
the'  prophet  of  Nazareth  of  Galilee. 

12  H  And  "Jesus  went  into  the  temnle  of 
God,  and  cast  out  all  them  that  sold  and 
bought  in  the  temple,  and  overthrew  the 
tables  of  the  "  money-changers,  aud  the 
8e«ts  of  them  that  sold  doves, 

13  And  said  unto  them,  It  is  written,  "My 
house  shall  be  called  the  house  of  praj'er; 
but^  ye  have  made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 

14  And  '  the  blind  and  the  Lame  came  to 
him  in  the  temple;  and  he  healed  them. 

15  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
saw  the  wonderful  things  that  he  did,  and 
the  children  crjing  in  the  temple,  and  say- 
ing, llosanna  to  ''the  son  of  l)and;  they 
were  sore  displeased, 

16  And  said  unto  hitn,  Ilearest  thou  what 
these  say?  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
Yea ;  have  ye  never  read,  *  Out  of  the  mouth 
of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected 
praise? 

17  And  he  left  them,  and  went  out  of  the 
city  into  *  Bethany ;  and  he  lodged  there. 

18  V  Now  in  the  morning,  as  he  returned 
into  the  city,  he  hungered. 

19  And  when  he  saw  i  a  fig  tree  in  the 
way,  he  came  to  it,  and  found  nothing 
thereon,  but  leaves  only,  and  said  unto  it. 
Let  no  fruit  grow  on  thee  henceforward  for 
ever.  And  presently  the  tig  tree  withered 
away. 

20  And  when  the  disciples  saw  it,  they 
marvelled,  saying,  How  soon  is  the  tig  tree 
withered  away! 

21  Jesus  answered  and  said  nnto  them. 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  "  If  ye  l^ve  faith, 
and  "  doubt  not,  ye  shall  not  only  do  this 
which  is  done  to  the  tig  tree,  *"  but  also  if 
ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Be  thou 
removed,  and  be  thou  cast  into  the  sea;  it 
shall  be  done. 

22  And  *  all  things,  whatsojever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive. 

23  IF  And  "  when  he  was  come  into  the 
temple,  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  of 
the  people  came  unto  him  as  he  was  teach- 
ing, and  *said,  By  what  authority  doest 
thou  these  things?  and  who  gave  thee  this 
authority? 

24  And  "Jesus  answered  and  said  nnto 
them,  1  also  will  ask  you  one  thing,  which 
if  ye  tell  me,  1  in  like  wise  will  tell  you  by 
what  authority  I  do  these  things. 

25  The  baptism  of  John,  whence  was  it? 
from  heaven,  or  of  men?  And  they  reasoned 
with  themselves,  saying.  If  we  shall  say. 
From  heaven ;  he  will  say  unto  us.  Why 
did  ye  not  then  believe  him? 

26  But  if  we  shall  say,  Of  men;  we  fear  the 
people ;  *  for  all  hold  John  as  a  prophet. 

27  And  they  answered  Jesus,  and  said. 
We  cannot  tell.  And  he  said  unto  them. 
Neither  tell  I  you  by  what  authority  I  do 
these  things. 

28  IT  But  what  think  ye?  A  certain  man 
had  two  sons ;  and  he  came  to  the  first,  and 
said,  8on,  go  work  to-day  in  mv  vineyard. 

2S»  He  answered  and  said,  I  will  not:  but 
afterward  he  repented,  and  went. 

30  And  he  came  to  the  second,  and  said 
Ukeivise.  And  he  answered  and  said,  I  go, 
Bir;  and  went  not. 

31  Whether  of  them  twain  did  the  will  of 
his  father?    They  sa\  uuto  him,  The  first. 


CHAP.  21. 
*JVI»r.  11.15. 

Lu.  19.  46. 

Johnl2.13. 
I  John  6.  14. 
m  John  2AR. 
n  Ueu.  14.25. 

0  Is.  56.  7. 
P  Jer.  7.  11. 
q  Is.  36.  5. 
ru.  11.  1. 

8  Ps.  8.  2. 
t  Mar.  11.11. 
John  11. 18. 

1  one  fig- 


L\>. 


»  J(i 


l.G. 


«<  1  C..r.l3.2, 
«ch.  7.  7. 

Lu   11.  9. 

Jam.  5.  15, 

1  John  3. 

22. 

1  John  a. 


*  E.^.  2.  l-t 
Acts  4.  7. 
Att3  7.  27. 

a  Job  5.  13. 

6ch.  14.5. 
Mark  6. 21). 

c  Lu.  7.  29. 

d  ch  3.  1. 

«  Lu.  3  12. 

/  Ps  80.  9. 
S.ine  8.  11. 


ch.  5.  12. 

ch.  2!.  34. 

Acts  7  52. 

1  Thc3.2  16. 

neb.  11.36. 
;■  Gal.  4.  4. 
*  Ps.  2.  8. 

Hcb.  1.  2. 
I  Ps.  2.  2. 

John  11.  63. 

Acts  4.  27 
"•  Acts  2. 23. 
n  Lu.20.  16. 
"  Deu.  4.  26. 

Lu.  21  24. 

Hob.  2.  3. 

P  Acts  13.46. 

Kom!  10.1. 

Kom.  11.1. 
9  Ps  113.  22. 

Is.  28.  16. 

Mar.  12.10. 

Acts  4. 11. 

£l.h.  2.  20. 

1  Pet.2C.7. 
r  1  Tim.3.16. 
Sch.  8.  12. 
(  Is.  8.  14. 

Zech.  12.  3. 
«  Is.  CO.  12. 

Dan.  2.  44. 
f  Lu.  7.  16. 

John  7.  40. 


CHAP.  22. 
a  Lu.  14.  16. 
IUv.19.7,9. 
6  Pro..  9  2. 
e  Pb.  81.  11. 


Jesus  saith  unto  them,  *  Verily  1  sav  unto 
you.  That  the  publicans  and  the  harlots  go 
into  the  kingdom  of  God  before  you. 

32  For  ''John  came  unto  you  in  the  way 
of  righteousness,  and  ye  believed  him  not: 
but '  the  publicans  .and  the  harlots  believed 
him:  and  ye,  when  ye  had  seen  it,  repented 
not  aften,\'ard,  that  ye  might  believe  him. 

33  IT  Hear  another  parable:  There  w.as  a 
certain  householder,  /which  planted  a 
\'ineyard,  and  hedged  it  round  about,  and 
digged  a  winepress  in  it,  and  built  a  tower, 
aiid  let  it  out  to  husbandmen,  and  ^  went 
into  a  far  country: 

34  And  when  the  time  of  the  frait  drew 
near,  he  sent  his  servants  to  the  husband- 
men, '« that  they  might  receive  the  fruits 
of  it. 

35  And  'the  husbandmen  took  his  ser- 
vants, and  beat  one,  and  killed  another, 
and  stoned  another. 

36  Again,  he  sent  other  servants  more 
than  the  first;  and  they  did  vuito  them 
likewLse. 

37  But  last  of  all  i  he  sent  unto  them  his 
son,  sa>ing.  They  will  reverence  my  son. 

38  But  when  tne  husbandmen  saw  the 
son,  they  said  among  themselves,  *This  is 
the  heir;  '  come,  let  us  kill  him,  and  let  us 
seize  on  his  inheritance. 

39  And  "•  they  caught  him,  and  cast  him 
out  of  the  ^^neyard.  and  slew  him. 

40  When  the  Lord  therefore  of  the  vine- 
yard cometh,  what  will  he  do  mito  those 
husbandmen? 

41  They  *»  say  unto  him,  '  He  will  miser- 
ably destroy  those  wicked  men,  ^  and  will 
let  out  his  vineyard  unto  other  husband- 
men,  which  shall  render  him  the  tiuits  iu 
their  seasons. 

42  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  'Did  ye  never 
read  in  the  Scriptures.  The  stone  which 
the  builders  rejected,  the  same  is  become 
the  head  of  the  comer :  this  is  the  L<ud'8 
doing,  and  it  is  •■  man'ellous  in  our  eyes? 

43  Therefore  say  I  unto  you,  *  The  king, 
dora  of  God  shall  be  taken  from  you,  and 
given  to  a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits 
thereoil 

44  And  whosoever  *  shall  fall  on  this  stone 
shall  be  broken :  but  on  whomsoever  it 
shall  fall,  "  it  will  grind  him  to  powder. 

45  And  when  the  cliief  priests  and  Phari- 
sees had  heard  his  parables,  they  percei\ed 
that  he  spake  of  them. 

46  But  when  they  sought  to  lay  hands  on 
him,  they  feared  the  multitude,  because 
they  "  took  him  for  a  prophet. 

CHAPTER  XXIL 

1  The  marriage  of  the  king's  st>».    9  T%e  calling 

of  the  Oentiles.     U  The' wedding  garment.    "Jl 

Tribute  ought  to  be  paid  to  Cesar.    23   Christ 

silenceth  the  Sadducees. 

A  ND  Jesus  answered  "and  spake  unto 
■'^  them  again  by  parables,  and  said, 

2  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  j 
certain  king,  which  made  a  marriage  foj 
his  son, 

3  Aud  sent  forth  his  sen'ants  to  call  them 
that  were  bidtlen  to  the  wedding:  and  they 
would  not  come. 

4  Again,  he  sent  forth  other  sen'ants, 
sajiug.  Tell  them  which  are  bidden,  Be- 
hold, I  have  prepared  my  dinner:  *  my 
o.\en  and  mi/  fallings  are  killed,  and  all 
things  are  ready:  come  uuto  the  mar. 
riage. 

6  But  they  *  made  light  of  it,  and  went 


rarable  oftJie  mnrrlafjs 


MATTHEW.  XXU,  XXHI. 


of  Uie  Icing's  son,  etc. 

tlinn  any  '  I  Avill  not.'  [Stier.]  31.  jubli-  sion  of  the  Spirit,  to  wliich  the  parable  could 
cans  and  harlots  go— are  even  now  entering  in  not  directly  allude;  in  the  strictest  sense 
\vhile  ye  hold  cJack.  32.  John  came— The  , when 'all thingswere  ready'  seel  Cor.  5.7,8; 
father's  call  to  his  two  sons  is  here  represented  [  J.  6.  51.).  6, 6.  Two  classes  of  despisers,  the 
as  given  by  the  Baptist;  implying  that  the  cri-  indifferent  and  the  hostile— scorners  and  per- 
minality  of  rejecting  Himself  was  hut  a  re- 1  secutors.  7.  Ms  armies— the  Eomans;  just  as 
petition  of  their  prior  conduct  in  the  case  the  'Assyrian'  is  styled  'the  rod  of  God's 
of  John,  in  the  way  of  righteousness— i.e.  cal-  anger,' Is.  10.  5.  their  city— Jeru.salem,  no 
ling  you  to  repentance;  as  Koah  is  styled  "  a  longer  '  the  city  of  the  Great  King.'  So  He 
preacher  of  rii;hteousness  "  (2  Pe.  2.  5.),  when  now  calls  the  temple  '  your  house,'  ch.  23.  38, 
he  warned  the  old  world,  like  the  Baptist,  to  ,  [Tkench.]  8.  not  worthy—'  they  robbed  Him 
"flee  from  the -wrath  to  come."  believed  him  of  the  honour  of  being  gracious  to  them, 
they  did  not  reject  him,  but  would  not  re- 1  and  bestowing  salvation  upon  them.     See 

■      '  ~' '    the  fulfilment,  A.  13.  46,' [Stier,]  and  a  be- 


ceive  his  testimony  to  Jesus,  (see  v.  25 
publicans  and  harlots  believed  him  — L.  3.  12; 
7.  29— and  hastened  to  Jesus,  ;L.  7.  37;  15. 1;  | 
<^-''.)     when  ye  had  seen,  rei^ented  not,  <fec. 


gimiing  of  this,  M.  10. 13.  9.  highways— great 
outlets  and  thoroughfares,  whether  in  town 
1  or  country.  10.  good  and  bad,  (fcc— i.  e.  without 


'Youwerenot,  as  you  should  have  been,  "pro- 1  making  any  distinction  between  open  sin- 
voked  to  jealousy"  by  their  example.'    "What  lUers  and  the  morally  correct.  TheGospelcall 


encouragement  here  to  the  chief  of  sinners 
33-46.  Pahat^teof  VixEVARD.  SeeL,2u,9-19, 
CHAPTER  XXH. 


fetched  in  Jews,  Samaritans,  and  outlying 
heathen  alike.  Tlius  far  the  parable  answers 
to  that  of  '  the  Great  Supper,'  L.  14.  16.  &c. 


Ver.  1-14.  Parable  or  the  Marriage  of  i  But  the  distinguishing  feature  of  our  parable 
THE  King's  Sox.  (A  dili'erent  parable  from  is  what  follows.  11.  King  came  iu  to  see  the 
that  of  the  Great  Supj:>er,'L.  14. 15.  &:c.)  1.  acer-  guests— Solemn  expression  of  that  omniscient 
tain  king  .  .  .  marriage  for  his  son— 'See  ho\v \vnspection  of  every  professed  disciple  of  the 
the  Lord  is  revealing  himself  in  ever  clearer  |  Lord  Jesus,  even  now,  in  virtue  of  which 
light  as  the  central  Person  of  the  kingdom,  i  his  true  character  wiU  hereafter  be  judici- 
giving  here  a  far  plainer  hint  than  in  the  ally  proclaimed !  a  man— Tliis  shows  that 
last  parable  of  the  nobility  of  his  descent,  lit  is  tne  judument  of  inc/irif/tmZswhichis  in- 
There  he  was  indeed  the  son,  the  only  and  I  tended  in  this  latter  part  of  the  parable:  the 
beloved  one  (Mk.  12.  6.),  of  the  householder;  first  part  represents  rather  national  judg- 


but  here  his  race  is  royal,  and  he  ai)pears  as 
himself  at  once  the  king  and  the  king's  son. 
(I's.  72.  1.)  The  last  was  a  parable  of  the 
O.  T.  history ;  and  Christ  is  rather  the  last 
and  greatest  of  the  line  of  its  prophets  and 
teachers  than  the  founder  of  a  new  kingdom. 
In  that,  God  appears  demajiding  something 
from  men;  in  this,  a  parable  of  grace,  God 
appears  more  as  giving  something  to  them. 
Thus,  as  often,  the  two  complete  each 
other;  this  taking  up  the  matter  where  the 


ment.  a  wedding -garment— The  language 
is  drawn  from  a  remarkable  passage  in 
Zeph.  1.  7,  8.  The  custom  in  the  east  of  pre- 
senting festival-garments  Ge.  45.  22;  2  Ki. 
5.  22.),  even  though  not  clearly  proved,  is  cer- 
tainly presupposed  here.  It  means  'that 
righteousness  out  of  and  above  us,  in  Clirist, 
"the  Lord  our  righteousness,"  which  by  the 
appropriative  and  assimilative  power  of  faith 
we  also  make  ours — ''putting  on  the  Lord 
Jesus."'     [Trench.]      As  the  king  clothes 


other  left  it.'  [Trench.]  a  marriage  for  his  ■  his  guests,  and  the  bridegroom  his  bride 
son— The  marriage  of  Jehovah  to  his  people  |  iPs.  45.  10.),  so  does  God  himself  clothe  us 
Israel  was  familiar  to  Jewish  ears ;  and  iu  |  with  the  robe  of  righteousness  and  the  gar- 
Ps.  45,  this  marriacre  is  seen  consummated  in  ment  of  salvation.  (Is.  61.  10.)  IFe  may  and 
the  Person  of  Messiah  '  the  King,'  hhnseU .  ought,  ichen  lie  calls,  to  come  a.s  we  are: 
a-idressed  as  '  God  '  and  yet  as  anointed  by :  but  we  may  not,  if  we  tcoidd  see  His  face  and 
*  His  God' with  the  oil  of  gladne-ss  above  his  jeijjoy  his  last  feast,  rejiain  as  we  are.' 
fe'Jows"  iv.  6.).  These  apparent  contradic-  [Stier.]  And  see  2  Cor.  5.  3.  12.  speech- 
tories  (see  on  L.  20.  41-44.)  are  resolved  in  less— being  self -condemned.  13.  servants— 
tlus  parable;  and  Jesus,  claiming  to  te  |  angels,  ch.  13.  39,  41.  outer  darkness,  <i:c.— See 
this  Kiufjs  Son,'  serves  Himself  Heir  to  all '  on  ch.  8.  12. 

that  the  prophets  and  sweet  singers  of  Israel  i  15-40.  Entangling  Questions  About 
held  forOi  as  to  Jehovah's  ineffably  near  and' Trxbvt^,  Marriage,  and  the  Great 
endearing  union  to  his  people.    But  n.  b.  the  I  Commandment  —  The  Eeplies.     See  on 


Bride  does  not  come  into  view  in  this  para- 
ble; its  design  being  to  teach  certain  truths 
under  the  figvxre  of  guests  at  a  wedding-^'ieao-;^, 
and  the  want  ol  a  wedding-(7a?-mcn<,  wliich 
would  not  have  harmonised  with  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Bride.  3.  them  that  were 
bidden— the  Jews,  'bidden'  from  the  first 
cuoice  oi  them  onwards,  through  every  sum 


L.  20.  20-40,  and  'Mk.  l5.  28-34. 

41-46.  Christ  Baffles  the  Pharisees 
BY  A  Question  Ajjout  David  and  Mes- 
siah.   See  on  L.  20.  41-44. 

CHAPTER  XXHI. 
Ver.    1  -  39.    Denunciation    of    The 
Scribes    and    Pharisees.      2.   sit  — The 
Jewish  teachers  stood  to  read  and  sat  to  ex- 


mons  addressed  to  them  by  the  prophets  to  i  pound  the  Scriptures,  ( 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  the  appear- ;  seat— as  interpreters 


iS,  (L-  4, 
of  the  1 


16,  20.).     Moses' 
law.    3.  All  there 


ing  of  their  kin?,    to  call  them  to  the  wedding  fore.  &c.—i.  e.  ail  which,  as  sitting  in  that 
—or  maiTiage-festivities,  when  the  prepara- '  chair  and  oid  of  that  law,  they  enjoin,  "ob- 

tions  were  aU  concluded;  and  this  by  the  serve  and  do."    The  word  "therefore"  Is 

ministry   of  the   Eapthst,   the  twelve,  the  thus  mo.5t  important;  for  He  who  denounced 

seventy,  and  especially  His  own  ministry  their  traditions  ch.  15.3.),  cannot  have  meant 

—though  that  is  kept  out  ot  sight  to  pre-  to  throw  his  shield  over  a/i  they  taught,    but. 

serve  the  proprieties  of  the  parable  [Trench]  fcc— '  The  warning  to  beware  of  the  Scribes 

—but  aU  in  vain.     4.  other  servants,  &c.—  is  given  in  Mk.  and  L.  without  any  qualifica- 

This  points  to  the  Gospel  calls  after  Christ's  tion;  the  charge  to  respect  and  obey  tliem  in 

death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  the  elfu-  M.  ciily— iutimatin;^  for  whom  tLiii  Gospel 
19 


Parahle  of  the  marriage  feast. 


MATTinOW,  XXIII. 


ffupocriny  of  the  tcrihejt 


their  ways,  one  to  his  farm,  another  to  his 
merchandise: 

6  And  -  the  remnant  took  his  servants, 
and  entieated  thum  spitefully,  and  slew 

7  Bat  when  the  king  heard  ihereof,  he 
was  wToth:  and  he  sent  forth  '  his  armies, 
and  destroyed  those  murderera,  and  burned 
up  their  city. 

8  Then  saith  he  to  his  servants,  The 
wedding  is  ready,  but  they  which  were 
bidden  were  not /worthy. 

9  Go  ye  therefore  mto  the  highways, 
and  as  many  as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to  the 
man-iage. 

10  So  those  servants  went  out  into  the 
hifrhways,  and  "  gathered  together  all  as 
many  as  they  found,  both  bad  and  good: 
and  the  weddmg  was  furnished  with  guests. 

11  And  when  the  king  came  in  to  see  the 
guests,  he  saw  there  a  man  /t  which  had 
not  on  a  wedding  garment: 

12  And  he  saith  unto  him.  Friend,  how 
earnest  thou  in  hither  not  havin.^  a  wedding 
garment?    And  he  «was  speechless. 

13  Then  said  the  king  to  the  sen'ants, 
Bind  him  hand  and  foot,  aTid  take  him 
away,  and  cast  him  i  into  outer  darkness; 
tlu-re  sh.all  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of 
teeth. 

14  For  *many  are  called,  but  few  are 
chosen. 

15  H  Then  '  went  the  Pharisees,  and  took 
counsel  how  they  might  entangle  him  in 
his  talk. 

16  And  they  sent  out  unto  him  their  dis- 
ciples with  the  llerodians,  saying,  Master, 
we  know  that  thou  art  true,  and  teachest 
the  way  of  God  in  truth,  neitlier  carest 
thou  for  any  -man;  for  thou  regardest  not 
the  person  of  men. 

17  Tell  us  therefore.  What  thinkest  thou? 
Is  it  lawful  to  give  tribute  unto  Cesar,  or 
not? 

18  But  Jesus  perceived  their  wickedness, 
and  said,  Why  tempt  ye  me,  j/c  hypocrites? 

ly  Show  me  the  tribute  money.  And  they 
brought  unto  him  a  i  penny. 

iJO  And  he  saith  unto  them.  Whose  is  this 
image  and  2  superscription? 

21  They  say  unto  him,  Cesar's.  Then  saith 
he  unto  them,  •"  Render  therefore  vmto 
Cesar  the  things  which  are  Cesar's;  and 
unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's. 

22  When  they  had  heard  these  words, 
they  "  maiTelled,  and  left  him,  and  went 
their  way. 

23  H  The  "  same  day  came  to  him  the 
Sadducees,  ^  which  say  that  there  is  no 
resurrection,  and  asked  him, 

24  Saying,  Master,  *  Moses  said,  If  a  man 
die,  h.aving  no  children,  his  brother  shall 
mjirry  liis  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  imto  his 
brother. 

25  Now  there  were  with  us  seven  brethren: 
and  the  first,  when  he  had  manied  a  wife, 
deceased,  and,  having  no  issue,  left  his  wife 
unto  his  brother: 

2(j  Likewise  the  second  also,  and  the  third, 
unto  the  3  seventh. 

27  And  last  of  all  the  woman  died  also. 

28  Therefore  in  the  resurrection  whose 
wife  shall  she  be  of  the  seven?  for  they  aU 
had  her. 

2y  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Ye 
do  err,  •"  not  knowing  the  Scriptures,  nor 
the  power  of  God. 

30  For  in  the  resuiTcction  they  neither 
2U 


A.  D.  33. 


CHAP.  22. 
d  1  Thess.  2. 
14.  15. 
Dan  9  26. 
Lu.  19.  27. 
/ch.  10.  U. 

Acts  13  46, 
0  ch.  13.  38. 
2  Cor.  5.  3. 
EpU.  4.  24. 
Col.  3.  10, 
12. 

Eer.  3.  4. 
Hev.  16.15. 
Ker.  19.  8. 
Rom.  3.  19. 
ch.  8.  12. 


Lu.  20.  20. 

1  In  value 
Bevenfience 

halfpenny. 

ch.  aj.  2. 

2  Or,  in- 
scription. 

»»ch.  17.25. 

Ko.  13.  7. 
n  Job  5.  13. 
0  Mar.  12.18. 

Lu.  20.  27. 
P  Acts  23.  8 

1  Cor.  15.' 

12. 

2Ti  2.17. 
9  Gen.  38.  8. 

Deu.  25.  6. 

3  seven. 
•■John  20.  9. 
«  1  Cor.  7  29. 

1  John  3.2. 
t  Ex  3.  C,16. 
Mar.l2.2G. 

Lu.  20.  37. 

Act!  7.  32. 

Heb.  11.  lU. 
«  ch.  7.  23. 
f  Lu.  10.  25. 
w  Deu.  6.  5. 

Deu. 1012. 

Dou.  30.0. 

Pro  23.'.6. 

X  Lev.  19. 18. 

ch.  19.  19. 

Mar.  12.31. 

Kom.13.  9. 

Gal.  5.  14. 

Jam.  2.  8. 
]/  ch.  7.  12. 

1  Tim.  1.5. 
«  Mar.  12. o5. 

Lu.2U  41. 

a  2  Sa.  23. 2. 

Acta  2.  30. 

2  Pet.  1.21. 
6  Pa.  110.  1. 

1  Cor.  15. 
25. 

Heb.  1.13. 
Heb.  10.12. 
e  Lu.  14.  e. 


CHAP.  23. 

a  Neh.  8.  4,8. 

Mai.  2.  7. 
6  Rom.  2. 19. 
CLu.  11.40. 

Act.  15.10. 


Deu.  22.12, 
/  Mar.  12  3b, 

Lu.  20. 46. 
g  Jam.  3.  1. 
h  Mai.  1.  6. 
i  ch.  20.  26, 


marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  'aro 
as  the  angels  oi  God  in  heaven. 

31  But  as  toucViing  the  resurrection  of  the 
deiid,  have  ye  not  read  that  which  wa& 
spoken  unto  you  by  God,  saying, 

32  1  'am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the 
God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob?  God 
is  not  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the 
linng. 

33  And  when  the  multitude  heard  this, 
they  **  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine. 

34  IF  But  when  the  I'hansees  had  heard 
that  he  had  put  the  Sadducees  to  silence, 
they  were  gathered  together. 

35  Then  one  of  them,  which  was  "a  law- 
yer, asked  him  a  question,  tempting  him, 
and  saying, 

3G  Miister,  which  is  the  great  command- 
ment in  the  law? 

37  Jesus  said  unto  him,  ""Thou  shalt  love 
the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and 
with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind. 

38  This  is  the  first  and  gi-eat  command- 
ment. 

;^9  And  the  second  is  like  unto  it,  "Thou 
shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 

40  On  ^  these  two  commandments  hang  aU 
the  Law  and  the  Prophets. 

41  H  While  *  the  Pharisees  were  gathered 
together,  Jesus  asked  them, 

42  Saying,  What  think  ye  of  Christ?  whose 
son  is  he?  They  say  unto  him.  The  son  of 
David. 

43  He  saith  unto  them.  How  then  doth 
David  "  in  spirit  call  him  Lord,  saying, 

44  The  6  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou 

^ .,  ...,--  ..and.  ti' 

thy  footstool? 

45  If  David  then  call  him  Lord,  how  is  he 
his  son? 

46  And  "  no  man  was  able  to  answer  him 
a  word;  neither  dm-st  any  man  from  that 
day  forth  ask  him  any  more  questions. 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 
1  Of  the  scribes  and  I'harisees'  quod  doctrine,  but 
evil  examples  of  life,    34   The  desCructioti  of 
Jerusalem  foretold. 

n^'HEN  spake  Jesus  to  the  multitude,  and 
■*-   to  his  disciples, 

2  Saying,  "  The  scribes  and  the  Pharisees 
sit  in  Moses'  seat: 

3  All  therefore  whatsoever  they  bid  you 
observe,  that  observe  and  do;  but  do  not 
ye  after  their  works:  for  ^  they  say,  and  do 
not. 

4  For  *  they  bind  heavy  burdens  and 
grievous  to  be  borne,  and  lay  them  on  men's 
shoulders;  but  they  themsetves  will  not 
move  them  with  one  of  their  hugers. 

5  But  <^  all  theu-  works  they  do  for  to  be 
seen  of  men:  *  they  make  broad  their 
phylacteries,  and  enlarge  the  borders  of 
their  garments, 

6  And  /love  the  uppermost  rooms  at 
feasts,  and  the  chief  seats  in  the  sjna- 
gogues, 

7  And  greetings  in  the  markets,  and  io  be 
called  of  men.  Rabbi,  Rabbi. 

8  But "  be  not  ye  called  Rabbi:  for  one  is 
your  Master,  even  Christ;  and  all  ye  aie 
brethren. 

y  And  call  no  man  your  father  upon  the 
earth:  Afor  one  is  your  Father,  which  is  in 
heaven. 

10  Neither  be  ye  called  masters:  for  one 
is  your  Master,  even  Chiist. 

11  But  »  he  that  is  greatest  among  you 
shall  be  yoiu-  servant. 


Chrid's  Prophecy  of  the 


MATTIIEW,  XXm.       Destruction  ofJerusahm,  etc. 


was  especially  written,  and  the  writer's  de-  every  Jew,  and  recalling  to  him  all  that  was 
sire  to  conciliate  the  Jews.'  1  w.  &  w.]  4. '  distinctive  and  precious  in  his  religion. 
See  on  L.  11-46.  6.  whatever  they  do  has  but  Jenxsalem,  Jerusalem— intense  feeling  redoub- 
1  he  motive-human  applause,  paylacteries— ,  ling  the  word,  that  killest  .  . .  stonest— not 
strips  of  pai'chment  with  iScripture  texts  on  !  content  with  spurning  God's  messages  of 
them,  worn  on  the  forehead,  ann,  and  side  mercy,  that  canst  not  suffer  even  the  mes- 
in  time  of  prayer,  borders— fringes,  of  their  sengers  to  live.  See  2  Chr.  36.  15,  16;  Ne. 
upper  garments  (Nu.  15.  37-40.).  6.  upper- ;  9.  26;  M.  5.  12;  21.  35-39;  2.s.  29-32.  35;  A.  7.  51- 
most  rooms  —  See'  on  L.  14.  8.  7-10.  be  not ;  54,  57-59.  gathered  thee— Thee,  truth-hating, 
called— It  is  the  62)irit  rather  than  the  better  i  mercy -spurning,  prophet-killing  Jerusalem 
of  this  that  must  be  pressed;  though  the  —how  often  would  I  have  gathered  Thee ! 


violation  of  the  letter,  springing  from  spiri-  . 

tual  pride,  has  done  incalculable  evil  in  the  ]  the  great  ministerial  commission, 


j  Compare  with  this  that  affecting  clause  in 
"     .       ■    ■     ,  "that re- 

Church  of  Christ.  '  Tlie  reiteration  of  "  rabbi,  pentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be 
rabbi"  («.  7.)  marks  the  delight  they  took  in  preached  in  his  name  among  all  nations, 
the  sound  of  such  titles,  and  the  ready  ofti-  beglmiing  at  Jerusalem .'"  L.  24.  47.  What 
ciousness  of  the  people,  or  their  disciples,  in  encouragement  to  the  heart-broken  at  their 
giving  them.'  [\\r.  <fe  w.]  12.  See  on  L.  18. 13.  own  long-continued  and  obstinate  rebellion ! 
4,  13.  See  on  L.  11.  52.  14.  See  on  L.  20.  47.  |  as  a  hen  her  chickens,  &c.  —Was  ever  ima- 
15.  proselyte  —  from  the  heathen.  See  gery  so  homely  invested  with  such  grace  and 
Joseph.  Antiq.  xiii.  9.  1.  twofold  the  child  such  sublimity  as  this,  at  our  Lord's  touch  I 
of  hell— condemned,  for  the  hypocrisy  he  [And  yet  how  exquisite  the  figure  itself— 
would  learn  to  practice,  both  by  the  religion  j  of  protection,  rest,  warmth,  and  all  manner 
he  left,  and  that  he  embraced.  16-22.  Our  of  conscious  well-being  in  those  poor,  de- 
Lord  here  condemns  the  subtle  distinctions  fenceless,  dependent  little  creatures,  as  they 
they  made  as  to  the  sanctity  of  oaths,  dis-  creep  under  and  feel  themselves  over- 
tinctions  made  for  avaricious  purposes,  shadowed  by  the  capacious  and  kindly  wing 
blind  guides  —  See  ch.  15.  14.  gold  of  the  j  of  the  mother-bird !  If,  wandering  beyond 
temple—'  not  what  adorned  its  walls  but  the  ,  hearing  of  her  peculiar  call,  they  are  over- 


Corban  set  apart  for  sacred  uses  (Mk.  7.  11 
for  these  knaves,  from  motives  of  self-in- 
terest, gave  the  preference  to  the  gold  and 
the  altar-gifts,  over  the  temple  and  the  altar, 
even  in  oaths.'  [Stiek.]  iVe  know  who  Uieir 
successors  are.  See  on  ch.  15.  5,  6.  As  to 
oaths,  see  on  ch.  5. 33-37.  23.  See  on  L.  11  42. 
24.  strain  at  a  guat— rather  '  strain  out,'  as  in 


taken  by  a  stonn  or  attacked  by  an  enemy, 
what  can  they  do  but  in  the  one  case  droop 
and  die,  and  in  the  other  submit  to  be  torn 
in  pieces.  But  if  they  can  reach  in  time 
their  place  of  safety,  mider  the  mother's 
wing,  in  vain  will  any  enemy  try  to  drag 
them  thence.  For  rising  into  strength,  kind- 
ling into  fury,  and  forgetting  herself  entirely 


older  English  translations.  The  Jews  were  i  in  her  young,  she  wiD  let  the  last  drop  of  her 
forbidden  to  eat  what  had  not  fins  or  scales  blood  be  shed  out  and  perish  in  defence  of 
in  the  water;  it  was  doubted  whether  this  her  precious  charge,  rather  than  yield  them 
applied  to  animalcidEe  in  liquids;  from  the  |  to  an  enemy's  talons.  How  signiticant  aU 
abundance  of  insects  in  the  East,  they  used  I  tJiis  of  what  Jesus  is  and  does  for  men  ! 
to  strain  their  vrnie  before  drinking  it.  Under  His  gi-eat  Mediatorial  wing  would  He 
[w.  &  w.]  camel— the  largest  animal  known  i  have  "gathered"  Israel.  For  the  figure,  see 
to  the  Jews,  as  opposed  to  the  "gnat,"  the  Ben.  32.  10-12;  Kuth  2.  12;  Ps.  17.  8;  36.  7: 


smallest  insect— both  aUke  tinclcan.  [X)o.] 
25,  26.  See  on  L.  11.  39-41.  27,  28.  whited— 
'white  washed.'  This  was  done  annually, 
partly  from  respect  to  the  dead,  partly  to 
avoid  legal  defilement  in  touching  them: 
*  With  all  your  fair  show,  your  hearts  are 
a  grave  of  corruption.'  29, 32.  See  on  L.  11. 
47,  48.  33.  This  recalls  the  language  of  the 
Baptist,  as  if  to  show  they  were,  at  the  end  of 
Messiah's  ministry,  just  what  they  were 
when  his  Forerunner  began— but  now  ripe 
for  their  doom,  as  they  were  not  then.  34, 
36.  I  send—'  am  sending,'  i.  e.  am  about  to 
send.  See  on  L.  11. 49-51.  37. 0  Jerusalem,  &c. 
—  How  ineffably  melting !  It  is  the  very 
heart  of  God  pouring  itself  forth  through 
human  flesh  and  speech.  It  is  this  incarna- 
tion of  the  innermost  life  and  love  of  Deity 


61.  4;  63.  7;  91.  4:  Is.  31.  5;  Mai.  4.  2.  The 
ancient  rabbins  had  a  beautiful  expression 
for  prosel>-tes  from  the  heathen— that  they 
had  '  come  under  the  wings  of  the  Sheclu- 
nah.'  [ScHCETTGEN  in  !Mey.]  For  this  last 
word,  see  on  v.  38.  how  often— not,  surely, 
during  the  six  or  seven  times  merely  that 
he  visited  and  taught  in  Jerusalem  while 
on  earth— that  would  be  against  the  whole 
spirit  of  this  appeal.  It  points  to  "the 
prophets"  whom  they  "killed,"  to  "them 
that  were  sent  unto  her, "whom  they  "stoned;" 
for,  says  Peter,  it  was  "  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
which  was  in  them  that  did  testify  before- 
hand the  sufferings  of  Christ  and  the  follow- 


ing glories"  (1  Pe.  1.  11.).    He  it  was  that 
"sent  unto  them  all  his  servants  the  pro 

..  phets,  rising  early  and  sending  them,  sajing, 

pleading  with  men,  bleeding  for  them,  and  Oh donot  that  abominable  thing  thatlhater 
ascending  only  to  open  his  arms  to  them  and  (Je.  44.  4.)  '  In  his  divine  and  eternal  natur 
win  them  back  by  the  power  of  this  story 
of  matchless  love,  that  has  conquered  the 
world,  that  wiU  yet  "  draw  aU  men  unto 
Him,"  and  beautify  and  ennoble  Humanity 
itself !  Jerusalem— not  the  mere  city  or  its  in- 
habitants, nor  as  the  metropolis  of  the 
ruition  merely,  but  as  the  centre  of  their  re- 
lUjious  life,  "the  city  of  their  solemnities," 
"  whither  the  tribes  went  up "  to  worship, 
and  at  this  veiy  moment  full  of  them.  It  is 
the  whole  visible  family  of  God,  then,  that 
is  here  apostrupliized,  by  a  name  dear  to 
20 


nature 

He  was  the  Prophet  of  the  prophets.'  [Olsh.] 
But  see  on  v.  38.  and  ye  wovJd  not— (See  JSe. 
9.  26;  Ps.  81.  11,  13;  Is.  28.  12;  30.  8,  9, 15;  49. 
4;  53. 1;  6.  9,  10.  with  J.  12.  37-41).  0  my.ste- 
rious  word !  mysterious  the  resistance  of 
such  i)atient  Love— mysterious  the  liberty 
of  self-undoing  !  The  awful  dignity  of  the 
vyill,  as  here  expressed,  might  make  the  ears 
to  tingle.  But  though  if  we  "will  not  come 
('have  not  the  will  to  come')  unto  Him  that 
we  may  have  life,"  we  die,  yet  it  is  "God  that 
worketh  in  us,  of  his  own  good  pleasure,  both 


and  rJiarisees  denwvccd. 


MATTIIEAV,  XXIV.   De^tnidion  of  Janisalnn  farctold. 


12  And  /whosoever  sliall  exalt  himstll 
shall  be  abased;  and  he  that  shall  humble 
himself  shall  be  exalted. 

13  H  But  *  woe  unto  you,  scribes  and 
Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye  shut  up  the 
kingdom  of  Leaven  against  men  :  tor  ye 
neither  go  in  yourselves,  neither  sutler  ye 
them  that  are  enterins,'  to  go  in. 

li  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  '  for  ye  devour  widows'  houses, 
and  for  a  pretence  make  long  prayer  : 
therefore  ye  shall  receive  the  greater  dam- 
nation. 

15  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  for  ye  compass  sea  and  land  to 
make  one  proselyte ;  and  when  he  is  made, 
ye  make  hnn  two-fold  more  the  child  of  hell 
than  yourselves. 

16  Woe  unto  you,  *"  ve  blind  guides,  which 
say, "  Whosoever  shall  swear  by  the  temple, 
it  is  nothing;  but  whosoever  shall  swear  by 
the  gold  of  the  temple,  he  is  a  debtor! 

17  Ye  fools,  and  blind!  for  whether  is 
greater,  the  gold,  "  or  the  temple  that  sanc- 
titieth  the  gold? 

18  And,  Whosoever  shall  swear  by  the 
altar,  it  is  nothing;  but  whosoever  sweareth 
by  the  gift  that  is  upon  it,  he  is  i  guilty. 

19  Ye  fools,  and  blind!  for  whether  is 
greater,  the  gill,  or  i'  the  altar  that  sancti- 
fieth  the  gifti 

20  Whoso  therefore  shall  swear  by  the 
altar,  sweareth  by  it,  and  by  all  things 
thereon. 

21  And  whoso  shall  swear  by  the  temple, 
Bweareth  by  it,  and  by  «  him  that  dwelleth 
therein. 

'/J  An{l  he  that  shall  swear  by  heaven, 
Bweareth  by  ''the  throne  of  God,  and  by 
him  that  sitteth  thereon. 

23  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  *  for  ye  pay  tithe  of  mint  and 
2 anise  and  cummin,  and  'have  omitted 
the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  judg- 
ment, mercy,  and  faith:  these  ought  ye  to 
have  done,  and  not  to  leave  the  other 
undone. 

24  Ye  blind  guides,  which  strain  at  a 
gnat,  and  swallow  a  camel. 

25  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  "for  ye  make  clean  the  outside 
of  the  cup  and  of  the  platter,  but  within 
they  are  lull  of  extortion  and  excess. 

26  77iou, blind  Pharisee,  cleanse  lirst  that 
which  "  is  within  the  cup  and  platter,  that 
the  outside  of  them  may  be  clean  also. 

27  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  ■""  for  ^e  are  like  unto  whited 
sepulchres,  which  indeed  appear  beautiful 
outward,  but  are  within  full  of  dead  men's 
bones,  and  of  all  uncleanness. 

28  Kven  so  ye  also  outwardly  appear  righ- 
teous unto  men,  but  within  ye  are  full  of 
hypocrisy  and  iniquity. 

29  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  because  ye  build  the  tombs  of 
the  prophets,  and  garnish  the  sepulchres 
of  the  righteous, 

30  And  say.  If  we  had  been  in  the  days  of 
our  lathers,  we  would  r.ot  have  been 
partakers  with  them  in  the  blood  of  the 
prophets. 

31  Wherefore  ye  be  witnesses  unto  your- 
selves, tliat  ''ye  are  the  childien  of  them 
which  killed  the  proplk-ts. 

32  i'ill  *  ye  up  then  the  measure  of  your 
fathers. 

36  Ye  serpents,  ye  '  generation  of  vipers, 


CHAi".  23. 

/Fro.  15.33. 
Pro.  m.  23. 
Dan.  4.  37. 

1  ret.  6.  5, 
k  Lu.  11  r.2. 
I  Eze.  22.  25. 

2Tiin.  3.0. 

Tit.  1.  11. 
m  Is.  58.  10. 
ch.  15.  11. 
n  cli.  5.  33. 

0  Ex.  3U.  29. 

1  Or, 
debtor,  or, 
bound. 

P  Ex.  29.  37. 
3  1  Ki.  8   13. 

2  Chr.  6.  2. 
Pa.  26.  8. 


P3. 


r  ch.  5.  34. 

Pa.  11.  4. 

Acta  7.  49. 
«  Lu.  11.  42. 
2  anethon, 


Acta  23.  3. 
Acts  7.  61. 
1  Theas.  2. 


lo. 
»  ch.  12.  34. 
«  ch.  21.  34. 
i  Acta  5.  40. 

Acta  7.  58. 

Acts  22.19. 
c  2  Cor.  a. 

24. 
•I  Key.  18.24. 
«  Gen.  4.  8. 

1  John  3. 

/•Deu.  32.11. 

g  Pro.  1.  2B. 

A  Pa.  118.  26. 

ch.  21.  9. 


CHAP.  24. 
a  fliark  13  1. 

Lu  21.5. 
b  1  Kin.  9.  7. 

Jer.  5.  10. 

J  or.  26. 18. 

Mic.  3.  12. 

Lu.  19.  44. 

0  1  Thoa.  6.1. 
d  Eph.  5.  6. 

2  Tho8.2.3. 

1  John  4.1. 
«  Jer.  14.  14. 

Jer.  23.  21. 

John  5.  43. 
/  I«.  19.  2. 

Hiig.  2.  22. 

i;ech.l4.13. 
g  Acta  4. 2.3. 

Acts  7.  59. 

Acts  12.  1. 
h  2  Ti..l.  15. 
i  Arts  tSl.^y. 

2  Cor.  11. 

13. 

2  Pet.  2.  1. 
J  1  Tim.  4.1. 
k  Heb.  3.  0. 

1  Horn.  10.18. 
m  D.-iu.  9.27. 

l^au.ia.U. 


how  can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of 
hell? 

34  Wherefore,  "  behold,  I  send  unto  you 
prophets,  and  wise  men,  and  scribes:  and 
some  *  of  them  ye  shall  kill  and  crucify; 
and  "  some  of  them  shall  ye  scourge  in  your 
synagogues,  and  persecute  thtm  from  city 
to  city: 

35  that  <i  upon  you  may  come  all  the 
righteous  blood  shed  upon  the  earth,  *  from 
the  blood  of  righteous  Abel  unto  the 
blood  of  Zacharias  son  of  Barachias,  w  hom 
ye  slew  between  the  temple  and  the  altar. 

36  Verily  1  say  unto  you.  All  these  thiuga 
shall  come  upon  this  generation. 

37  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thort  that 
killest  the  prophets,  and  stonest  them 
which  are  sent  unto  thee,  how  often  would 
I  /  have  gathered  thy  children  together, 
even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under 
her  wings,  and  ye  would  not! 

38  Behold,  your  house  is  left  unto  you 
desolate. 

39  For  I  say  unto  you,  ^  Ye  shall  not  see 
me  henceforth,  till  ye  shall  say, ''  Blessed 
is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
1  Christ  foretelleth  the  destruction  of  the  temple}  3 
tvhui  shall  happen  at  his  coming.  ;J0  As  no  man 
knoweth  the  day,  we  ought  to  watch,  etc. 
A  ND  "Jesus  went  out,  and  departed  from 
■^  the  temple:  and  his  disciples  came  to 
him,  tor  to  show  him  the  buildings  of  the 
teniiile. 

2  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  See  j-e  not 
all  these  things?  Verily  1  say  unto  you. 
There''  shall  not  be  left  here  one  stone 
ui)oii  another,  that  shall  not  be  thrown 
down. 

3  II  And  as  he  sat  upon  the  mount  of 
Olives,  the  disciples  came  mito  him  pri- 
vately, saying,  "Tell  us,  when  shall  these 
things  be?  and  what  shall  be  the  sign  of 
thy  coming,  and  of  the  end  of  the  world? 

4  And  J  esus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
Take  <i  heed  that  no  man  deceive  you. 

5  Por  *  many  shall  come  m  my  name, 
saying,  I  am  Christ ;  and  shall  deceive 
many. 

6  And  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  rumours 
of  wars:  see  that  ye  be  not  troubled:  for 
all  these  things  must  come  to  pass,  but  the 
end  is  not  yet. 

7  For  /  nation  shall  rise  against  nation, 
and  kuigdora  against  kingdom:  and  there 
shall  be  famines,  and  pestilences,  and 
earthquakes,  in  divers  places. 

8  All  the.se  are  the  beginning  of  sorrows. 

9  Then  ''shall  they  deliver  you  up  to  be 
atllicted,  and  shall  kill  you:  and  ye  shall 
be  hated  of  all  nations  for  my  name's 
sake. 

10  And  then  shall  many  ''  be  offended, 
and  shall  betray  one  another,  and  shall 
hate  one  another. 

11  And  » many  false  prophets  shall  rise, 
and  i  shall  deceive  many. 

12  And  because  iniquity  shall  abound,  the 
love  of  many  shall  wax  cold. 

13  But  *  he  that  shall  endm-e  unto  the 
end,  the  same  shall  be  saved. 

14  And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  ^  shajl 
be  preached  in  all  the  world  lor  a  witness 
unto  all  nations;  and  then  shall  the  end 
come. 

15  When  ye  therefore  shall  see  the  abo- 
mination of  desolation,  spoken  of  by 
Daniel  '"  the  prophet,  stand  in  the  bolj 


Destruction  Oj  Jerusalem  foretold.  MATTHEW,  XXV. 


FarahJe  of  the  Ten  Virgins. 
from  Jerusalem  to  Bethany  they  would  cross 
mount  Ohvet;  on  its  summit  He  seats  Him- 
self, over  agamst  the  temple,  having  the  ciiy 
all  spread  out  under  his  eye.  the  disciples 
came  privately— four  of  tliem,  "  Peter,  and 
.James,  and  John,  and  Andrew,"  J\Ik  v.i  3 
When  shall  these  be  ?  what  the  sign  of  thy 
coming,  and  of  the  end  of  the  world?  — They 
no  doubt  looked  upon  the  date  of  all 
these  things  as  one  and  the  same,  and  their 
notions  of  the  things  themselves  were  as  con- 
fused as  of  the  times  of  them.  Our  Lord 
takes  his  own  way  of  meeting  their  ques- 
tions. 5-31.  See  on  L.  21.  8--33.  36.  that  day 
and  that  hour  — the  precise  time,  knoweth 
my  Father  only— See  on  Mk.  13.  32.  37,  39. 
See  on  L.  17.  26,  27.  40,  41.  two  [men]  in  the 
field  .  .  .  two  women  at  the  mill— i.  e.  at  their 
ordinary  work;  the  children  of  light  and  the 
children  of  this  world  mingled  to  the  last. 
43--61.  See  on  L.  12.  35-40,  42-4r.. 
CHiOTEK  XXV. 
Ver.  1-13.  Parable  of  the  Ten  Vir- 
gins. 1.  Then—'  in  that  great  day  of  deci- 
sion, wherein  the  Lord  shall  have  shown 
himself  "  a  swift  witness"  against  the  hypo- 
crite and  unbeliever  ich.  24.  51.;,  [Tbencu.J 
to  meet  the  Bridegroom— Tliis  supplies  a 
key  to  the  parable,  whose  object  is,  in  the 
main,  the  same  as  that  of  the  last  parablo 
—to  illustrate  the  viijilant  and  expectant  al- 
titude offaiih,  in  respect  of  which  believers 
are  described  as  "they  that  look  for  Him" 
(Heb.  9.  28.).  and  "love  His  appearing" 
(2  Ti.  4.  8.).  In  the  last  parable  it  was  that  of 
servants  waiting  for  their  absent  Lord;  in 
tliis,  it  is  that  of  virgin-attendants  on  a  Bride, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  go  forth  at  night  with 
lamps,  and  be  ready  on  the  appearance  of  the 
Bridegroom  to  conduct  the  Bride  to  Ms  house, 
and  go  in  with  him  to  the  marriage.  Tliis 
entire  and  beautiful  change  of  figure  brings 
out  the  lesson  of  the  former  parable  in  quite 
a  new  light.  But  let  it  be  observed,  that, 
just  as  in  the  parable  of  the  Marriage  Sup- 
per, the  Bride  does  not  come  into  view  at 
all  in  this  parable;  the  Virgins  and  the 
Bridegroom  holding  forth  all  the  intended 
instruction— nor  could  believers  be  repre- 
sented both  as  Bride  and  Bridal  Attendants 
without  incongruity.  2-4.  wise  . .  .  took  oil 
.  . .  foolish  ...  no  oil—'  They  are  not  dis- 
tinguished into  good  and  bad,  but  as  the 
hearers  at  M.  7.  25-27  into  ''wise  and  ''fool- 
ish;" for  as  a  certain  degree  of  good\vill 
toward  the  truth  is  assumed  there  in  the 
foolish,  as  evidenced  in  their  willingness  to 
hear,  and  in  the  superstructure,  however 
weak,  which  they  raise,  so  on  the  part  of 
these,  in  their  going  forth  even  with  the  in- 
tention of  meeting  the  Bridegroom.  We 
have  them  described— the  wise,  2  Pet.  1.  5-8. 
and  the  foolish,  2  Pet.  1. 9.'  [Tkench.]  But 
what  are  the  " lamps"  and  the  "oil?"  Many 
answers  have  been  given;  but '  it  is  clear  that 
whatever  is  merely  outward  in  christian  pro- 
fession is  the  lamp— whatever  is  inward  and 
spiritual  is  the  oil  reserved  in  the  vessels. . . 
Yet  in  either  case  before  we  have  fully  ex- 
hausted the  meaning  of  the  oil,  we  must 
get  beyond  both  the  works  and  the  faith  to 
something  higher  than  either,  the  informing 
Spirit  of  God  which  prompts  the  works  and 
quickens  the  faith,  and  of  which  Spirit  oil  is 
ever  in  scripture  the  standing  symbol  (Ex. 

templewassoprofanelydw9«2/'(I>o.vii.8.7.).  30.  23-32;  Ze.  4.2,  12;  A.  10.  38;  Heb.  I.  9.). 

8.  sat  upou  the  Mount  of  Olives— On  their  way  I  lu  fact  having  no  oil  provided  iu  the  vessels 


to  xvill  and  to  do,"  in  "  working  out  our  o^vn 
salvation"  (Ph.  2.  12,  13.).  38.  your  house- 
beyond  all  reasonable  doubt,  the  Temple  ; 
their  house  now,  not  the  Lord's.  See  on  ch. 
22.  7.  desolate—'  deserted '  i  e.  bereft  of  its  di- 
vihe  Inhabitant.  Wlio  is  He  ?  Hear  the  next 
words.  39.  For  I  say  unto  you,  Ye  shall  not  see 
ME  henceforth— What !  Does  Jesus  mean  that 
He  v/as  Himself  the  Lord  of  the  temple,  and 
that  it  became  "  deserted  "  when  He  finally 
left  it?  It  is  even  so.  Now  is  thy  fate  sealed,  O 
Jenisalem,  for  the  glory  is  departed  from  it ! 
Tfuit  glory,  once  visible  in  the  holy  of  holies, 
over  the  mercy-seat,  when  on  the  day  of 
atonement  the  blood  of  t.ypical  expiation 
was  sprinkled  on  it  and  in  front  of  it— called 
by  the  Jews  the  Shechinah,  or  the  Dwdling, 
as  being  the  visible  pavilion  of  Jehovah— 
that  alory,  which  Isaiah  (ch.  6.)  saw  in  vision, 
the  beloved  disciple  says  was  the  glory  of 
Christ  (J.  12.  41.).  Though  it  was  never 
visible  in  the  second  temple,  Haggai  fore- 
told that  "the  glory  of  that  latter  house  shoidd 
be  greater  than  of  the  former,"  (ch.  2. 9,)  be- 
cause "  the  Lord  whom  they  sought  was  sud- 
denly to  come  to  his  temple,"  (Mai.  3.  1,)  not 
in  a  mere  bright  cloud,  but  enshrined  in 
living  Humanity!  Yet  brief  as  well  as 
"sudden"  was  the  manifestation  to  be;  for 
the  words  He  was  now  uttering  were  to  be 
his  very  last  within  its  precincts,  till  ye  shall 
say.  Blessed,  &c.— -i.e.  till  the  "Hosannas" 
with  which  the  midtitude  had  welcomed 
him  into  the  city,  instead  of  "  sore  tlispleas- 
ing  "  the  "  chief  priests  and  scribes"  ch.  2i.  15,) 
should  break  forth  from  the  whole  nation, 
(Ze.  12. 10;  Ko.  11.  20;  2  Co.  3.) 

CHAPTER  XXTV. 
Ver.  1-51.  Christ's  Prophecy  of  the 
Dessxruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  Warn- 
ings TO  PrepareFor  His  Second  Coming, 
Suggested  by  It.  v.  1.  went  out,  and  de- 
parted—or '  was  in  the  act  of  departing'  from 
the  temple— taking  leave  of  it,  to  return  no 
more.  'As  He  withdrew,  the  gracious  pre- 
sence of  God  left  the  sanctuary;  and  the 
Temple,  with  all  its  service,  and  the  whole 
theocratic  constitution,  was  given  over  to 
destruction.'  [Olsh.J  his  disciples— "one 
of  them,"  says  JNIk.  (13.  1.).  came  to  show 
him  the  buildings  of  the  temple  —  saying, 
"Master,  see  what  manner  of  stones  and  what 
■buildings!"- wondering,  probably,  how  so 
massive  a  pile  could  be  overthrown,  as 
seemed  implied  in  our  Lord's  last  words 
regarding  it.  Josephus,  who  gives  a  minute 
account  of  the  wonderful  structure,  speaks 
of  stones  forty  cubits  long  (Jewish  War.  v. 
6,  1.),  and  says  the  pillars  supporting  the 
porches  were  twenty-five  cubits  high,  all  of 
one  stone,  and  that  the  whitest  marble  (Do.  v. 
6.  2.).  Six  days'  battering  at  the  walls,  dur- 
ing the  siege,  made,  no  impression  upon 
them,  iDo.  vi.  4,  1.).  Some  of  the  under- 
building, yet  remaining,  and  other  works, 
are  probably  as  old  as  the  first  temple.  2. 
See  ye  not  these  things  1— 'Ye  call  my  atten- 
tion to  these  tilings?  I  have  seen  them: 
Ye  point  to  their  massive  and  durable 
appearance;  now  listen  to  their  fate.' 
not  one  stone  left,  <fcc.  —Titus  ordered 
the  whole  city  and  temple  to  be  demolished 
(Joseph.  J.  W.  vii.  1,  1.);  Eleazar  wished 
they  had  aU  died  before  seeing  that  holy  city 
destroyed  by  enemies'   hands,  before   the 


S'i(}ns  of  Chrbt's  coming. 


MATTIIf]W,  XX 7. 


rarahle  of  the  ten  virgins. 


place,  ("whoso  readeth,  let  him  under- 
stand.) 

16  Then  let  them  which  be  iu  Judea  flee 
into  the  mountains: 

17  Let  him  which  is  on  the  house-top  not 
come  down  to  take  any  thing  out  of  his 
house: 

18  Neither  let  him  which  is  in  the  field 
return  back  to  take  his  clothes. 

19  And  woe  unto  them  that  are  with  child, 
and  to  them  that  give  suck,  in  those  days! 

I'O  But  pray  ye  that  your  flight  be  not  in 
the  winter,  neither  on  the  sabbath  day: 

21  For  "  then  shall  be  great  tribulation, 
such  as  was  not  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  this  time,  no,  nor  ever  shall  be. 

22  And  except  those  days  should  be  shor- 
tened, there  should  no  fltsh  be  saved:  p  but 
for  the  elect's  sake  those  days  shall  be 
shortened. 

23  Then  if  any  man  shall  say  unto  you, 
Lo,  here  is  Christ,  or  there;  believe  it  not. 

2t  For  2  there  shall  arise  flilse  Christs, 
and  false  prophets,  and  shall  show  great 
signs  and  wonders ;  insomuch  that,  *"  if  it 
were  possible,  they  shall  deceive  the  very 
elect. 

25  Behold,  I  have  told  you  before. 

26  Wherefore,  if  they  shall  say  unto  you. 
Behold,  he  is  in  the  desert;  go  not  forth: 
behold,  he  is  in  the  secret  chambers ;  believe 
it  not. 

27  For  as  the  lightning  cometh  oat  of  the 
east,  and  shineth  even  unto  the  west;  so 
shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be. 

28  For  *  wheresoever  the  carcase  is,  there 
will  the  eagles  be  gathered  together. 

2y  H  Immediately  '  after  the  tribulation  of 
those  days  "  shall  the  sun  be  darkened,  and 
the  moon  shall  not  give  her  light,  and  the 
stars  shall  fall  from  heaven,  and  the  powers 
of  the  heavens  shall  be  shaken: 

30  And  "then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the 
Son  of  man  in  heaven:  "'and  then  shall  all 
the  tribes  of  the  earth  mourn,  '^and  they 
shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great 
glory. 

31  And  "  he  shall  send  his  angels  l  with  a 
great  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  they  shall 
gather  together  his  elect  from  the  foiu: 
winds,  from  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other. 

32  U  Now  learn  'a  parable  of  the  fig  tree: 
When  liis  branch  is  yet  tender,  and  putteth 
forth  leaves,  ye  know  that  summer  is 
nigh: 

33  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  shall  see  all 
these  things,  know  that  Sit  is  near,  even  at 
the  doors. 

34  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  "  This  generation 
shall  not  pass,  tiU  all  these  things  be  ful- 
filled. 

35  Heaven  ^and  earth  shall  pass  away, 
but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away. 

36  H  But  ''of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth 
no  man,  no,  not  the  angels  of  heaven,  ^  but 
my  Father  only. 

37  But  as  the  days  of  Noe  tvere,  so  shall 
also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be. 

38  For  'as  in  the  days  that  were  before 
the  tlood  they  were  eating  and  diinking, 
marrying  and  giving  in  man-iage,  mitil  the 
day  tliat  Noe  entered  into  the  ark, 

3y  And  knew  not  until  the  flood  came, 
and  took  them  all  away ;  so  shall  also  the 
commg  of  the  Son  of  man  be. 

40  Then  shaU  two  be  iu  the  field;  the  one 
shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  kit. 
22 


A.  D. 


CHAP.  24. 
n  Dan.  9.  23. 
0  0nn.  12.  1. 

Jool  2.  2. 
p  Is.  65. 8,  9. 

Zech.  14, 

2,3. 
q  Deu.  13.  1. 

2  The9.2.9. 

Rev.  13.13. 
»•  Rom.  8.  28. 


2Ti 


Pet. 


»  Joh  3J.  30. 
t  Dan.  7.U. 
«  U.  13.  10. 

Ete.  32.  7. 

Acts  2.  2(J. 

Rev.  6.  12. 
w  Dan.  7.  13. 
V)  Zech.  12. 

12. 
«  Rev.  1.  7. 
V  1  Cor.  15. 

62. 

1  Thest.  4. 
10. 

1  Or,  with  a 
trumpet, 
and  a  great 

»Lu.  21.29. 

2  Or,  he. 

a  ch.  16.  28." 

ch.  23.  36. 
6  Is.  61.  6. 

Jer.  31.  35. 

Ileb.  1. 11. 
e  Acts  1.  7. 

lThe3.5.2. 

2  Pet.3.1U. 
d  Zech.  14  7. 
e  1  Pet.  3. 20. 
/Rev.  16.15. 
g  1  Cor.  4.  2 

Heb.  3.  6. 
ft  1  Tim.  4. 
7,8. 
Kov.16.15. 

3  Or,  cut 
him  off. 

iPs.  11.6. 


Rev.21.2,9. 
6  ch.  13.  47. 

ch.  22. 10. 

e  2  Tim.  3.  6. 

Titus  1.16. 

d  1  Thes  5  6. 

e  ch.  24.  31. 

1  Thesa.  4, 


9  Lu.  13.  25. 
ft  ch.  7.  21. 
i  Ps.  5.  6. 

Hab.  1.  13. 

John  9.  31. 
i  ch.  24.  42. 

Mar.  13.  33. 

Lu.  21.  36. 

1  Cor.  16. 

13. 

1  Pet,  6.  8. 

Rev.  16.  15. 
k  Lu.  19.  12. 
J  ch.  21.33. 
2  A  talent  is 

187J.  lOg. 
w  Rom.  12.6. 


Cor  ] 


Efh.  i.  11. 


41  Two  ivomen  shall  be  grinding  at  the 
mill ;  the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  tlie  other 
left. 

42  IT  Watch  therefore;  for  ye  know  not 
what  hour  yoiu'  Lord  doth  come. 

43  But/ know  this,  that  if  the  goodman  of 
the  house  had  known  in  what  watch  the 
thief  would  come,  he  would  have  watched, 
and  would  not  have  sufl'ered  his  house  to 
be  broken  up. 

44  Therefore  be  ye  also  ready:  for  in  such 
an  hour  as  ye  thuik  not  the  Son  of  man 
Cometh. 

45  Who  ^then  is  a  ftxithful  and  vnse  ser- 
vant, whom  his  lord  hath  made  ruler  over 
his  household,  to  give  them  meat  iu  due 
season? 

46  Blessed  '^  is  that  ser^'ant  whom  his  lord 
when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing. 

47  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  That  he  shaU 
make  him  ruler  over  all  his  goods. 

48  But  and  if  that  evil  servant  shall  say  in 
his  heart.  My  lord  delayeth  his  coming; 

49  And  shall  begin  to  smite  his  fellow- 
sen'ants,  and  to  eat  and  drink  with  the 
dranken ; 

50  The  lord  of  that  ser^'ant  shall  come  in  a 
day  when  he  looketh  not  for  him,  and  iuan 
hour  that  he  is  not  aware  of, 

51  And  shall  <*  cut  him  asunder,  and  ap- 
point him  » his  portion  with  the  hypocrites: 
there  shall  be  weeping  and-  gnashing  of 
teeth. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
1  The  parable  of  the  ten  tirpins;  14  of  the  talents, 
and  the  reward  to  those  who  improved  them,    31 
Of  the  hist  judgment. 

fpHEN  shall  the  kingdom  of  heaven  be 
-"-  likened  imto  ten  virgins,  which  took 
their  lamps,  and  went  forth  to  meet  "  the 
bridegroom. 

2  And  *five  of  them  were  wise,  and  five 
were  foolish. 

3  They  that  were  foolish  took  their  lamps, 
and  took  "^  no  oil  with  them: 

4  But  the  wise  took  oil  in  their  vessels 
with  their  lamps. 

5  While  the  bridegroom  tanied,  <*  they  all 
slumbered  and  slept. 

6  And  at  midnight  *  there  was  a  cry  made, 
Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh ;  go  ye  out 
to  meet  him.  *" 

7  Then  all  those  vir^ns  arose,  and  trunmed 
their /lamps. 

8  And  the  foolish  said  unto  the  wise.  Give 
us  of  your  oil;  for  our  lamps  are  igone 
out. 

9  But  the  wise  answered,  saying,  Not  so; 
lest  there  be  not  enough  for  us  and  you: 
but  go  ye  rather  to  them  that  sell,  and  buy 
for  yourselves. 

10  And  while  they  went  to  buy,  the  biide- 
groom  came;  and  they  that  were  ready 
went  in  with  him  to  the  marriage:  and 
the  ^  door  was  shut. 

11  Afterward  came  also  the  other  virgins, 
saying, ''  Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us. 

12  But  he  answered  and  said.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you, » I  know  you  not. 

13  ^Vatch  J  therefore ;  for  ye  know  neither 
the  day  nor  the  hour  wherehi  the  Sou  of 
man  cometh. 

14  H  Y or  ''  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  'ns 
a  man  travtlling  iiito  a  far  country,  ttho 
called  his  own  servants,  and  deUvered  uiilo 
them  his  goods. 

15  And  imto  one  he  gave  five  -  taknts.  to 
another  two,  auu  to  another  one ; '"  to  every 


T(rrnl>lf  of  the  Ten  Virghis, 


MATTUEY/,  XXV. 


of  the  Talents,  etc. 


is  exactly  parallel  to  having  no  deepness  of  |  inconsistent  ■with  the  whole  tenor  of  such 


earth  (M.  13.  5!  ;  the  seed  si)rings  np  till  the 
sun  scorches  it ;  the  lamps  burn  on  till  their 
oil  is  exliausted  through  the  length  of  the 
bridegroom's  delay.  La  each  case  there  is 
something  more  than  a  merely  external  pro- 
fession, conscious  to  itself  that  it  is  nothing 
besides ;  it  is  not  that  there  was  no  faith,  but 
rather  that  there  was  only  that  temporary 
faithvihich  could  not  endure  temptation  nor 
survive  delay— the  christian  lile  in  manifes- 
tation, but  not  fed  from  deep  internal  foun- 
tains.' 6.  the  bridegroom  tarried— cf.  A.  3.  21. 
"Whom,  the  heaven  must  receive  until  the 
times  of  restitution  of  all  things ;"  also 
L.  19. 11.  Among  other  reasons.  Christ  "  tar- 
ries" to  try  the  faith  and  patience  of  his 
people,  all  slumhered  and  slept— wise  virgins 
as  well  as  fooUsh.  The  one  word— expressing 
the  sleep  of  persons  sitting  up,  'nodding,'  or 
becoming  drowsy'— denotes  the  first  stage  of 
spiritual  letliargv:  the  other,  signifving  to 
'lie  down  to  sleep,  marks  a  more  cmvanced 
stage  of  sviritual  declension  consciously 
yielded  to— cf.  L.  18.  8.  "  When  the  Son  of 
Man  Cometh,  shall  He  find  faith  in  the 
earth  T  6.  at  midnight—'  That  is  indeed  the 
true  midnight,  ■«  hen  even  those  who  shoiUd 
be  watching  are  asleep'  [Stier.]  The  mean- 
ing is,  the  time  when  He  -vvill  be  least  ex- 
pected,  coming  "as  a  thief  in  the  night," 
1  Th.  5.  2.  7.  all  arose  and  trimmed— the  fool- 
ish virgins  as  weU  as  the  wise.  How  long 
do  both  parties  seem  the  same— almost  to 
the  moment  of  decision  !  8.  cur  lamps  are 
gone  out— rather 'are  going  out;'  andatwhata 
moment !  cf.  in  the  parable  of  the  Sower, 
(ch.  13.  21.)  the  thorny-ground  hearers  : 
Yet  "hath  he  not  root  in  himseff,  but  dureth 
forav:hile."  give  us  ofyoiir  oil— They  have  now 
at  length  discovered  not  only  their  own 
foUy,  but  the  wisdom  of  the  other  class,  and 
they  do  homage  to  it.  Tlius  will  many  who, 
if  not  despising  the  more  spiritually  minded, 
deem  them  "  righteous  over  much,"  yet  be 
forced,  with  bitter  mortification,  to  o-rni 
their  superiority.  See  Is.  60.14;  Ke.  3.  9.  9.  The 
words  "not  so"  are  not  in  the  original,  where 
the  reply  is  strongly  elliptical.  'In  case 
there  be  not  enough  for  us  and  you'— what 
then  ?  Both  loill  he  undone.  What  is  divine 
cannot  be  imparted  by  one  man  to  another. 
"The  just  shall  live  by  his  own  faith"  (Ha. 
2. 4. )  see  Ga.  6. 4, 6  •  Pi-.  9. 1 2.  go  rather— This 
merely  reminds  them  of  the  proper  way 
of  obtaining  the  precious  article,  and  im- 
plies, beneath  a  friendly  advice,  a  certain 
reflection  on  them  for  having  it  now  to  seek, 
that  sell,  and  buy— i.  e.  get  it  in  the  only  le- 
gitimate way.  For  the  language,  of  Pr.  23.  23; 
Llk.  13.  44  ;  Ee.  3.  18  ;  Is.  55.  1, 10, 11.  while 
they  went  the  bridegroom  came— Tliey  are  sen- 
sible of  their  folly  ;  they  have  taken  good 
advice ;  they  are  in  the  act  of  getting  what 
alone  they  lacked :  a  very  little  more,  and 
they  also  are  ready.  But  the  Bridegroom 
comes;  the  ready  are  admitted ;—"  the  door 
is  shut"  (L.  13.  25  ;  Ge.  7.  IG.),  and  they  are 
imdone.     How  graphic  and  appalling  this 

Eicture  of  one  almost  saved— hut  lost!  11. 
ord,  Lord— see  7.  22.  It  is  here  a  piteous  ci-y 
of  urgency  and  felt  danger.  Now  at  length 
they  realise  their  past  folly.  12.  I  know  you 
not— The  difference  made  by  some  between 
this  and  "  I  never  knew  you,"  in  ch.  7.  23.  as 
being  milder,  and  impljlng  a  different  fate, 
[Olsh.,  Siiek.,  AtF.J  is  to  be  resisted,  as 
22 


laugiiage,  [see  Trench],  and  especially  with 
the  solemn  moral  of  the  whole,  v.  13 :  to  say 
nothing  of  the  danger  of  such  criticism. 
Why,  it  may  be  asked,  are  unworthy  gue-sta 
admitted  to  "the  Marriage  of  the  King'.s 
Son"  in  a  former  parable,  (ch.  22.  8.),  and 
the  foolish  virgins  here  excluded?  In  Ger- 
hard's words,  quoted  by  Trench.  '  Those 
festivities  are  celebrated  in  this  life,  in  the 
church  militant ;  these  at  the .  last  day.  in 
the  church  triumphant.  To  those,  even  they 
are  admitted  who  are  not  adorned  with  the 
wedding-garment ;  but  to  these,  only  they  to 
whom  it  is  granted  to  be  arrayed  in  fine 
linen  clean  and  white,  which  is  the  righteous- 
ness of  saints  (Eev.  19.  8.) ;  to  those,  men  are 
called  by  the  trumpet  of  the  Gospel;  to 
these  by  the  trumpet  of  the  Archani;el.  To 
those,  who  enters  may  go  out  from  them,  or 
be  cast  out ;  who  is  once  introduced  to  these, 
never  goes  out,  nor  is  cast  out,  from  them 
anymore:  wherefore  it  is  said,  "The  door  is 
shut."  •  ^ 

14-30.  Parable  or  the  Taxents.  For 
the  points  of  difference  between  this  parable 
and  the  very  similar  one  of  The  Pounds, 
L.  19.  11-27,  see  opening  remarks  there. 
'AVliile  the  Virgins  were  represented  as 
xcaiting  for  their  Lord,  we  have  the  servants 
vorking  for  him :  there  the  imcard  spiritual 
life  of  the  faithful  was  described;  here  hia 
external  activity.  It  is  not,  therefore,  with- 
out good  reason  that  they  appear  in  their 
actual  order— that  of  the  Virgins  first,  and  of 
the  Talents  follo\nng— since  it  is  the  sole  con- 
dition of  a  profitalde  outward  activity  for 
the  Kingdom  of  God,  that  the  life  of  God  be 
diligently  maintained    within   the    heart.' 

GCpench.]  14.  travelling  into  a  far  country— 
t.  'going  abroad.*  called,  &c.— Between 
master  and  slaves  this  was  not  uncommon 
in  ancient  times.  Christ's  "servants"  here 
mean  aU  who  stand  in  the  relation  to  Hira 
of  professed  entire  subjection.  His  "goods" 
mean  all  their  gifts  and  endowments,  whe- 
ther original  or  acquired,  natural  or  spiritual. 
As  all  that  slaves  have  belongs  to  their  mas- 
ter, so  Christ  has  a  claim  to  everything  which 
belongs  to  his  people,  everything  wliich  may 
be  turned  to  good,  and  he  cfemauds  its  appro- 
priation to  his  service  ;  or  rather,  they  first 
otter  it  up  to  Him,  as  "not  their  own,  but 
bought  with  a  price"  (1  Cor,  6. 19,  20.),  and 
He  "delivers  it  to  them"  again  to  be  put 
to  use  in  his  service.  15.  Five,  two,  one, 
to  every  one  according  to,  &c.— The  gifts  diher 
in  every  servant,  but  the  principle  of  distri^ 
h%itio7b  is  the  same  in  aU.  This  lays  the 
foundation  for  an  equitable  reckoning,  see 
L.  12.  48.  took  his  journey— cf.  ch.  21.  33, 
where  the  same  departure  is  ascribed  to  God 
after  setting  up  the  old  economy ;  for  '  the 
divine  visitation,  after  it  has  organized  a  new 
plan  of  life— lent  out  new  capital— is  always 
followed  by  a  "departure,"  in  order  to  a  trial 
how  men  will  use  it :  the  instructive  revela- 
tion is  followed  by  a  quite  as  instructive 
silence.'  [Beck,  quoted  by  Stier.].  16-17. 
traded— 'wrought;'  marking  the  act  ii^ity  and 
labour  bestowed,  other  five .  .  .  other  two- 
each  doubling  what  he  received,  and  there- 
fore ftof/i,  cquaiii/^ai^/i/MJ.  18.  see  on -i?.  24, 25. 
19.  after  a  long  time— cf.  v.  5,  "tarried,"  and 
ch.  24.48,  "deiayeth  his  coming"— '  intimat- 
ing that  the  interval  would  be  no  short  one.' 
[ALF.J    20  22.    Lord.  &c.— How  beautifully 


The  paraUe  of  the  talents. 


MATTHEW,  XXVI. 


Tlie  last  jiuIgmenL 


man  according  to  his  several  ability;  and 
Etrais;htway  took  his  journey. 
1(>  Then  he  that  had  received  the  live 
talents  went  and  "  traded  with  the  same, 
and  made  thtvi  other  five  talents. 

17  And  likewise  he  that  had  received  two, 
he  also  gained  other  two. 

18  But  ne  that  had  received  one  went  and 
digged  in  the  earth,  and  "hid  his  lord's 
money. 

19  After  a  long  time  the  lord  of  those 
8er\'ant3  cometh,  and  reckoneth  with  them. 

20  And  so  he  that  had  received  five  talents 
came  and  brought  other  five  talents,  say- 
ing. Lord,  thou  dehveredst  unto  me  five 
talents:  behold,  1  have  gained  besides  them 
five  talents  more. 

21  His  lord  said  unto  him.  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  sen-ajit:  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things.  Pi  will  make 
thee  ruler  over  many  things:  enter  thou 
into  '  the  joy  of  thy  lord. 

22  He  also  that  had  received  two  talents 
came  and  said.  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto 
me  two  talents:  behold.  I  have  gained  two 
other  talents  besides  them. 

23  His  lord  said  unto  him.  Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  sen'ant:  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee 
ruler  over  many  things:  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord. 

24  Then  he  which  had  received  the  one 
talent  came  and  said,  Lord,  I  knew  thee 
that  thou  art  an  hard  man,  reaping  where 
thou  hast  not  sown,  and  gathering  where 
thou  hast  not  straw  ed: 

25  And  I  was  afraid,  and  went  and  hid  thy 
talent  in  the  earth:  lo,  there  thou  hast  th<it 
is  thine. 

26  His  lord  answered  and  said  anto  him. 
Thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant,  thou 
knew^est  that  I  reap  w  here  1  sowed  not,  and 
gather  where  I  have  not  strawed; 

27  Thou  oughtest  therefore  to  have  put  my 
money  to  the  exchangers,  and  then  at  my 
coming  I  should  have  received  mine  own 
with  usury. 

28  Take  therefore  the  talent  from  him, 
and  give  it  unto  him  which  hath  ten 
talents. 

2;)  For  *■  unto  every  one  that  hath  shall  be 
given,  and  he  shall  have  abundance:  but 
from  him  that  hath  not  shall  be  taken 
away  even  that  which  he  hath. 

30  And  cast  ye  the  unprofitable  sen'ant 
into  outer  darkness:  there  shixU  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth. 

31 11  When  '  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in 
his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his 
glory: 

32  And  'before  him  shall  be  gathered  all 
nations:  and  "he  shall  separate  them  one 
from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his 
sheep  from  the  goats: 

33  And  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right 
hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. 

34  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on 
his  right  hand.  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  "inherit  the  kingdom  "'prepared 
for  you  from  the  fouiidation  of  the  world: 

35  For  '  1  waa  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  meat:  1  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me 
drink:  "  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me 
in: 

30  Naked, » and  ye  clothed  me:  1  was  sick, 
and  ye  visited  me:  "  1  was  in  piisou,  and  ye 
came  unto  uie. 

23 


CHAP.  25. 
n  Pro.  3.  14. 

1  Pet.  4.10. 
Phil   2.  21. 

p  ch.  W.  47. 

Lu   I'J.  44. 

Lu.  22.  29. 
q  Acts  2.  28. 

Ueb  12.2 

2  Ti.  2. 12. 
1  Pet.  1.8, 

r  Lu.  8.  18. 
Jnhn  16.  3. 
1  Cor.  15. 


Acts 


Act»17.  31. 
lThes.4.16. 
2Tl,ea.l.7. 
Phil.  2.9,10. 
Heb  9  28. 
Jude  14. 
Rov.  1.  7. 
t  Ko.  14.  10. 
2  Cor.  5.10, 
Kev.  21}.  12 
w  Ek.  20. 38. 

Ezo.  34.17. 

ch.  13.  19. 

V  Bora.  8. 17. 
1  Pet.  1. 
4,9. 

1  Pet.  3.  9. 
Rev.  21.  7. 

w  1  Cor.  2  9. 
Heb.11.16. 
X  U  58.  7. 
Ez.  18.  7. 

2  Ti.  1.  16. 
Jam.].  27. 

V  Heb.  13. 2. 

3  John  5. 

s  Jam.  2.  15. 
a  2  Ti.  1.  10. 
ft  Pro.  14.31. 

Pro.  19.17. 

Heb.  0. 10. 
e  Pa.  6.  3. 
d  ch.  13.  40. 
e  2  Pet.  2.  4. 

Judo  6. 
/  Pro.  14.  31. 

Pro.  17.  5. 

Zech.  2.  8. 

Acts  9.  5. 
S  Dan.  12.  2. 

John  5.  29. 

Kom.  2.  7. 

Kev.  14.11. 

Reir.  20.10, 

15. 


CHAP.  26. 
a  Mark  14. 1. 

Lu.  22.  1. 

John  13. 1. 
6  Ps.  2.  2. 

John  11.47. 

Acta  4.  25, 
e  Mark  14.  3. 

John  11. 

John  12.  3. 
dch.  21.  17. 
•  John  12.  4. 
/  Dou.  15. 11. 

John  12.  8 
g  John  17.11 
h  Rom  1.8 
i  Mark  14. 


37  Then  shall  the  risrhteous  answer  him, 
saying.  Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hunger- 
ed, and  fed  theei  or  thirsty,  and  gave  t/iee 
drink? 

38  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranjjer,  and  took 
thee  in?  or  naked,  and  clothed  thse^ 

39  Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison, 
and  came  unto  thee? 

40  And  the  King  shall  answer  and  say 
unto  them.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  *  Inas- 
much as  ye  have  done  it  ur.to  one  of  the 
least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me. 

41  Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on 
the  left  hand, "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 
into  <i  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  *  the 
devil  and  his  angels: 

42  For  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me 
no  meat:  1  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
drink: 

43  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not 
in:  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not:  sick, 
and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not. 

44  Then  shall  they  also  answer  him,  say- 
ing. Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hmigered, 
or  athirst,  or  a  stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick, 
or  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister  mito 
thee? 

45  Then  shall  he  answer  them,  saying, 
Veiily  I  say  imto  you,  /  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye 
did  it  not  to  me. 

46  And  » these  shall  go  away  into  ever- 
la.sting  punishment:  but  the  righteous  into 
life ''  eternal. 

CHAPTER  XXVL 
3  The  rulers  conspire  against  Christ;    14  Jitdas 
setleth  him.     It  Christ  eaUth  the  pasacmer. 
A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had 
"^^  finished  all  these  savings,  he  said  unto 
his  disciples, 

2  Ye  "know  that  after  two  days  is  the 
/east  of  the  passover,  and  the  Son  of  man 
is  betrayed  to  be  crucified. 

3  M  Then  *  assembled  together  the  chief 
priests,  and  tlie  scribes,  and  the  elders  of 
the  people,  mito  the  palace  of  the  high 
priest,  who  was  called  Caiaphas, 

4  And  consulted  that  they  might  take 
Jesus  by  subtilty,  and  kill  him. 

5  But  they  said,  ^'ot  on  the  feast  da^/, 
lest  there  be  an  uproar  among  the  people. 

6%  iSow^when  Jesus  was  in  •'Bethany, 
in  the  house  of  Simon  the  leper, 

7  There  came  unto  him  a  woman  having 
an  alabaster  box  of  very  precious  ointment, 
and  poured  it  on  his  head,  as  he  sat  at 
meat. 

8  But  *  when  his  disciples  saw  it,  they  had 
indignation,  saying.  To  what  purpose  is 
tliis  waste? 

9  For  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold 
for  much,  and  given  to  the  poor. 

10  When  Jesus  understood  it,  he  said 
unto  them.  Why  trouble  ye  the  woman? 
for  she  hath  wrought  a  good  work  upon 
me. 

11  For/ye  have  the  poor  always  with  you; 
but "  me  ye  have  not  always. 

12  For  in  that  she  hath  poured  this 
ointment  on  my  body,  she  did  it  for  my 
burial. 

13  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  **  Wheresoever 
this  gospel  shall  be  preached  in  the  whole 
world,  there  sliall  also  this,  that  this 
woman  hath  done,  be  told  for  a  memorial 
of  her. 

14  H  Then  *  one  of  the  twelve,  called 


' TaraVeofthi MATTHEW,  XXY. LaUudgmenf. 

does  tlais  illustrate  what  the  beloved  34,  40.  The  King  say  to  them  on  his  right 
disciple  says  of  "boldness  in  the  day  hand ...  the  King  answer  them  'The Kino 
of  juiigment,"  and  his  desire  that  "  when  —here  for  the  first  and  only  time  does  the 
He  shall  appear  we  may  have  confidence.  Lord  give  Himself  this  name.'  [AlfJ.  It 
and  not  be  ashamed  before  Him  at  his  means  that  in  thus  addressing  the  heirs  of 
coming  f  (iJo.  4.  17;  2.28.)  21-23.  well  done!  the  kingdom  He  will  jmt  on  all  his  regal 
—A  single  word,  not  of  bare  satisfaction,  mojesf)/.  blessed  of  my  Father— for  they  were 
but  of  warm  and  delighted  commenda-t  "chosen  m  C7t?-t.t"  by  "the  God  and  Father 
tion;  and  from  What  lips !  B(jth  are  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  Eph.  1.  3,  4. 
commencledin the  same  terms, arulthe reward  inherit— This  word,  along  with  "blessed  of 
of  both  is  precisely  the  same:  see  on  v.  15. 1  my  Father,"  excludes  all  merit  apart  froni 
Observe  also  the  contrasts: '  Thou  hast  been  the  gitt  and  grace  of  the  Father:  The  "for  " 
faithfid  as  a  servant;  now  be  a  rwter— thou  which  follows  yv.  35.)  in  connexion  witli  the 
hast  been  entrusted  with  a /ew  things;  now  works  of  mercy,  is  therefore  to  be  under- 
have  dominion  over  mwny  things.'  the  joy  of  stood  as  an  acknowledgment,  by  their  acts, 
thy  Lord— Tliy  Lord's  own  joy  (J.  15.  il.).  of  the  worthiness  wrought  in  them.  [Beng., 
24-27.  an  hard  man,  &c. — one  whom  it  was  I  Stier.1  prepared  from  the  foundation  of  the 
impossible  to  serve,  one  whom  nothing  would  world  — Li  tph.  1.  4,  they  are  said  to  be 
please;  exacting  what  was  impracticable,  and  "  chosen  hcfore  the  foundation  of  the  world." 
dissatisfied  with  what  was  attainable.'  Thus  Tlie  meaning  is  the  same—'  before  time  was,' 
do  men  secretly  think  of  God  as  a  hard  Mas-  j '  from  everlasting.'  35.  36.  an  hungered  .  . 
ter,  and  virtually  throw  on  liim  the  blame  of ;  34-40.  —  Astonishing  dialogue  bet\/een  the 
their  fruitlessness.  I  was  afraid— of  making  Elng,  from  the  throne  of  his  glory,  and  his 
matters  worse  by  medcUing  with  it  at  all.  wondering  people  !  "  I  was  an  huugered,  and 
hid  thy  talent—'  We  read  repeatedly  of  those  ye  gave  Me  meat,"  &c.— '  ^ot  we,'  they  reply, 
in  the  early  Church  who  -vv?th  pleasJike  these ; '  We  never  did  that.  Lord:  We  were  born  out 
— that  they  had  enough  to  do  with  their  ovv'n  of  due  time,  and  enjoyed  not  the  privilege  of 
souls,  and  were  afraid  of  losing  them  in  try- ,  ministering'  unto  Thee.'  'But  ye  did  it  to 
ing  to  save  others—'  put  back  from  them- 1  these  my  brethren,  now  beside  you,  when 
selves  the  charges  to  which  they  were  called; :  cast  upon  your  love.'  '  lYuth,  Lord,  but  was 
and  who,  when  they  should  have  been  the  that  doing  it  to  Thee?  Thy  name  wr.s  indeed 
salt  of  the  earth,  thought  rather  to  keep  their '  dear  to  us,  and  we  thou;^lit  it  an  honour  loo 
own  saltness,  by  withdrawing,  sometimes '  great  to  suffer  shame  for  it.  When  among 
into  caves  and  wildernesses,  from  all  those  the  destitute  and  distressed  we  discerned 
active  ministries  of  love  by  which  they  might  any  of  the  household  of  faith,  we  will  not 


.'    [Tkench.I  I  deny  that  our  hearts  leapt  within  us  at 
to  the  "  gooa\  discovery,  and  when  their  tap  came  to 


the 
our 


have    served  their    brethren, 

wicked— falsehearted;  opposed ^--.  — 

servants,"  iJ.  21  and  23.  slothfid —Thus  this  j  dwelling,  "our  bowels  were  moved,  as 
servant's  "wickedness"  consisted  not  in  though  "our  Beloved  Himself  had  put  in  his 
his  doing  anything  against,  but  simply  hand  by  tlie  hole  of  the  door."  Sweet  was 
nothing  for  his  mader:  see  on  v.  30.  knewest  the  fellowship  we  had  with  them,  as  il  we 
that  I  reap,  (tc— He  takes  the  servant's  own  had  '^entertained  angels  unawares;"  all 
accoimt  of  his  demands,  as  expressing  graphi-  difference  between  giver  and  receiver  some- 
cally  enough,  not  the  "  hardncs^'  which  he  how  melted  away  under  the  beams  of  that 
had  baselv  imputed  to  him,  but  simply  his  '  love  of  Thine  wliich  knit  us  together;  nay, 
demand  of  '  a  lyroiitable  return  for  the  gifts  rather,  as  they  left  us  with  gratitude  for  our 
entrusted.'  exchangers— 'bankers.'  usury— 1  poor  givings,  we  seemed  the  debtors  qur- 
^ interest'  28-29.  take  .  .  ,  give,  &:c.— See  on  selves,  not  they.  But  Lord,  were  we  all  that 
L.  19.  24;  alsoonM.  13.12,  30.  improfitable—  time  in  company  with  Theer  'Yes^that 
'useless,'  that  does  his  Master  no  service,  scene  was  all  with  Me,  reijbes  the  King- 
outer  darkness,  <fcc.— See  on  ch  8. 12.  Christ's  '  Me  in  the  disguise  of  my  poor  ones.  The 
voice  in  this  parable,  as  in  that  of  the  Poi{?icis,  I  door  shut  against  me  by  others  was  opened 
is,  not  'Wait  for  your  Lord'  'Love  his  ap- !  by  you '— "  Ye  took  me  in."_  Apprehenaed 
pearing,'  but  "Occupy  till  J  come."  Blessed  and  imprisoned  liy  the  enemies  of  the  truth, 
IS  that  servant  whom  his  Lord  when  He  i  ye  whom  the  truth  had  made  free  sought  me 


cometh  shall  find,  not  vrttching,  as  iu  a  for-jOutcliligentlyandf9undnie;visitin^meinm^ 
mer  parable,  but— luoj-fcinj?  /  '       '       "  -""■  '-    "  -  - 


31--46.  The  Last  Judgment. 


'  lonely  cell  at  the  risk  of  your  own  lives,  and 
'It  will  cheering  my  solitude:  ye  gave  me  a  coat,  for 


heighten- our  estimation  of  the  wonderful  I  shivered,  and  1  felt  warm.  With  cups 
sublimity  of  this  description,  when  we  re-  of  cold  water  ye  moistened  my  parched  hps; 
collect  that  it  was  spoken  by  the  Lord  o?z^(/i  when  famished  with  hunger  ye  supplied  me 
three  davs  before  his  sufferings!'  [Alf.I  31. 1  with  crusts,  fud  my  spirit  revived—  Yb 
come  in  his  glory— in  contrast  with  the  shawe  did  it  unto  Me."  AVhat  tlioughts  crowd 
of  his  first  coming.which  was  speedily  to  reach  upon  us  as  we  listen  to  such  a  description  of 
its  lowest  depth,  all  holy  angels,  &c.  — cf.  the  scenes  of  the  Last  Judgment !  Lo  !  He 
l3eu  33. 2;  Da.  7.  9, 10;  Jude  14;  and  see  Heb.  i  casts  bis  entire  cause  in  the  earth  upon  the 
1.  C;  1  Pe.  3.  22.  then  shall  He  sit— the  atti-  love  of  his  people.  His  vivn  poveiiy  ^vas  to 
tndeoi  regal  and  judicial  dignity  andre-poae.  have  an  end,but  that  of  his  Lhurch  v:as  to 
throne  of  Ms  glory— "  Jf  is  glory  "  twice,  with  tahe  his  place.  His  personal  conflict  'tm- 
iitmost  emphasis;  the  one  expressing  his  ished,"  that  of  his  cause  was  then  only  to 
Personal  glory,  the  other  the  glory  of  his  begin.  Tlie  ^chole  story  of  his  necessities  and 
mdicinl  office.  32,33.  separate— now  for  the  endurances  from  the  world,  was  to  be  re- 
first  time;  the  two  classes  being  nangled  all  pcatcd  in  the  C/mrc/i,  which  was  to  fall  up 
alonu'  up  to  this  awfid  moment,  as  a  shep-  that  tchich  ivas  behiml  oj  the  afflictions  of 
herd,""  Arc- cf.  Ez.  34.  17.  on  his  right  hand  Christ"  iCo.  1.  24.).  And  what  condescen- 
— the  side  of  honour,  .'cf.  Ps.  no.  l,  A:c.i  on  sion  is  there  in  identifying  Himself  w^th 
ths  Icrt— place  gf  dishonour  iEccl.  iif.  2.],  ■  "  tue  lj^ast  of  his  brethreu,  lioldins  Him- 


The  paraUe  of  Ihc  talents. 


MATTHEW,  IXVI. 


77ie  last  judgment 


man  according  to  his  several  ability;  and 
etraitthtway  took  his  journey. 
l(j  Then  he  that  had  received  the  five 
talents  went  and  "  traded  with  the  same, 
and  made  thtm  other  five  talents. 

17  And  likewise  he  that  had  received  two, 
he  also  gained  other  two. 

18  But  he  that  had  received  one  went  and 
digged  in  the  earth,  and  "hid  his  lord's 
money. 

19  After  a  long  time  the  lord  of  those 
Ben'ants  cometh,  and  reckoneth  with  them. 

20  And  so  he  that  had  received  five  talents 
came  and  brought  other  five  talents,  say- 
ing. Lord,  thou  dehveredst  unto  me  five 
talents:  behold,  1  have  gained  besides  them 
five  talents  more, 

21  His  lord  said  unto  him,  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  sen-ant:  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  p  I  will  make 
thee  ruler  over  many  things:  enter  thou 
into  « the  joy  of  thy  lord. 

22  He  also  that  had  received  two  talents 
came  and  said.  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto 
me  two  talents:  beiiold.  I  have  gained  two 
other  talents  besides  them. 

23  His  lord  said  unto  him.  Well  done, 
^ood  and  faithful  sen'ant:  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee 
ruler  over  many  things:  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord. 

24  Then  he  which  had  received  the  one 
talent  came  and  said,  Lord,  1  knew  thee 
that  thou  art  an  hard  man,  reaping  where 
thou  hast  not  sown,  and  gathering  where 
thou  hast  not  strawed: 

25  And  1  was  afraid,  and  went  and  hid  thy 
talent  in  the  earth:  lo,  there  thou  hast  th<.U 
is  thine. 

26  His  lord  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
Thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant,  thou 
knewest  that  I  reap  where  1  sowed  not,  and 
gather  where  I  have  not  strawed ; 

27  Thou  oughtest  therefore  to  have  put  my 
money  to  the  exchangers,  and  then  at  my 
coming  I  should  have  received  mine  own 
with  lisury. 

28  Take  therefore  the  talent  from  him, 
and  give  it  unto  him  which  hath  ten 
talents. 

29  For  •■  unto  every  one  that  hath  shall  be 
given,  and  he  shall  have  abundance:  but 
from  him  that  hath  not  shall  be  taken 
away  even  that  which  he  hath. 

30  And  cast  ye  the  unprofitable  sen'ant 
into  outer  darkness:  there  shall  be  weeping 
and  jrnashing  of  teeth. 

31 11  When  *  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in 
his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him 
then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  ttuone  of  his 
glory: 

32  And  'before  him  shall  be  gathered  all 
nations:  and  "he  shall  separate  them  one 
from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his 
sheep  from  the  goats: 

33  And  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right 
hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. 

3t  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on 
his  right  har.d.  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  "inherit  the  kingdom  ""prepared 
for  vou  from  the  fouiidation  of  the  world: 

35  For '1  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  meat:  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me 
drink:  v  l  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me 
in: 

36  Naked,  *  and  ye  clothed  me:  1  wius  sick, 
and  ye  visited  me:  "  1  was  in  piison,  and  ye 
cauie  mitu  me. 


CHAP.  25. 
n  Pro.  3.  14. 

1  Pet.  4.10. 
Phil  2  21. 
ch.  24.  47. 
Lu  12.44. 
Lu.  22.  29. 
Acta  2.  28. 
IJeb   12.2 

2  Ti.  2. 12. 
1  Pet.  1.8. 

r  Lu.  S.  18. 
John  15.  a 

1  Cor.  15. 
10. 

2  Cor.  6.1. 
«  Zech.  14.  6. 

Acts  1.  11. 

Acts  3.  21. 

Act.  17.  31. 

lThes4.16. 

ZTliea.l.?. 

Phil.  2.9,10. 

Hob  9.  28. 

Jude  14. 

Rov.  1.  7. 
t  Ko.  14.  10. 

2  Cor.  5.10. 

Ker.  au.  12, 

"  £m.  20. 38, 

Eze.  34.17. 

ch.  13.  19. 

»  Rom.  8. 17. 

1  Pet.  1. 

4,9. 

1  Pet.  3.  9. 
Rev.  21.  7. 

to  1  Cor.  2  9 
Heb.U.16. 
X  U  68.  7. 
Ez.  18.  7. 

2  Ti.  1.  18. 
Jam.l.  27. 

V  Heb.  13. 2. 

3  John  5. 

«  Jam.  2. 15. 
a  2  Ti.  1.  lU. 
ft  Pro.  14.31. 

Pro.  19.17. 

Heb.  0. 10. 
C  Pa.  G.  3. 
d  ch.  13.  40. 
e  2  Pet.  2.  4. 

/  Pro.  14.  31. 

Pro.  17.  5. 

Zech.  2.  g. 

Acta  9.  5. 
(7  Dan.  12.2. 

John  5.  29. 

Rom.  2.  7. 

Rev.  14.11. 

Rov.  20.10, 

15. 
h  Rev.  3. 21. 

Rot.  7.  15. 


CHAP.  26. 
a  Mark  14. 1. 

Lu.  22.  1. 

John  13. 1. 
b  Pa.  2.  2. 

John  11.47. 

Acta  4.  25. 
C  Mark  14.  3. 

John  11. 

1,2. 

John  12.  3. 
deh.  21.  17. 
•  John  12.  4. 
/  Dou.  15. 11. 

,:ohD  12.  8. 
g  John  17.11. 
h  Rom  1.8. 
i  Mark  14. 


37  Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him, 
sajlng.  Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hunger- 
ed, and  fed  thee  ?  or  thirsty,  and  gave  (/«« 
drink? 

38  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took 
thee  in?  or  naked,  and  clothed  thee^ 

39  Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison, 
and  came  unto  thee? 

40  And  the  King  shall  answer  and  say 
unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  *  Inas- 
much as  ye  have  done  U  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me. 

41  Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on 
the  left  baud, "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 
into  <*  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  "  the 
devil  and  his  augels: 

42  For  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me 
no  meat:  1  was  thiisty,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
drink: 

43  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not 
in:  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not:  sick, 
and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not. 

4t  Then  shall  they  also  answer  him,  say- 
ing. Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hungered, 
or  athirst,  or  a  stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick, 
or  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister  unto 
thee? 

45  Then  shall  he  answer  them,  saying, 
Veiily  1  say  unto  you,  /  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye 
did  it  not  to  me. 

46  And  » these  shall  go  away  into  ever- 
lasting punishment:  but  the  righteous  into 
life ''  eternal. 

CHAPTER  XXVL 
3  The  ruters  conspire  against  Christ:    14  JtuUa 
selleth  him.     1/  Christ  eateth  the  passoiier. 
A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had 
-"-  finished  all  these  saiings,  he  said  unto 
his  disciples, 

2  Ye  "know  that  after  two  days  is  the 
feast  o/the  passover,  and  the  Son  of  man 
is  betrayed  to  be  crucified. 

3  If  Then  *  assembled  together  the  chief 
priests,  and  tlie  scribes,  and  the  elders  of 
the  people,  unto  tiie  j-.alace  of  the  high 
priest,  who  was  called  Caiaphas, 

4  And  consulted  that  they  might  take 
Jesus  by  subtilty,  and  kill  him. 

5  liut  they  said,  Kot  on  the  feast  day, 
lest  there  be  an  uproar  among  the  people. 

61l  Now  "when  Jesus  was  in  <* Bethany, 
in  the  house  of  Simon  the  leper, 

7  There  came  unto  him  a  woman  having 
an  alabaster  box  of  very  precious  ointment, 
and  poured  it  on  his  head,  as  he  sat  at 
meat. 

8  But  *  when  his  disciples  saw  it,  they  had 
indignation,  saying,  To  what  purpose  is 
this  waste? 

9  For  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold 
for  much,  and  given  to  the  poor, 

10  When  Jesus  understood  it,  he  said 
unto  them.  Why  trouble  ye  the  woman? 
for  she  hath  wrought  a  good  work  upon 
me. 

11  For /ye  have  the  poor  always  with  you; 
but "  me  ye  have  not  always. 

12  For  in  that  she  hath  poured  this 
ointment  on  my  body,  she  did  it  for  my 
burial.  

13  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  »  Wheresoever 
this  gospel  shall  be  preached  in  the  whole 
world,  there  shall  also  this,  that  this 
woman  hath  done,  be  told  for  a  memorial 
other.  ,  „    , 

14  H  Then  »  one  of  the  twelve,  culled 


'  TaraVe  of  tTvs 


MATTHF'.V,  XXT. 


La  t  Jtidgmenf. 


does  this  illustrate  what  the  beloved  34,  40.  The  King  say  to  them  on  his  right 
disciple  says  of  "boldness  in  the  day  hand ...  the  Kiag  answer  them  'The  Kino 
of  judgment,"  and  his  desire  that  "when  —here  for  the  first  and  only  time  does  the 
He  sha.il  appear  we  may  have  confidence.  Lord  give  Himself  this  name.'  [AlfJ.  It 
and  not  be  ashamed  before  I[im  at  his  means  that  in  thus  addressing  the  heirs  of 
coming!"  (iJo.  4.  17;  2.28.)  21-23.  well  done!,  the  kingdom  He  will  jnd  on  all  his  regal 
—A  single  word,  not  of  bare  satisfaction,  majesty,  blessed  of  my  Father— for  the 
but  of     warm   and   delighted  commenda-|  "chosenm  C'/irLst"  by  "the  God  andJ 


tion;    and    from    AVhat    lips !     Both 


^  were 

by ''the  God  and  Father 

are  oi   our  Lord  Jesus   Christ,"  Eph.  1.  3,  4. 


comraendedin  the  same  terms,  aiulthe  rexvard  mhRrit— This  yvord,  along  with  '"blessed'  of 
of  both  is  prcciselv  the  same:  see  on  v.  15.  j  my  Father,"  excludes  aU  merit  apart  from 
Observe  also  the  contrasts:  'Thou  hast  been  >  the  gift  and  grace  of  the  Father:  The  "for" 
faithful  as  a  servant;  now  be  a  ruler— tlwa  which  follows  [V.  35.)  in  connexion  with  the 
hast  been  entrusted  with  a  fev)  things;  now  I  works  of  mercy,  is  therefore  to  be  under- 
have  dominion  over  manij  things.'  the  joy  of  I  stood  as  an  acknowledgment,  by  their  acts, 
thy  Lord— Thy  Lord's  own  joy  (J.  15.  11.).  of  the  worthiness  WTought  in  them.  LBexg., 
24-27.  an  hard  man,  &:c. — one  whom  it  was  Stier.]  prepared  from  the  foundation  of  the 
impossibletoserve,  one  whom  nothing  would  world  — In  tph.  1.  4,  they  are  said  to  be 
please;  exactingwhat  was  impracticable,  and  "  chosen  before  the  foundation  of  the  world."" 


dissatisfied  mth  what  was  attainable.' 


Thus  Tlie  meaning  isthe  same—'  before  time  was,' 
■  from  everlasting.'    35.  38.  an  hungered  .  . 
Astonishing  dialogue  bet\,een  the 


do  men  secretly  think  of  God  as  a  hard  Mas 

ter,  and  virtually  throw  on  Mm  the  blame  of  34-40  „  _,    .    

their  fruitlessness.    I  was  afraid— of  making;  King,  from  the  throne  of  his  glory,  and  his 
matters  worse  by  meddling  with  it  at  all.  wondering  people  !  "  L  was  an  hungered,  and 


hid  thy  talent—'  We  read  repeatedly  of  tho  _ 
in  the  early  Church  who  w?th  pleas  like  these 


ye  gave  Me  meat,"  &c.— '  >>ot  we,'  thty  reply, 

'We ,       ,    X,     _x      T    _        ,       ,,r 


We  never  did  that.  Lord:  We  were  born  out 
—that  they  had  enough  to  do  with  their  ovvti  [  of  due  time,  and  enjoyed  not  the  privilege  of 
souls,  and  were  afraid  of  losin^'  them  in  try- ,  ministering  unto  Thee.'  'But  ye  did  it  to 
ing  to  save  others—'  put  back  from  them-  these  my  brethren,  now  beside  you,  when 
selves  the  charges  to  which  they  were  called;  cast  upon  your  love.'  '  lYiith,  Lord,  but  was 
and  who,  when  they  should  have  been  the  that  doing  it  to  Thee?  Thy  name  w:'.s  indeed 
salt  of  the  earth,  thotight  rather  to  keep  their '  dear  to  us,  and  we  thou.uht  it  an  honour  too 
owTi  saltness,  by  withdrawing,  sometimes '  great  to  suffer  shame  for  it.  When  among 
into  caves  and  wildernesses,  from  all  those  the  destitute  and  distressed  wc  discerned 
active  ministries  of  love  by  which  they  might  any  of  the  household  of  faitli,  we  will  not 
have  served  their  brethren.'  [Trench. 1  deny  that  our  hearts  leapt  within  us  at  the 
■wicked— falsehearted;  opposed  to  the  "good\  discovery,  and  when  their  tap  came  to  our 
servants,"  v.  21  and  23.  slothful  —Thus  this  ,  dwelling,  "  our  bowels  were  moved,"  as 
servant's  "wickedness"  con.sisted  not  in  I  though 'our  Beloved  Himself  had  put  in  his 
his  doing  an}^hing  against,  but  simply  hand  by  tlie  hole  of  the  door."  Sweet  was 
nothing  for  his  mader:  see  on  v.  30.  knewest  the  fellowship  we  had  with  tliem,  as  ii  we 
that  I  reap,  (tc— He  takes  the  servant's  own  had  "entertained  angels  unawares;"  all 
account  of  his  demands,  as  expressing  graplii-  difference  between  giver  and  receiver  some- 
caUy  enough,  not  the  "  hardnesi^'  which  he  :  how  melted  away  under  the  beams  of  that 
had  basely  imputed  to  him,  but  simply  his  love  of  Thine  which  knit  us  together;  nay, 
demand  of  "aproftable  return  for  the  gifts  i  rather,  as  they  left  us  with  gratitude  for  our 
entrusted.'  exchangers—'  bankers.'  usury—  \  poor  givings,  we  seemed  tlie  debtors  our- 
interest'  28-29.  take  ...  give,  Ac— See  on  selves,  not  they.  But  Lord,  were  we  aU  that 
L.  19.  24;  also  on  M.  13.12,  30.  unprofitable—  time  in  company  with  Thee'r'  'Yes,  that 
'useless,'  that  does  his  Master  no  service,  scene  was  all  with  Me,'  replies  the  King- 
cuter  darkness,  <Src.— See  on  ch.  8. 12.  Christ's  '  Me  in  tlie  disguise  of  my  i>oor  ones.  The 
voice  in  this  parable,  as  in  that  of  the  Pounds,  door  shut  against  me  by  otliers  was  opened 
is,  not  'Wait  for  your  LorcL'  'Love  his  ap- '  by  you '— "  Ye  took  me  in."  Apprehended 
pearing,'  bitt  "Occupy  till  J  came."  Blessed  and  imprisoned  liy  the  enemies  of  tlie  truth, 
is  that  servant  whom  his  Lord  when  He  ye  whom  the  truth  had  made  free  sought  me 
cometh  shall  find,  not  vatcldng,  &5  in  a  for-)outdiligentlyandfoundnie;visitin^nieinmy 
mer  parable,  but^-if orA-tngr .'  'Ioik' 


31--46.   The  Last  Judgment. 


nely  c'ell  at  the  risk  of  your  o^^■nlives,  and 
It  will  cheering  my  solitude:  ye  gave  me  a  coat,  for 


heighten' our  estimation  of  the  wonderful  I  shivered,  and  I  felt  warm.  With  cups 
sublimity  of  this  description,  when  we  re-  ol  cold  water  ye  moistened  my  parched  Ups; 
collect  that  it  was  spoken  by  the  Lord  on^i/j  when  famished  with  hunger  ye  supplied  me 
three  day s  before  his  sujj'erings!'   [Alf.I  31.  Uvith  crusts,  f,nd  my  spirit  revived— "Yb 


come  in  his  glory— in  contrast  with  the  shame  !  did  it  unto  Me."  AVhat  thoughts  crowd 
of  his  first  coming,which  was  speedily  to  reach  upon  us  as  we  listen  to  sucli  a  description  of 
its  lowest  depth,  all  holy  angels,  &c.  — cf.  the  scenes  of  the  Last  Judgment !  Lo  !  He 
Deu.  30. 2;  Da.  7.  9, 10;  Jude  14;  and  see  Heb.  |  casts  bis  entire  cause  in  the  earth  upon  the 
1.  C;  1  Pe.  3.  22.  then  shall  He  sit— the  atti-  love  of  liis  people.  Hisoxvn  poveHv  was  to 
tudeof  resTrtZandJMd  iciaJ  dignity  and  repose. '/iff  ve  an  end,  but  that  of  his  Church  v:as  to 
throne  of  his  glory— "  ffis  glory  "  twice,  with  take  his  place.  His  personal  conflict  "fin- 
ntmost  emphasis;  the  one  expressing  his  ished,"  that  of  his  cause  was  then  only  to 
rcr.<onal  glory,  the  other  the  glory  ol  his  begin.  Tlie  %chole  story  of  his  necessities  and 
indicial  office.  32,  33.  separate— now  for  the  endurances  from  the  world,  was  to  be  re- 
first  time;  the  two  classes  being  mingled  all  pcatcd  in  tlie  C/mrcft,  which  was  to  "fill  up 
along  up  to  this  awful  moment,  as  a  shep-  that  tchich  was  behitul  of  the  affl.ictions  of 
herd,  kc.—ci.  Ez.  34.  17.  on  his  right  hand  Christ"  (Co.  1.  24.).  And  what  coudescen- 
— the  side  of  honour,  fcf.  Ps.  lio.  l.  Arc.)  on  siou  is  there  in  identifying  Himself  with 
tli5  Itrt— place  of  dishonour  lEccl.  If.  ii.J.  •  "the  least  of  his  brethren,"  holdinsHiui- 


THSlliiUion  of  the  Lord's  supper.      MATTUEW,  XX7L 


Jtidas  Ittrat/i  Christ. 


Judas  }  Iscariot.  went  uuto  the  chief 
priests, 

15  And  said  unto  them,  *What  will  ye 
give  me,  and  I  will  deliver  him  unto  you? 
And  they  covenanted  with  him  for  thiity 
pieces  of  silver. 

16  And  from  that  time  he  sought  oppor- 
tunity to  betray  him. 

17  H  Now '  the  first  tZa  v  of  the  feast  of  nn- 
leavened  V)read  the  discipks  came  to  Jesus, 
sajing  unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou  that  we 
prepare  for  thee  to  eat  the  passover? 

18  And  he  said,  Go  into  the  city  to  such  a 
man,  and  say  unto  him,  The  Master  saith, 
My  time  is  at  hand;  1  will  keep  the  pass- 
over  at  thy  house  with  my  disciples. 

19  And  the  disciples  did  as  Jesus  had 
appointed  them;  and  they  made  ready  the 
passover. 

20  IT  Now  when  the  even  was  come,  he  sat 
down  with  the  twelve. 

^1  And  as  they  did  eat,  he  said,  Verily  1 
say  uuto  you.  That  one  of  you  shall  betray 
me. 

22  And  they  were  exceeding  sorrowful, 
and  began  every  one  of  them  to  say  unto 
him,  Lord,  is  it  I  ? 

2:3  And  he  answered  and  said,  •"  He  that 
dippeth  his  hand  with  me  in  the  dish,  the 
same  shall  betray  me. 

24  The  Son  of  man  goeth  "  as  it  is  written 
of  him:  but  "woe  unto  that  man  by  whom 
the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed!  it  had  been 
good  for  that  man  if  he  had  not  been 
bom. 

25  Then  Judas,  which  betrayed  him,  an- 
swered and  siiid,  Master,  is  it  I?  He  said 
unto  him.  Thou  hast  said. 

26  %  And  as  they  were  eating,  P  Jesus  took 
bread,  and  i  blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and 
gave  it  to  the  disciples,  and  said,  Take,  eat ; 
this  « is  my  body. 

27  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks, 
and  gave  it  to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all 
of  it; 

28  For  '■  this  is  my  blood  •  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  'for  many  for  the 
remission  of  sins. 

29  but  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  diink 
henceforth  of  this  fruit  of  the  vine,  «  until 
that  day  when  1  drink  it  new  with  you  in 
my  Father's  kingdom. 

tW  H  And  "  when  they  had  sung  an  2  hymn, 
they  went  out  into  the  mount  of  Olives. 

31  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  them,  •*  All  ye 
shall  '  be  otlended  because  of  me  this  night: 
for  it  is  written, "  1  will  smite  the  Sheplierd, 
and  the  sheep  of  the  Hock  shall  be  scattered 
abroad. 

o2  But  after  I  am  risen  again,  *  I  will  go 
before  you  into  Galilee. 

33  Peter  answered  and  s.aid  unto  him, 
Though  all  men  shall  be  olftnded  because 
of  thee,  yet  wiU  1  never  be  otlended. 

34  Jesus  said  unto  him,  »  Verily  1  say  unto 
thee,  That  this  night,  before  the  cock  crow, 
thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice. 

35  Feter  said  unto  him.  Though  I  should 
die  with  thee,  yet  will  1  not  deny  thee. 
Likewise  also  said  all  the  disciples. 

36  H  Then  *  cometh  Jesus  with  them  unto 
a  place  called  Gethsemane,  and  saith  unto 
the  disciples,  Sit  ye  here,  while  1  go  and 
pray  yonder. 

37  And  he  took  with  him  Feter  and  *  the 
two  sons  of  Zebedee,  and  began  to  be  sor- 
rowful and  very  heavy. 

iJS  Then  saith  he  unto  them,  <*My  soul  is 


CHAP.  26. 
;•  eh.  10.  4. 
ftZ«h.ll.l2. 

ch.  -27.  3. 
I  Ex.  I'J.  6. 

Lot.  23.5,6. 
"*  Pi.  41.  9. 
Lu.  2Z.  21. 
John  13. 
18. 


U.53.1. 

Dan.  9.  28. 

Acts  26.22. 

1  Cor  15.3. 
o  John  17.12. 
P  1  Cor.  11. 

23. 

Greek  co- 
piea  have, 
g«r« 
thanlM. 
Mar.  6.  41. 
q  1  Cor.  lU. 
16. 
Or,  repro- 

1  Cor.  10.4. 
r  Ex.  24.  8. 

Lot.  17. 11. 
«  Jer.  31.  31. 
t  Kom.  a.  15. 

Heb.  9.  22. 
WAcUld.tl. 

V  Mar.  14.26. 

2  Or,  psalm, 
w  Jolin  16. 

32. 
'  ch.  11.  6. 

V  Zech.  13.  7. 
»  ch,  2d.  7. 

ftUrk  16.  7. 
a  Lu.  22  31. 

John  13. 

33. 
b  John  18. 1. 

0  ch.  4.  21. 

d  John  12.27. 
«1  Pet.  5. 8. 
/  Mar.  14. 36. 

Lu.  22.  42. 

Heb.  5.  7. 
g  John  12.27. 
h  ch.  2>i.  22. 
{  John  5.  3>J. 

John  6  38. 

PhU.  2.  8. 
;•  Mar.  13.  33. 

Mar.  14.  38. 

Lu.  22.  40. 

Eph.  ti.  18. 
k  Alar.  14.43. 
Lu.  22.  47. 
John  18.  3. 
Acts  1.  16. 

1  2  Sa.  20.  9. 

3  Compau- 

P8.41.  9. 

Ps.  65.  13. 
n*  John  18. 

10. 
n  1  Cor.4.12. 
0  Gen.  9.  G. 

Rev.  13.10. 
p2Ki.6. 17. 


«  la   53.  7. 

Dan.  9.  25. 
rLam.  4  20. 
*  John  18.15. 
t  Mar.  H.U3. 

Lu.  22  54. 


IKi. 


.10. 


P..  27. 12. 


exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death: 
tarry  ye  here,  and  *  watch  with  me. 

39  And  he  went  a  little  farther,  and  fell 
on  his  face,  and  /prayed,  saying,  <'0  my 
Father,  if  it  be  possible, '» let  this  cup  pass 
from  me:  nevertheless  »not  as  1  will,  but 
as  thou  ivilt. 

40  And  he  cometh  unto  the  disciples,  and 
findeth  them  asleep,  and  saitli  unto  Feter, 
What !  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one 
hour? 

41  Watch  .;■  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not 
into  temptation:  the  spirit  indeed  is  willing, 
but  the  flesh  is  weak. 

42  He  went  away  again  the  second  time, 
and  prayed,  saying,  O  my  Father,  if  this 
cup  may  not  pass  away  from  me,  except  I 
drink  it,  thy  will  be  done. 

43  And  he  came  and  found  them  asleep 
again:  for  their  eyes  were  heavy. 

44  And  he  left  them,  and  went  away  again, 
and  prayed  the  third  time,  saying  the 
same  words. 

45  Then  cometh  he  to  his  disciples,  and 
saith  unto  them.  Sleep  on  now,  and  take 
your  rest:  behold,  the  nour  isat  hand,  and 
the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands 
of  sinners. 

M  Rise,  let  us  be  going:  behold,  he  is  at 
hand  that  doth  betray  me. 

47  II  And  *  while  he  yet  spake,  lo,  Judas, 
one  of  tlie  twelve,  came,  and  with  him  a 
great  multitude  with  swords  and  staves, 
from  the  chief  priests  and  elders  of  the 
people. 

48  Now  he  that  betrayed  him  gave  them  a 
sign,  saying,  W  homsoever  1  shall  kiss,  that 
same  is  he:  hold  him  fast. 

49  And  forthwith  he  came  to  Jesus,  and 
saiil.  Hail,  Master!  '  and  kissed  him. 

50  And  Jesus  said  uuto  him,  3 Friend, 
wherefore  art  thou  come?  Then  came 
they,  and  laid  hands  on  Jesus,  and  took 
him. 

51  And,  behold,  "*  one  of  them  which  were 
with  Jesus  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  diew 
his  sword,  and  struck  a  servant  of  the  high 
priest,  and  smote  otf  his  ear. 

52  TJien  said  J  esus  unto  him,  "  Fut  up 
again  thy  swoid  into  his  place:  "for  all  they 
that  take  the  sword  shaJl  peiish  with  th« 
sword. 

53  Thinkest  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pra> 
to  my  Father,  and  he  shall  presently 
give  me  Pmore  than  twelve  legions  of 
angels? 

54  But  how  then  shall « the  Scriptures  be 
fuimied,  that  thus  it  must  be? 

55  in  that  same  hour  said  Jesus  to  the 
multitudes,  Are  ye  come  out  as  against  a 
thief  with  swords  and  staves  for  to  take 
me?  1  sat  daily  with  you  teaching  in  the 
temple,  and  ye  laid  no  hold  on  me. 

56  But  all  this  was  done,  that  the  '"scrip- 
tures of  the  prophets  might  be  fultiiled. 
Then '  all  the  disciples  foi-sook  him,  and 
tied. 

57  IT  And  *  they  that  had  laid  hold  on  Jesus 
led  him  away  to  Caiaphas  the  high  priest, 
where  the  scribes  and  the  elders  were  as- 
sembled. 

58  But  Feter  followed  him  afar  off  unto 
the  high  priest's  palace,  and  went  in,  and 
sat  with  the  servants,  to  see  the  end. 

59  Now  the  chief  priests,  and  elders,  and 
all  the  council,  sought  false  witness  against 
Jesus,  to  put  him  to  death; 

CO  But  found  none:  yea.  though  "  many 


Twralle  of  tlie  Lad  Judgment.       MATTHEW,  XXVI. 


TM  Anointing  at  Bdhanv. 


self  to  be  the  Person  to  whom  anything  It  is  said  to  be  "  prepared  for  the  devil  and 
whatever  is  done  that  is  done  to  the  humblest  his  angels,"  because  they  were  "first  in 


aud  the  meanest  of  them.  JS  or  let  it  be  over 
looked  that '  the  assistance  to  the  sick  and 
imprisoned  here  is  not  hmling  and  release, 
which  only  few  could  render,  but  just  that 
which  all  could  render— ^iaitation,  sympathy, 
attention.  (See  Ex.  2. 11;  1  Ki.  17.  10-16;  Je. 
;;S.  7-13;  A.  16.  15;  2  Ti.  1.  16-18;  3  Jo.  6-8.).' 
1  W.  &  W.]  41-45.  '  As  for  you  on  the  left 
liand,  ye  did  nothing  for  Me.  I  came  to  you 
also,  but  ye  knew  me  not;  ye  had  neither 
warm  atfections  nor  kind  deeds  to  bestow 
upon  me:  I  was  as  one  despised  inyonr  ej'es.' 
'in  our  eyes.  Lord?  We  never  saw  Theo 
before,  and  never,  sure,  behaved  we  so  to 
1'liee.'  *  But  thus  ye  treated  these  little  ones 
that  believe  in  me  and  now  stand  on  mj 
right  hand.  In  the  disguise  of  these  poor 
members  of  mine  1  came  soliciting  your  pity, 
l>ut  ye  sliut  up  your  bowels  of  compassion 
from  me:  I  asked  relief,  but  ye  had  none  to 
fcive  me.  Take  back  therefore  your  own 
coldness,  your  own  contemptuous  distance: 
Ye  bid  me  away  from  your  presence,  and  now 
1  bid  you  from  mine— '  Depart  rrom  Me  ye 
cursed!"  "What  claims  does  '  the  Son  of 
Man "  here  put  f onvard  for  Himsell !  He  is 
to  come  in  his  o-mx  glory;  all  the  holy 
angels  are  to  come  with  him;  he  is  to 
take  his  seat  on  the  throne;  it  is  the  throne 
of  his  own  glory;  all  nations  are  to  be 
gathered  before  him;  the  awful  separa- 
tion of  the  two  great  classes  to  bf  Jlis 
doing;  the  word  of  decision  on  both— "Ye 
blessed  !"  "Ye  cursed!"  and  the  word  of 
command  to  the  one,  '  Come  !"  to  the  other, 
"  Depart !"  —  ' To  the  Kingdom!  To  the 
flames ! '  aU  this  is  to  be  His  doing.  But 
most  astonishing  of  aU,  The  blissful  or  the 
blighted  eternity  oj  each  one  ofbotli  classes  is  sus- 
pended upon  his  treatment  of  Hiirh— is  made 
to  turn  upon  those  mysterious  ministrations 
from  age  to  age  to  the  Lord  of  glory,  dis- 
guised in  the  persons  of  those  who  love  his 
name:  'Ye  did  thus  and  thus  unto  me  — 
Come,  ye  blessed !  Ye  did  it  not  to  me— 
Depart  ye  cursed  !  In  that  "  me  "  lies  an 
emphasis,  the  strength  of  which  only  the 
scene  itself  and  its  everlasting  issues  wiU 
disclose.  Verily,  "God  is  Judge  Himself," 
(Ps.  60.  6,)  hut  it  is  God  in  flesh.  God  in  One 
who  is  "  not  ashamed  to  callus  Brethren." 
And  what  a  practical  character  is  here 
stamped  upon  Christ's  service  !  It  is  not, 
'  Ye  had  it  in  your  hearts,'  but '  Ye  did  it 
with  your  hands.'  It  is  the  love  of  Christ  in 
the  heart  rushing  to  the  eyes,  ears,  hands, 
feet,  going  in  search  of  Him,  hastening 
to  embrace  and  to  cherish  Him,  as  he 
wanders  through  this  bleak  and  cheer- 
less world  in  His  persecuted  cause  and 
needy  people.  O  what  has  this  done,  and 
what  will  it  yet  do,  to  bless  and  to  beautify 
this  fallen  world !  46.  these  shall  go  away— 
these  "cursed."  Sentence  was  first  pro- 
nounced, in  the  hearing  of  the  wicked,  upon 
the  righteous,  who  thereupon  sit  as  asses- 
sors in  the  jud,gment  upon  the  wicked  I  Cor. 
6.  2.);  but  sentence  is  first  ej:ecuted,  it  would 
seem,  upon  the  wicked,  in  the  sight  of  the 
righteous,  whose  glory  mt.11  thus  not  be  be- 
held by  the  wicked,  while  their  descent  into 
"their  own  place"  will  be  mtnessed  by  the 
righteous.  [Bexg.]  everlasting  punishment 
—  "everlasting  fire  prepared  lor  the  Devil 
and  his  anijels,"  v.  -ll.  cf.  13.  IJ;  2  Tli.  1. 9.  &c.) 


transgression."  But  both  have  one  doom, 
because  one  unholy  character,  life  eternal— 
or  '  everlasting:'  it  is  the  same  word  in  both 
clauses.  Thus  the  decisions  of  this  awful 
day  wiU  be  final,  irreversible,  unending, 
"The  Lord  grant,"  to  both  the  ^vTiterandhis 
readers,  "that  they  may  find  mercy  of  the 
Lord  in  that  day  !"  (2  Tim.  1. 18.) 
CHAPTEK  XXVI. 

Ver.  1-5.  Our  Lord's  Final  Announce- 
>rENT  OF  His  Death,  as  "SVithin  Two 
Days— Conspiracy  oftheJewishAutho- 
RiTiES.  1.  had  finished  all  these  sayings— His 
pitfc^w;  teaching  was  now  at  an  end.  From  his 
proplietical  He  now  passes  into  his  priestly 
office,  though  essentially  aU  along,  "  Himself 
took  our  infirmities  and  bare  our  sickness." 
pa.ssover .  . .  crucified— "By  the  determinate 
counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God,"  it  was  at 
the  Passover-season  that  "Christ,  our  Pass- 
over, was  to  be  sacrificed  for  us."  betrayed  to  be 
cracified— the  first  and  the  last  steps  of  his 
final  6ufi"erings  are  brought  together  in  tins 
brief  acnouncement  of  aU  that  was  to  take 
place.  3.  then  assembled— probably  while 
announce- 
riiey  mean, 
.       _  ,  ted  seven 

days  |MuY  ] ;  the  influx  of  stran'-ers  at  that 
festival  beiag  enormous,  and  in  their  excited 
stati",  tli«=  danger  of  tumult  and  bloodshed 
araon^  "  the  people,"  who  owned  Jesus  a 
prophet,  extreme.  (See  Jo^seph.  Ant.  xx.  6, 3.) 
But  just  at  the  feast-time  shall  it  be  done; 
the  unexpected  offer  of  Judas  inducing  them 
to  get  over  their  fears.  Thus  the  divine 
counsel  takes  efi"ect!  LBeng.] 

0-13.  The  Anointing  at  Bethany. 
This  occurrence  took  place  "  six  days  before 
the  Passover,"  iJ.  12.  l,  and  therefore  before 
\\hat  is  related  in  the  first  five  verses  of  this 
chapter.  It  seems  to  have  been  inserted 
here,  in  order  to  mention  what  induced  Judas 
to  carry  into  eflect  his  intention  of  betraying 
his  Master,  namely,  the  rebuke  admimstered 
to  him  for  his  hypocritical  objection  to  the 
tcaste  of  money  in  anointing  our  Lord.  [Alf.] 
See  V.  14,  following  immediately  on  thi.s 
scene,  and  the  corresponding  passages  la 
Mk.  and  L.  6.  in  the  house  of  Simon  the 
lever.— But  for  this  statement,  and  that  of 
jMk.  (14.  3),  we  should  have  supposed,  from 
John's  account,  that  the  scene  occurred 
in  the  house  of  Lazarus.  Who  tliis  Simon 
was  is  quite  unknown.  But  as  Martha 
served,  [Alk.  L.  and  J.;  he  was  probably 
some  near  relative  of  her  family.  A 
"leper"  at  that  time  he  could  not  have  been, 
while  entertaining  guests  at  his  own  table. 
But  he  had  been  one,  perhaps  long  one,  and 
so  came  to  be  called  by  no  other  than  his 
old  name,  "  Simon  the  leper,"  even  after  the 
Saviour  had,  by  healing  him,  wen  his  heart; 
for  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt  that,  having 
owed  to  Jesus  both  body  and  soul,  he  had, 
like  him  who  delighted  to  call  himself 
"  Matthew  the  pubhcan"  long  after  he  was 
transformed  into  "an  apostle  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  made  him  this  supper  in  the  fulness 
of  a  grateful  heart.  It  was  his  last  visit  to 
Bethany,  that  quiet  and  loved  retreat,  where 
dwelt  friends  peculiarly  dear  to  him.  7-13. 
See  on  J.  12.  2-8. 

14-lG.     JUDAS   AGREES  WITH   THE  CHTEP 

PuiEaiS  TO  Betray  HIS  Lop^d.  See  L.  22.3-0, 


Pcttr  deniefh  Christ. 


MATTIIETV,  XXVIT.         Cltrht  is  accused  before  Pilate. 


f;\lse  witnesses  came,  yet  fouml  they  none. 
At  the  last  came  "two  false  witnesses, 

61  And  said,  Thisftlloiv  said, '"  I  am  able 
to  destroy  the  temple  of  God,  and  to  build 
it  in  three  days. 

62  And  the  high  priest  arose,  and  snid 
unto  him,  Answerest  thou  nothiiigl  what 
is  it  which  these  witness  against  thee? 

63  But  *  Jesus  held  his  peace.  And  the 
hish  priest  answered  and  said  unto  him,  v  I 
adjure  thee  by  the  living  God.  that  thou 
tell  us  whether  thou  be  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God. 

64  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Thou  hast  said: 
nevertheless,  I  say  unto  you,  '  Hereafter 
shall  ye  see  the  Son  of  man  '■*  sitting  on  the 
right  hand  of  power,  and  coming  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven. 

65  Then  the  high  priest  *  rent  his  clothes, 
s.aying.  He  hath  spoken  blasphemy;  what 
further  need  have  we  of  witnesses?  behold, 
now  ye  have  heard  his  blasphemy, 

66  What  think  ye?  They  answered  and 
said,  "  He  is  guilty  of  death. 

67  Then  ''did  they  spit  in  his  face,  and 
buffeted  him;  and  'others  smote  him  with 
*the  palms  of  their  hands, 

6S  Saying, /Proyihesy  unto  us,  thou  Christ, 
Who  is  he  that  smote  thee? 

60  IT  Now  Peter  sat  without  in  the  palace: 
and  a  damsel  came  unto  him,  saying.  Thou 
also  wast  with  Jesus  of  Galilee. 

70  But  he  denied  before  them  all,  saying, 
1  know  not  what  thou  sayest. 

71  And  when  he  was  gone  out  into  the 
porch,  another  maid  saw  him,  and  said 
unto  them  that  were  there,  This/eitoto  was 
also  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

72  And  again  he  denied  with  an  oath,  I  do 
not  know  the  man. 

73  And  after  a  while  came  unto  him  they 
that  stood  by,  and  said  to  Peter,  Surely 
tiiou  also  art  one  of  them ;  for  thy  speech 
bewrayeth  thee. 

74  Then  began  he  to  curse  and  to  swear, 
saying,  I  know  not  the  man.  And  imme- 
diately the  cock  crew. 

75  And  Peter  remembered  the  word  of 
Jtsus,  which  said  unto  him.  Before  the 
cock  crow,  thou  shalt  deny  me  thi-ice. 
And  he  went  out,  and  "  wept  bitterly. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

1  Christ  delivered   bound  to  FiUte.     S  Judas 

hangeth  himself.    27  Christ  is  mocked.  33  cruci- 

Jied,  S^  and  reviled.    51  The  astonishing  events 

which  attended  his  death,  etc. 

AVHEN  the  morning  was  come,  "  all  the 
'      chief  priests  and  elders  of  the  people 

took  counsel  against  J  esus  to  put  him  to 

death: 
2  And  when  they  had  bound  him,  they  led 

hira  away,  and  ''  delivered  him  to  Pontius 

I'ilate  the  governor, 
o  H  Then "  J  udas,  which  had  betrayed  him, 

wl'.en  he  saw  that  he  was  condemned,  re- 

pt-nted  himself,  and   brought   again  the 

thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  chief  priests 

and  elders, 

4  Saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have  be- 
ti  ayed  the  innocent  blood.  And  they  said. 
What  is  that  to  us?  see  thou  to  that. 

5  And  he  cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver  in 
the  temple,  "^  and  departed,  and  went  and 
hanged  himself. 

6  And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver 
pieces,  and  said.  It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put 
them  into  the  treasury,  because  it  is  tlie 

rice  of  blood. 


V  Dou.  19.15. 
tOch.  27  V.l 

John  2. 19. 
X  Is.  &3.  7. 
ch.  27.  12. 

V  Lev.  5.  1. 

1  .Sa.  14.24. 
*  Ps.  110.  1 
Dan.  7.  13. 
John  1.51. 
K.im.14.10. 
1  aiies.  4. 


Hev.  1.  7. 
a  Pa.  110.  1. 

Acts  7.  56. 
b  2  Ki.l8  37. 

2  KL  19.1. 
c  Lev.  24. 16. 

John  19.  7. 
d  U.  50.  8. 

Ifl.  53.  3. 

ch.  27.  3IJ. 
«  Lu,  22.  6S. 
4  Or,  roil. 
/  ALir.  14.05. 
g  Zoch. 12.10. 

2  Cor.  7.10. 


CHAP.  27. 
a  Ps.  2.  2. 

Mark  15.1. 

Lu.  22.  m. 

Lu.  2a.  1. 

John  18. 

28. 
6  ch.  20.  19. 

Acts  3. 13. 
c  Job  20.5. 

ch.  26. 14. 

2  Cor.  7.10. 
d2Sa.l7.23. 

Acta  1.  18. 
e  Zech.  11. 

12,  13. 
1  Or,  whom 

they 

bought  of 

the  cliilJ 

drcn  of 

Israel. 

/  Mark  15.  2. 

Lu.  23.  3. 

John  18. 33. 

i^  John  18.  37. 

1  Ti.  6.  13. 

h  laa.  53.  7 


ch. 


63. 


John  lU  9. 

1  Pot.  2.23. 

i  ch.  20.  '  2. 

John  19.10. 

j  Mark  15.  0. 

LuUe  23.17. 

JolinT8.39. 

*  Acts  7.  9. 

I  Job  33   15. 

»n  Mar. 15.11. 

Lo   23.18. 

John  18. 

40. 

Acta  3. 14. 

n  Deu   21  6. 

0  Ueu  19  10. 

Jo=.h.2.19. 

1  Ki.  2.  32. 

2  Sa.  1.  16. 
P  la.  53.  5. 


Q  Lu.  23  11. 
r  P..  69.  19. 
»  la.  50.  6. 

t  .Mic.  5.  1. 


7  And  they  took  counsel,  and  bought  with 
them  the  potter's  field,  to  bury  strangers 
in. 

8  'Wherefore  that  field  was  called,  The 
field  of  blood,  unto  this  day. 

9  Then  was  fulhlled  that  which  was  spoken 
by  Jeremy  the  prophet,  saying,  *  And  they 
took  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  the  price  of 
him  that  was  valued,  l  whom  they  of  the 
children  of  Israel  did  value, 

10  And  gave  them  for  the  potter's  field, 
as  the  Lord  appointed  me. 

11 H  And  Jesus  stood  before  the  governor; 
and  /the  governor  asked  him,  saying,  .\rt 
thou  the  King  of  the  Jews?  And  Jesus 
said  mito  him,  ^  Thou  sayest. 

12  And  when  he  was  accused  of  the  chief 
priests  and  elders,  '«he  answered  nothing. 

13  Then  said  Pilate  unto  him,  tlleai'est 
thou  not  how  many  things  they  witness 
again.st  thee? 

14  And  he  answered  him  to  never  a  word ; 
insomuch  that  the  governor  marvelled 
greatly. 

15  H  Now  /  at  that  feast  the  governor  was 
wont  to  release  unto  the  people  a  prisoner, 
whom  they  would. 

16  And  they  had  then  a  notable  prisoner, 
called  Barabbas. 

17  Therefore,  when  they  were  gathered 
together,  Pilate  said  unto  them.  Whom 
will  ye  that  I  release  unto  you?  Barabbas, 
or  Jesus  which  is  called  Christ? 

18  For  he  knew  that  for  *  envy  they  had 
delivered  him. 

ly  ir  When  he  was  set  down  on  the  judg- 
ment seat,  his  wife  sent  unto  him,  saying. 
Have  thou  notliin!^  to  do  with  that  just 
man:  for  I  have  surt'ered  many  things  this 
day  in  f  a  dream  because  of  him. 

20  But  *"  the  chief  priests  and  elders  per- 
suaded the  multitude  that  they  should  ask 
Barabbas,  and  -destroy  Jesus. 

21  The  governor  answered  and  said  unto 
them.  Whether  of  the  twain  will  ye  that  I 
release  unto  you?    They  said,  Barabbas. 

22  Pilate  saith  unto  them.  What  shall  I 
do  then  with  Jesus  which  is  called  Christ? 
TheyaM  say  unto  him.  Let  him  be  crucified. 

23  And  the  governor  said.  Why,  what  evil 
hath  he  done?  But  they  cried  out  the 
more,  saying.  Let  him  be  crucified. 

24  When  Pilate  saw  that  he  could  prevail 
nothing,  but  that  rather  a  tumult  was 
made,  he  **  took  water,  and  washed  his 
hands  before  the  multitude,  saying,  1  am 
innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person: 
see  ye  to  it. 

25  Then  answered  all  the  people,  and 
said,  "His  blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our 
children. 

26  Then  released  he  Barabbas  unto  them: 
and  when  ^  he  had  scourged  Jesus,  he  de- 
livered him  to  be  crucified. 

27  II  Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor 
took  Jesus  into  the  '-^  common  hall,  and 
gathered  unto  hira  the  whole  band  of  sol- 
diers. 

28  And  they  stripped  him,  and  '  put  on 
him  a  scarlet  robe. 

29  H  And  ''when  they  had  platted  a  crown 
of  thorns,  they  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  a 
ived  in  his  riL'iit  hand :  ami  they  bowed  the 
knee  before  him,  and  mocked  him,  sayin.'. 
Hail,  Kingof  the  Jews! 

oO  And*  theyspit  upon  him,  and  took  the 
reed,  and  '.smote  him  on  the  heail. 
31  And  after  that  they  had  inockvjd  him. 


Desertion  of  the  Disciples. 


]^r\TTIIEW\XX\^n.       nemorse  and  Sudcic'e  of  Judas. 


17-30.    Last  Celebration  op  tbe  Pas3- 

OVEU— ANNOUNC£iIENT    OF   THE   TjlAlTOPv 

—Institution  of  tele  Supp£11.  fcee  on 
L.  22.  7-20;  J.  13.  21-.30. 

31-4G.   DE^EiiTION    OF    THE    DISCIPI.ER, 

AND  Fall  of  Petep.,Fob.etoij)— Agony  in 
THE  Garden.  31.  all  ye— probablywith  re- 
ference to  the  one  who  had  just  "gone  out." 
Great  as  was  the  relief,  now  for  the  first  time 
experienced  by  the  Saviour  himself,  in  the 
traitor's  voluntary  separation  from  a  fellow- 
ship to  M'hich  he  never  in  heart  belonged 
(see  on  J.  13.  31 ,  even  in  those  who  remain- 
ed there  was  something  which  burdened  the 
spirit  and  wounded  the  heart  of  the  Man  of 
borrows.  It  was  sad  to  him  to  think  that 
within  one  brief  hour,  or  less,  of  the  time  when 
their  hearts  had  warmed  towarcLs  him  more 
than  ever  at  the  Paschal  and  Conmiunion 
table,  they  should  every  one  of  them  be 
*  stumbled '  because  of  Him.  for  it  is  written— 
He  falls  back  upon  this  striking  prophecy, 
partly  to  confirm  their  faith  in  what  they 
would  hardly  think  credible,  even  from  Him; 
and  partly  to  console  Himself  with  therefleo 
tion  that  it  was  but  one  of  "the  thintts  con- 
cerning him"  wliich  "would  have  an  end,"— 
that  they  would  be  but  links  in  the  chain, 
*' doing  what  God's  hand  and  purpose  de- 
termined before  to  be  done."  I  wiU  smite 
the  Shepherd— In  the  Hebrew  and  Septuagint, 
it  is  Jehovah  who  com'nands  the  sword  to 
*'  smite  the  Shepherd. *"  Here.  Jesus  receives 
tlie  thrust  direct  from  hisFather's  hand  (J.  18. 
11.).  the  sheep . , .  scattered— Jesus  up  to  this 
Kioment  had  been  their  one  Bond  of  union. 
When  Pie  is  smitten,  they  are  scattered. 
How  beautiful  and  how  true  thetigure  !  The 
sheep  speedily  disperse  when  their  Shepherd 
iji  struck.  32.  How  very  explicit  He  is  in 
his  announcements  now,  when  ou  the  eve  of 
parting  with  them  tiU  after  his  resurrection. 
go  before  you— as  a  shepherd;  for  it  is  a  pas- 
toral word.  fliENG.]  cf.  J.  10.  4.  There  is 
an  intended  allusion  to  the  remainder  of  the 
prophecy  he  had  quoted  from  Zech.  (13.  7\ 
"  and  Iwill  turn  mine  hand  upon  the  little 
ones."  Tills  he  began  to  do  when  he  "  went 
before  them  into  GalLlee;for  though  after  his 
resurrection  he  Bad  several  interviews  with 
them  at  .lerusalem  before  this,  it  was  in 
Galilee  that  he  collected  and  rallied  them, 
as  the  shepherd  of  his  lately  scattered  flock 
and  gave  tnem  those  parting  instructions  and 
commissions  which  may  be  termed  the  ini- 
tial organization  of  the  thurdi.  33-46.  See 
on  L.  22. 31-46. 

47-56.    BETP.A.TAL    AND   APPREHENSION 

OF  jErsu8— Slight  of  His  Disciples. 
See  on  L,  22. 47-54.  and  J,  18. 1-12. 

67-75.  Jesus  bepore  Caiaphas— Con- 
demned TO  Die  and  Sha3Iej.'Ully  En- 
TREAiED— Fall  of  Peter.  See  on  Mark 
14.  53-61;  and  Luke  22. 03-71,  67.  to  Caiaphas 
—From  J.  18.  13,  it  appears  that  he  was  led 
first  to  Annas  his  fatner-in-law,  as  probably 
j.earest:  with  him  he  appears  to  have  re- 
mained till  the  Council  was  convened  in  the 
palace  of  Caiaphas,  to  whom  he  was  then 
.<ent  bound.  (J.  18.  24.)  where  the  scribes  and 
eiders  were  assembled —awaiting  their  Vic- 
tim.   58,  See  on  L.  22.  54,  C2. 

CHAKL'EE  xx^ti. 

Ver.  1, 2.  Jei5U8  pepore  Pilact.  Eeo  on 
J.  IS.  28,  &c. 

3-10.     REilORRE   AND   SUICIDB  OF  JUDAS. 

G.  w  1.3tt  he  fiaw  tLxt  lie  was  co^^utuiusd— Ihe 


conucimiation,  even  thourh  not  unexpected, 
might  well  fill  him  v.-ith  horror.  Tereuted— 
with  "  the  sorrow  of  the  world  that  workc  th 
death"  (2  Cor.  7. 10.).  brought  again,  <irc.— A 
remarkable  illiiKtration  of  the  po^\  er  of  an 
awakened  conscience.  A  short  time  before 
the  promise  of  thissordidpelf  was  temptation 
enough  to  his  covetous  heart  to  outweigh 
the  most  overwhelming  obligations  of  duty 
and  love;  now,  the  possession  of  it  so  lashes 
him  that  he  cannot  use  it,  cannot  even  keep 
it!  4-7,  I  have  siDned.  . .  innocent  blood — 
AYliat  a  testimony  this  to  Jesus !  Judas  had 
been  with  Kim  in  all  circumstances  for  three 
years;  his  post  as  treasurer  to  Him  and  the 
twelve  (J.  12. 6,)  gave  liim  peculiar  opportunity 
of  watching  the  spirit,  disposition,  aid  habits 
of  hi.s  Master;  while  Ids  covetous  nature  and 
thievish  practices  would  incline  him  to  dark 
and  suspicious,  rather  than  frank  and  gene- 
rous, interpretation.'?  of  all  that  He  said  and 
did.  If,  then,  he  could  have  fastened  on  one 
questionable  feature  in  all  that  he  had  so 
long  witnessed,  no  such  speech  as  this  would 
ever  laive  escaped  his  lips,  nor  would  he 
have  been  so  .stung  with  remorse  as  not 
to  be  able  to  keep  the  money  and  surv'ivo 
his  crime,  vdiat  is  that  to  usi  see  thou  to  that 
—'Guilty  or  innocent  is  nothing  to  us:  Wo 
have  him  now— begone  1 '  Was  ever  speech 
more  hellish  uttered?  5.  cast  down— The 
sarcastic,  diabolical  reply  which  he  had  got, 
in  place  of  the  sjTnpathy  M'hich  perhajis  he 
expected, deepened  his  remorse  into  an  agony, 
in  the  temple  — 'the  holy  place,'  into  wliich 
only  the  prie.sts  had  access.  Perhaps  he 
flung  the  money  in  after  them,  thus  were 
fulfilled  the  words  of  the  prophet— "I 
cast  them  to  the  potter  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord."  (Ze.  11. 13.)  departed  . . .  and  hanged 
— Sc«  on  A.  1.  IS.  6.  it  is  not  lawful— How 
scrupulous  now!  But  those  scruples  made 
them  unconsciously  fulfil  the  Scripture. 
7-10.  Kever  was  a  complicated  prophecy, 
otlierv.isc hopelessly  dark, more  marvellous- 
ly fulfilled.  — Jeremy— Various  conjectures 
have  been  formed  to  account  for  M's.  as- 
cribing to  Jeremiah  a  prophecy  found  in 
the  book  of  Zechariah.  But  .since  with  this 
book  he  was  plainly  familiar,  having  quoted 
one  of  its  most  remarkable  prophecies 
of  Christ  but  a  few  chapters  before,  (ch.  21, 
4,  5,)  the  question  is  one  more  of  curiosity 
than  importance.  11.  See  on  J.  IS.  33-38, 
See  on  Mk.  15.  3-5;  12-14. 

15-30.  Jesus  again  before  Pilate- 
Mocked  BY  THE  SoLDiPRs— Delivered  to 
beCPvUCIfied,  See  onMk.  15.  C-10;L.  23.18-25; 
J.  19,  4-16. 

31-34.  Je?us  led  away  to  be  Crucified, 
See  on  JMk.  15.  20-23. 

35-50.  Cruciitxion  and  Death  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.  See  on  Mk.  15.  29-36;  L.  23. 39; 
43-40. 

51-56.  Signs  following  His  Death. 
AND  OTHEp.  Circumstances.  51.  veil  reiit 
—This  was  the  thick  and  gorgeously  wrought 
veil  v.hich  was  hung  between  the  "hf)ly 
place"  and  the  "holiest  of  all,''  shutting 
out  all  access  to  the  presence  of  God  as  mani- 
fested "from  above  the  mercy-seat  and  from 
between  tlie  cherubims: "— "  the  Holy  Ghost 
tlus  signifying,  that  the  way  into  the  holiest 
of  all  was  not  vet  made  manifest"  (He.  9.  8.). 
Into  this  holiest  of  all  none  might  enter, 
not  even  the  high-priest,  save  once  a-year, 
on  the  great  day  of  atonement,  and  only 


The  crucijixion  cf  Christ. 


MATTHEW,  XXVIII. 


JTis  resuiTection^ 


tliey  took  the  robe  oft"  from  liim.  and  put 
his  ovm  raiment  on  him, "  and  led  hina  away 
to  crucify  him. 

32  And  "as  they  came  out,  ""they  found  a 
man  of  CvTeue,  Simon  by  name:  him  they 
compelled  to  bear  his  cross. 

33  And  when  they  were  come  unto  a  place 
called  Golgotha,  that  is  to  say,  A  place  of 
ti  skull, 

M  They  '  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink 
mingled  with  trail:  and  when  he  had  tasted 
thereof,  he  would  not  driuk. 

35  And  they  crucified  him,  and  parted  his 
parments,  casting  lots :  that  it  misjht  be 
lultilled  which  was  spoken  by  the  prorihct, 
They  "parted  my  garments  among  tnem, 
and  upon  my  vesture  did  they  cast  lots. 

36  And  sitting  down  they  watched  him 
there ; 

37  And  set  up  over  his  head  his  accusation 
written,  THIS  IS  JESUS  THE  KING 
OF  THE  JEWS. 

38  Then  ^  were  there  two  thieves  crucified 
with  him;  one  on  the  right  hand,  and 
another  on  the  left. 

39  IT  And  "  they  that  passed  by  reviled 
him,  wagging  their  heads, 

40  And  saying.  *  Thou  that  destroyest  the 
temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three  days,  save 
thyself.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  come 
down  from  the  cross. 

41  Likewise  also  the  chief  priests,  mocking 
him,  with  the  scribes  and  elders,  said, 

42  He  saved  others;  himself  he  cannot 
Bave.  If  he  be  the  King  of  Israel,  let  him 
now  come  down  from  the  cross,  and  we  will 
believe  him. 

43  He  *  trusted  in  God;  let  him  deliver 
him  now.  if  he  will  have  him:  for  he  said, 
1  am  the  Son  of  God. 

44  The  "i  thieves  also,  which  were  crucified 
■with  him,  cast  the  same  in  his  teeth. 

46  H  Now  *from  the  sixth  hour  there  was 
dai  kness  over  all  the  laud  unto  the  ninth 
hour. 

4<i  And  about  the  ninth  hour/ Jesus  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Eli !  Eli !  lama 
Babachthani?  that  is  to  say,  *'  My  God!  Aly 
God!  why  hii,st  thou  forsaken  me? 

47  Some  of  tlietn  that  stood  there,  when 
they  heard  (iiat,  said,  This  man  calleth  for 
Elias. 

48  And  straightway  one  of  them  ran,  and 
took  a  sponge,  '•  and  tilled  it  with  vinegar, 
and  put  it  on  a  reed,  and  gave  him  to 
drink. 

49  The  rest  said.  Let  be,  let  us  see  whether 
Elias  will  come  to  save  him. 

60  H  Jesus,  when  he  had  cried  again  with 
a  loud  voice,  yielded  up  the  ghost, 

51  And,  behold,  Hhc  veil  of  the  temple  was 
rent  in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom; 
and  }  the  earth  did  qu;die,  and  the  rocks 
rent; 

52  And  the  graves  were  opened;  *and 
many  bodies  of  the  saints  which  slept 
arose, 

53  And  came  out  of  the  graves  after  his 
resurrection,  and  went  into  the  holy  city, 
and  ajipeared  unto  many. 

54  Now  'when  the  centurion,  and  they 
that  were  with  him  watching  Jesus,  saw 
the  earthquake,  and  those  things  that  were 
done,  they  Iciired  greatly,  saying.  Truly 
this  was  the  Son  of  God. 

65  And  many  women  were  there  behold- 
ing afar  off,  "'  which'  followed  Jesua  Irom 
Galilee,  ministering  unto  him; 


D.  33. 


CHAP.  27. 


IKi.'Jl.lS. 

Acts  7.  sS. 

lleb.  13  12. 
<■  filar. 15.21. 
■  Ps.  09.  21. 
'  Ps.  22.  18. 

I3.  63.  12. 

Mar.  15.27. 

Lu   2i.  32. 


6  eh.  2f..  01. 

John  2.  19. 
C  Pa    22.  8. 
d  Lu.  23.  39. 
«  Isa.  50.  3. 

Amos  8  9. 
/Heb.  5.  7. 
g  Ps  22.  1. 
h  Ps.  m.  21. 

John  19.29. 
i  Ei.2e.31. 

2Chr.3.14. 

Mar.  15.38. 

Lu.  23.  45. 

£|.h.  2.  14, 

18. 

Iieb.*6. 19. 

Heb.  10.19, 


I  £i.  20.18, 
19. 

Mar.  15. 39 
Lu.  2.3.  47. 


Juha  19  38. 
P  Is   53.  9. 
«  Ps   2.  1-6. 

Acta  4.  27, 

28. 

2  Cor.  C.  8. 
r  ch.  16.  21. 

ch.  17.  2.i. 

ch.  20.  19. 

ch.  20  61. 

Mar.  8.  31. 

War.  lu.34. 

Lu.  9.  22. 

Lu    18.  3:i. 

Lu  24.0,7. 

John  2.  19. 
SDan.  6.  17. 


56  Among  "which  was  Mary  Magdalene, 
and  Mary  the  mother  of  James  and  Josea, 
and  the  mother  of  Zebedee's  children. 

57  %  When  "  the  even  was  come, there  came 
a  rich  man  of  Arimathea,  named  Joseph, 
who  also  himself  was  Jesus'  disciple: 

58  He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body 
of  Jesus.  Then  Pilate  commanded  the 
body  to  be  delivered. 

59  And  when  Joseph  had  taken  the  body, 
he  wrapped  it  in  a  clean  linen  cloth, 

60  Ana  p  laid  it  in  his  own  new  tomb,which 
he  had  hewn  out  in  the  rock:  and  he  rolled 

p  *'°,.'^7*'' '  *  .great  stone  to  the  door  of  the  sepulchre, 
p«  vifi'k  '  and  departed. 

61  And  there  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and 
the  other  Mary,  sitting  over  against  the 
sepulchre. 

62  IT  Now  the  next  day,  that  followed 
the  day  of  the  preparation,  the  chief 
priests  and  Pharisees  came  togetherimto 
Pilate, 

63  Sajdng,  Sir,  we  remember  that  '  that 
deceiver  said,  while  he  was  ^et  ahve, 
After  *■  three  days  1  will  rise  agam. 

64  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre 
be  made  sure  until  the  tliird  day,  lest  his 
disciples  come  by  night,  and  steal  him 
away,  and  say  unto  the  people.  He  is  risen 
from  the  dead :  so  the  last  error  shall  be 
worse  than  the  first. 

65  Pilate  said  unto  them.  Ye  have  a 
watch:  go  your  way,  make  it  as  sure  as  ye 
can. 

66  So  they  went,  and  made  the  sepulchre 
sure,  *  sealing  the  stone,  and  setting  a 
watch. 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 
1  Christ's  resurreeticn  declared :  9  he  appeareth 
to  the  women,   16  and  to  his  disciples,  ]8  and 
sendeth  them  to  teach  and  baptize. 

TN  the  "  end  of  the  sabbath,  as  it  began 
-•-  to  dawn  toward  the  fiist  day  of  the 
week,came  Mary  Magdalene  *  and  the  other 
Mary  to  see  the  sepulchre. 

2  And,  behold,  there  ^  was  a  great  earth- 
quake: for  *  the  angel  of  the  Lord  descended 
from  heaven,  and  came  and  rolled  back  the 
stone  from  the  door,  and  sat  upon  it. 

3  His  d  countenance  was  like  lightning, 
and  his  raiment  white  as  snow: 

4  And  for  fear  of  him  the  keepers  did 
shake,  and  became  as  dead  vien. 

5  And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto 
the  women,  *  Fear  not  ye;  lor  I  know  that 
ye  seek  Jesus,  which  was  cnicilied. 

6  He  is  not  here;  for  he  is  risen,  /as  he 
said.  Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord 
lay: 

7  And  go  quickly,  and  tell  his  disciples 
that  he  is  risen  from  the  dead ;  and,  behold, 
he  "goeth  before  you  into  Galilee;  there 
shall  ye  see  him:  lo,  I  have  told  you. 

8  And  they  departed  quickly  from  the 
sepulchre  with  fear  and  great  joy,  and  did 
lun  to  bring  his  disciples  word. 

9  H  And  as  they  went  to  tell  bis  disciples, 
behold, ''  Jesus  met  them,  saying.  All  hail! 
And  they  came  and  held  him  by  the  feet, 
and  worshipped  him. 

10  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them.  Be  not 
afraid:  go  tell  <  my  brethren  that  they  go 
hito  Galilee,  and  tnere  shall  they  see  me. 

11  IF  Now  when  they  were  going,  behold, 
some  of  the  watch  came  into  the  city,  and 
showed  mito  the  chief  priests  all  the  things 
that  were  done. 

12  And  wlien  they  were  assembled  with 


THAP.  28. 

a  Mark  16.1. 

Lu.  24.  1. 

John  20.  1. 
6ch  27.56. 
1  Or,  had 

e  Mark  16.  5. 

Lu.  24.  4. 

John  2IJ.12. 
d  Dau.  10.  C. 
e  Eov.  1.  17. 
f  ch.  12.  40. 

ch.  10.  21. 

ch.  17.  23. 

ch.  20. 19. 


Kev.  1. 17, 
18. 
I  Rom.  8.  29. 
bob.  2.  11. 


Slrmsfolloxo'n^  Christ's  Death.     MATTIIEW.  XXVUl. 

■with  the  blood  of  atouement  in  his  hands 
•wliich  he  sprinkled  "upon  and  before  the 
mei-cy-seat  seven  times  Le.  16.  14,;— to  sig- 
nify that  access  for  sinners  to  a  holy  God  is 
only  through  atoning  blood."  But  as  they 
had  only  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats 
■which  could  not  take  away  sins"  He.  lo.  4, 
during  all  the  long  ages  that  preceded  the 
death  of  Chiist,  the  thick  veil  remained; 
the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats  continued  to 
be  shed  and  sprinkled;  and  once  a  year 
access  to  God  through  an  atoning  sacrifice 
■was  vouchsafed— i'rt  a  picture,  or  rather  dra- 
•mviticalbj  represented,  in  those  symbolical 
actions— nothing  more.  But  now,  the  one 
atoning  Sacrifice  being  provided  in  "the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  access  to  a  holy 
God  could  no  longer  be  denied;  and  so,  the 
moment  the  Victim  expired  on  the  altar, 
that  thick  veil  which  for  so  many  ages  had 
been  the  dread  symbol  of  separation  betireen 
God  and  guilty  men  was,  -without  a  hand 
touching  it,  mysteriously  "rent  in  twain 
from  top  to  bottom: "— "  the  Holy  Ghost  this 


His  Resrirredion. 


signifjing  that  the  way  into  the  holiest 
all  was  xow  made  manifest!"  Howempha 
tic  the  statement  "'from  top  to  hottom;"  as  if 
to  say.  Come  boldly  now  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace;  th^  veil  is  clean  gone;  the  Mercy-Seat 
stands  open  to  the  gaze  of  sinners,  and  the 
way  to  it  is  sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  Him 
—  "who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  hath 
offered  Himself  without  spot  to  God:"— L'e- 
fore,  it  was  death  to  go  i  n,  now  it  is  dca  th  to  stay 
out.  See  more  on  this  glorious  suhje.t  on 
He.  10.  19-2-2.  earth  did  quake  . . ,  the  recks 
rent— the  physical  creation  thus  sublimely 
proclaiming,  at  the  bidding  of  its  Maker,  the 
con>:u.ssion  at  that  moment  taking  place  in 
the  moral  world.  Extraordinary  rents  and 
fissures  have  been  obser\'ed  in  the  rocks  near 
this  spot.  52, 53.  the  graves  were  opened,  &c. 
—a  glorious  symbolical  proclamation  that 
the  Death  which  had  just  taken  place  had 
"swallowed  up  death  in  victory."  many 
bodies  of  the  Saints— 0.  T.  believers,  whicn 
slept— See  on  1  Th.  4.  14.  arose— ?:of  nov:,  at 
their  Lord's  dtath,  but,  as  expressed  in  next 
verse,  (which  shouldhave  been  joined  tc  this 
one],  they  "  arose  and  came  out  of  the  graves, 
after  his  resurrection."  For  it  was  fitting 
that  "The  Prince  of  Life"  " should  be  </te 
firsi  that  should  rise  from  the  dead."  (A. 
26.  23.)  53.  went  into  the  holy  city— Jeru- 
salem, where  He  in  virtue  of  whose  resur- 
rection they  had  risen  had  been  condenmed. 
appeared  unto  many  — during  the  forty  days 
of  their  Lord's  stay  on  earth,  while  He 
himself  never  appeared  in  Jerusalem 
save  to  "the  disciples."  They  thus  gave 
ocular  evidence,  as  of  the  reality  of  tneir 
o-wn  resurrection,  so  through  it  of  their  Lonl's 
also.  These  resurrections  were  not  like 
those  of  the  widow  of  iSain's  son,  of  Jairus' 
daughter,  of  Lazarus,  and  of  the  man  who 
"  re-vived  and  stood  upon  his  feet,"  on  his 
dead  body  touching  the  bones  of  Elisha" 
(2  Ki.  13.  21,  >  — temporary  recaUings  of  the 
departed  spirit  to  the  mortal  bodv,  to  be  fol- 
lo-n-ed  by  a  final  departure  of  it "  till  the  trum- 
pet shall  sound."  They  were  a  resurrection 
once  for  all,  to  life  everlasting;  and  tliis  leaves 
no  room  to  doubt  that  they  went  to  glory 
with  their  Lord,  as  bright  trophies  of  His  vic- 
tory over  death.  54, 56.  See  on  ?.ik.  15.  >;y-41. 

57-01.         liUEIAL      OF      CHKIST.         Se©      OU 

li.  -lo.  60  02,  6 J  «-J;  and  J.  19.  iiu-il,. 


52-66.  The  SErtTLCHEE  Guarded.  63. 
the  next  day  that  followed  the  day  of  the  pre- 
paration—i.e.  after  six  o'clock  of  our  Saturday 
evening.  The  crucifixion  took  place  on  the 
Friday,  and  all  was  not  over  tUI  shortly  before 
sunset,  when  the  Je%vish  Sabbath  commenced 
and  "that  sabbath  day  was  an  high  day. 
,J.  19.  31,)  being  the  first  day  of  the  fea.st  of 
imleavened  bread.  That  day  over,  at  six  on 
Saturday  evening,  they  hastened  to  take 
their  measures.  63.  that  deceiver—'  T«.'  ever  wiU 
youflnd  the  heads  of  the  people  to  have  called 
Jesus  by  his  own  name.  [Beng.]  Yet  here 
there  is  betrayed  a  certain  uneasiness,  which 
one  almost  fancies  they  only  tried  to  stifle 
in  their  own  minds,  as  well  as  crush  in  Pi- 
late's, in  case  he  should  have  any  lurking  sus- 
picion that  he  had  done  -wrong  in  yielding 
to  them,  while  yet  alive— important  testi- 
mony, from  the  lips  of  his  bitterest  enemies, 
to  th^  reality  of  Christ s  death;  the  comer- 
stone  of  the  whole  Christian  religion,  after 
three  days— or,  after  the  third  day  had  com- 
menced, according  to  the  customary  Jewish 
w.iy  of  reckoning.     I  will  rise— lit.  'I  rise,' 

the  present  tense,  —thus  reporting  not  only 
the  fa^t  of  the  prediction  as  having  come 
to  their  ears,  but  the  confidence  with  which 
He  looked  forward  to  it  on  the  very  day- 
named,  made  sure— by  a  Eoinan  guard,  till 
the  third  day— after  which,  if  he  still  lav  in 
the  grave,  the  imposture  of  his  claims  would 
be  manifest  to  ail.  his  disciples  .  .  .  steal  him 
—Did  they  really  fear  this  ?  last  error  be  worse 
than  the  first— the  imposture  of  his  pre- 
tended resurrection  be  worse  than  that  of 
his  pretended  Messiahship.  65.  ye  have  a 
watcn— The  guards  had  already  acted  under 
orders  of  the  Sanhedrim,  with  Pilate's  con- 
sent: but  probably  they  were  not  clear  about 
emploj-ing  them  as  a  night-wat<;h  without 
Pilate  s  express  authority,  go  .  .  .  make  it  as 
sure  as  ye  can— Though  there  may  be  no  irony 
m  this  speech,  it  evidently  insinuated 
that  if  the  event  should  be  contrary  to 
tbeir  -wish,  it  would  not  be  for  want  of 
hurran  power  to  prevent  it.  66.  made  the 
seruV-hre  sure— namely,  by  "sealing the  stone, 
which  was  "very  great,"  iMk.  16.  4,  and 
"  setting  the  watch,'"  to  guard  it.  "What  more 
could  man  do?  But  while  they  are  trj^ing 
to  prevent  the  resurrection  of  the  Prince 
of  Life,  God  makes  use  of  their  precautions 
for  his  own  ends.  Their  stone-covered,  seal- 
secured  sepulchre  shall  preserve  the  sleeping 
dust  of  the  Son  of  God  free  from  all  intligni- 
ties,  in  untlisturbed,  sublime  repose;  while 
their  watch  shall  be  His  guard  of  honour 
until  the  angels  shall  come  to  take  their 
place 1 

CHAPTER  XXVm. 

Ver.  1-10.  Glorious  Ee.sueeectiok  of 
Christ— He  Appears  to  the  Wo3iex.  1 
In  the  end,  <fcc.— See  on  Mk.  16. 1.  2.  And  be- 
hold, (fcc— Tills  august  preparation  bespeaks 
the  grandeur  of  the  exit  which  was  to  follow, 
sat  upon  it— to  overawe,  with  the  lightning- 
lustre  that  darted  from  him,  the  Pvoman 
Eiard,  and  do  honour  to  his  rising 
ord.  3.  lightning  .  .  .  snow— the  one  ex- 
pressing the  glory,  the  other  the  purity  of 
the  celestial  abode  from  which  he  came, 
keepers  became  as  dead  men— Is  the  sepulchre 
"  sure '  now,  O  3'e  chief  priests?  He  that  sit- 
teth  in  the  heavens  doth  laugh  at  you.  5. 
tear  not  ye— The  "ye"  is  emphatic:  q.  d.  'Let 
itiiuie  miserable  creatures,  sent  hither  to 
D 


The  fxipUam  of  Jesnu. 


MA  UK.  !. 


//.:  preaches  tfu  Oospd. 


the  elders,  and  h;id  takeu  counsel,  they 
gave  large  money  unto  the  soldiers, 

13  Saying,  Say  ye.  His  disciples  came  by 
nisht,  and  st-ole  him  amay  while  we  slept. 

14  And  if  this  come  to  the  governor's  ears, 
we  will  persuade  him,  and  secure  you. 

15  So  they  took  the  money,  and  did  as 
they  were  taught:  and  this  saying  is  com- 
monly reported  among  the  J  ews  untU  this 
day. 

_  IG  H  Then  the  eleven  discijiles  went  away 
into  Galilee,  into  a  mountain  ^"  where  J  esus 
liad  appointed  them. 


A.  D.  aa. 


CHAP.  28. 
}  ch.  28.  a2. 
k  Daa.  7.  13. 

Eph   1  21. 

Piiil.  2.  a 

1  Pet.  SSti. 

Ret.  17.U. 
2  Or,  mako 


17  And  when  they  saw  him,  they  wor- 
shipped him:  but  some  doubted. 

18  And  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them, 
saying,  *A11  power  is  given  mito  me  in 
heaven  and  in  earth. 

19  Go  ye  therefore,  and  "  teach'  all  na- 
tions, baptizhig  them  in  the  name  of  tlie 
Fatlier,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost; 

'JO  Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever!  have  comnuuidedyou:  aud,lo. 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  euu 
of  the  world.    Amen. 


TUE    GOSFEL    ACCOKDKNG    TO 

S.    M  A  K  K. 


CHAPTER  L  I 

1  John  Baptist's  office.  9  Jesiis  baptized:  12  Ae  | 
is  tempted,  14  preaeheth,  16  ealUth  Peter  and 
others,  32  and  cureth  many. 

rpiIE  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
■*■  Christ,  "  the  Son  of  God; 

2  As  it  is  written  in  the  Prophets,  6  Be- 
hold, I  send  my  messenger  before  thy 
face,  which  shall  prepai-e  thy  way  before 
thee. 

3  The  "voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilder- 
ness, Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make 
his  paths  straight. 

4  Jolm  did  baptize  in  the  wilderness,  and 
preach  the  baptism  of  repentance  ifor  the 
remission  of  sins. 

5  And  there  went  out  unto  him  all  the 
land  of  Judea,  and  they  of  Jenisalem,  and 
were  all  baptized  of  him  in  the  liver  of 
Jordan,  confessing  their  sins. 

6  And  John  was  clothed  ■with  camel's 
hair,  and  with  a  girdle  of  a  skin  about  hi.s 
loins ;  and  he  did  eat  <*  locusts  and  wild 
honey; 

7  And  preached,  saying,  'There  cometh 
one  mightier  than  I  after  me,  the  latchet 
of  whose  shoes  1  am  not  worthy  to  stoop 
down  and  unloose. 

8  I /indeed  have  baptized  you  with  water; 
but  he  shall  baptize  you  ^  with  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

9  H  And  ft  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days, 
that  Jesus  came  from  Ivazareth  of  Galilee, 
and  was  baptized  of  John  in  Jordan. 

10  And  » straightway  coming  up  out  of 
the  water,  he  saw  the  heavens  -opened, 
and  the  Spirit  like  a  dove  descending  upon 
him: 

11  And  there  came  a  voice  from  heaven, 
saying,  )  Thou  art  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased. 

12  %  And  *  immediately  the  Spirit  driveth 
him  into  the  wilderness. 

13  And  he  was  there  in  the  wilderness 
forty  dnys.  tempted  of  Satan ;  and  was  with 
the  wild'Tieasts ; '  and  the  angels  ministered 
unto  him. 

14  U  ^'ow  after  that  John  was  put  in 
prison,  Jesus  came  into  Galilee,  "'preach- 
ing the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  of  God, 

15  And  saying,  "  The  time  is  fulfilled,  and 
the  kinjj'dom  of  God  is  at  hand:  repent  ye, 
and  believe  the  Gospel. 

IG  ^  Wow  "as  he  walked  by  the  sea  of 
Galilee,  he  saw  Simon,  and'Andiew  Im 


A.  D.26. 

endinij. 


CHAP.  1. 
a  Pa.  2.  7. 

Lu.  1.  35. 

John  1.  34. 

Kom.  8.  3. 

1  John  4, 

15. 
b  Mai.  3.  1. 
c  Is,  tJ.  3. 

Lti,3.  1. 

John  1.  15, 

23. 

1  Or,  unto. 
d  Lev.  11.22. 
e  Acts  13.  25. 
f  Actsll.lG. 

Acts  19.  4. 
g  Is.  44.  3. 
Joel  2.  28. 
Acts  2.  4. 
Acts  10  45 
Acts  11  15. 

1  Cor.  12. 
13. 

h  Mat.  3.  13. 

Lu.  3.  21. 

i  John  1.  32. 

2  Or,  cloven, 

;■  Ps!  2.  7." 
Mat.  3.  17. 

2  Pet.  1.17. 
*  Mat.  4.  1. 

I.u.  4.  1. 
I  Mat.  4.  11. 
1  Ti.  3.  16. 
w*  Mat.  4.  23. 
n  Pa.  110.  3. 

Dan  2.44 

Dan.  9.  25, 

Gal.  4.  4. 

Eph.  1. 10. 
0  Mat.  4.  13. 

Luke  5.  4. 

John  1. 

35.44. 
p  Mat.  19.27. 

Lu.  5.11. 
q  Mat.  4  21. 
r  Jlat.  4  13. 

Lu  4.  31. 
8  Mat.  7.  2S. 
t  Lu.  4.  33. 
«  Mat.  8.  29 
V  Pa.  lU.  10. 

Acta  2.  31. 

Jam.  2.  19, 
f  ch.  9.  20. 
X  JIat.  8  14. 

Lu.  4.  38. 


brother  casting  a  net  into  the  sea:  for  they 
were  lishers. 

17  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Come  ye 
after  me,  and  I  will  miike  you  to  become 
fishers  of  men. 

18  And  straightway  P  they  forsook  their 
nets,  and  followed  him. 

19  And  «  when  he  had  gone  a  little  larther 
thence,  he  saw  James  the  son  of  Zebedee, 
and  John  his  brother,  who  also  were  in  the 
ship  mending  their  nets. 

2U  And  straightway  he  called  them:  and 
they  left  their  father  Zebedee  in  the  ship 
with  the  hii'ed  seiTants,  and  went  after 
him, 

21  And  *■  they  went  into  Capernaum ;  and 
straightway  on  the  sabbath  day  he  entered 
into  the  synagogue,  and  tau.ght. 

22  And  '  they  were  astonished  at  his  doc- 
trine: for  he  taught  them  as  one  that  had 
authority,  and  not  as  the  scribes. 

23  And  'there  was  in  their  synagogue  a 
man  with  an  unclean  spuit;  and  he  cried 
out, 

24  Saving,  Let tts  alone;  "what  have  we 
to  do  with  thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazareth? 
art  thou  come  to  destroy  us?  I  know  thee 
who  thou  art,  the  "  Holy  One  of  God. 

25  And  Jesus  rebuked  him,  saying.  Hold 
thy  peace,  and  come  out  of  him. 

2G  And  when  the  unclean  spirit  '"  had 
torn  him,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  he 
came  out  of  him. 

27  And  they  were  all  amazed,  insomuch 
that  they  questioned  among  themselves, 
saying,  What  thmg  is  this?  what  new  doc- 
trine is  this?  for  with  authority  commaud- 
eth  he  even  the  unclean  spiiits,  and  they 
do  obey  him. 

28  And  immediately  his  fame  spread 
abroad  throughout  all  the  region  round 
about  Galilee. 

29  H  And  *  lorthwith,  when  they  were  come 
out  of  the  synagogue,  they  entered  into  the 
house  of  Simon  and  Andrew,  with  Jaiuea 
and  John. 

30  13ut  Simon's  wife's  mother  lay  sick  of  a 
fever,  and  anon  they  tell  him  of  her. 

31  And  he  came  and  took  hc-r  by  the  hand, 
and  lifted  her  up;  and  "  inmiediately  the 
fever  left  her,  and  she  ministered  unto 
them. 

32  IT  And  '  at  even,  when  the  sun  did  set, 
they  brought  unto  him  all  that  were  dis- 
eased, and  them  that  were  possessed  with 
devild. 


Preaching  and  Baptism  oj^  John. 3L^il 

keep  the  Living  One  among  the  dead, 
(L.  24.  6,)  "for  fear  of  me  shake  and  become 
as  dead  men,"  but  fear  not  ye.'  for  I  know,  kc. 
—See  on  Mk.  16.  6.  6-8.— See  on  Mk.  16.  7,  8. 
9.  Jesus  met  them,  saying,  (fee— This  appear- 
ance is  recorded  only  by  M.  held  him.  Arc— 
liow  truly  womanly!  10.  my  brethren— per- 
haps not  in  the  sense  of  J.  20.  17,  but  ratlier 
of  M.  13.55;  since  "his  brethren"  in  the 
higher  sense  had  several  meetings  with  him 
at  J  erusalem  before  he  went  to  Galilee,  which 
they  would  have  missed  if  they  had  been  the 
persons  ordered  to  Galilee  to  meet  him. 

11-15.  The  Guards  Bribed  to  give  a 
False  Account  of  the  Kesuhrection. 
11.  Returning  straight  to  those  who  employ- 
ed them,  tliey  reported  in  detail  the  simple 
truth.  12.  assembled— But  Joseph  at  least 
was  absent;  Gamaliel  probably  also;  and 
perhaps  others,  large  money— It  would  need 
a  good  deal;  but  the  whole  case  of  the  Jew- 
ish authorities  was  now  at  stake.  With  what 
contempt  must  these  soldiers  have  regarded 
the  Jewish  ecclesiastics!  13.  while  we  slept 
— a  capital  offence  in  soldiers  on  watch.  So 
they  consent  to  brand  themselves  with  in- 
famy, on  promise  of  immunitv  from  punish- 
ment, {v.  li).  15.  reported  until  this  day— till 
tlie  publication  of  this  Gospel.  Tlie  wonder 
is  that  so  clumsy  and  increchble  a  story 
lasted  so  long.  But  those  who  are  resolved 
not  to  come  to  the  light  vnl\  catch  at  straM-s. 

16-20.  Intee.\iew  with  the  Disciples 
ON  ^  Mountain  in  Galilee— The  Great 

jVIlNISTEPvIAL    COJIMISSION  GiVEN    FORTH. 

16.  a  mountain— lit.  'the  mountain,'  some 
particular  spot  mentioned  by  none  of  the 
evangelists,  (see  eh.  26.  32.)  17.  some  doubted 
—certainly none  of  "the  eleven,"  after  what 
took  place  at  Jerusalem,  but  others— perhaps 
some  of  the  "five  hundred  brethren"  men- 
tioned 1  Cor.  15.  6.  18-20.  This  Glorious 
Commission  is  twofold:  I.  ]\Iissionary— 
"Go,  teach,"  lit.  'Make  disciples  of  "all 
nation^-"  and  when  gained,  set  the  seal  of 
visible  disciplesldp  ui^ou  them  by  "baptizing 


'-}^'J^ Jesiis  enters  on  Eis  Tuhlic  Work. 

them  in,"  lit.  'into'  "the  name"^the  whole 
fulness  of  the  grace  "of  the  Father,  and  ol 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost"— as  theirs 
(See  on  2  Cor.  13.  14.)  This  done,  the  Mis- 
sionary department  of  your  work,  which  is 
temporary,  must  merge  in  another,  which  is 
permanent.  n.  Pastoral— '^Terj^/anr; 
Vumr  these  baptized  members  of  the 
Church  visible,  "to  observe  all  things  v:hat- 
soever,"  during  the  three  years  ye  have  been 
withMe,  "I have  commanded  you."  *JFe  con- 
quer the  -world  for  Thee,  Lord,  who  have 
scarce  conquered  onr  own  misgivings— we, 
fishermen  of  Galilee,  with  no  letters,  no 
means,  no  influence  over  the  humblest  crea- 
tures Kay,  Lord,  do  not  mock  us.'  '  I  mock 
you  not,  nor  send  you  a  warfare  on  your 
own  charges.  For"— here  now  are  the  Encou- 
RAGE3IENT3  to  Undertake  and  go  through 
the  work—"  AU  power  in  heaven"— the  whole 
power  of  Heaven's  love,  wisdom,  strength; 
"and  all  power  in  earm"— power  over  all 
persons,  all  passions,  all  principles,  aU 
movements—'  is  given  unto  Me"  as  risen 
Mediator:— (what  creature,  had  Jesus  been 
such,  coidd  have  received  and  wielded  such 
power?)— "Go  ye  therefore;  for  all  this  power 
of  mine  is  at  your  command,"  "And"  for  a 
farther  Encouragement,  "to.'  I  am  with  you," 
'm  the  midst  of  you,'  to  keep  you  company, 
to  furnish  and  to  prosper  you,  "ahraiis"— 
lit,  '  all  the  days'— not  only  to  pei-petuity,  but 
without  one  day's  interruption,  "  ^i/ito  the 
end  of  the  icorld,"  till  his  second  coming! 
Neglecting  either  branch  of  this  great  Com- 
mission, neither  the  Power  nor  the  Presence 
promised  dare  be  expected.  But  going 
forth  in  faith  to  both  alike,  the  conquest 
of  the  world  to  Christ— as  it  might  have 
been  achieved  long  ago,  but  for  the  Church's 
unbelief,  selfishness,  apathy,  corruption, 
division-  ~  -'■  """  ^-  --'-"  —  ^  — l  - 
throiigh 
on? 

clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an  armif 
with  baxmers."  iCant.  6. 10.) 


ueiiei,  seuiMuie^ss,  apaiiiy,  corruption, 
i^ision— so  it  will  be  achieved,  when, 
roiigh  the  Spuit  poured  upon  it  from 
high,  it  shall  become  "  fair  as  the  moon. 


THE    GOSPEL   ACCOEDING   TO 

S.   MARK. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Ver.  1-8.  Preaching  and  Baptism  op 
John.  'The  object  of  Mk.  being  to  relate 
the  official  life  and  ministry  of  our  Lord,  he 
liegins  with  His  baptism,  and,  as  a  necessary 
introduction  to  it,  with  the  preaching  of  J  ohn 
the  Baptist.'  [Alf.]  1.  Son  of  God— See  on 
R.  1.  3.  4.    2-8.  See  on  M.  3. 1-6, 11? 

9-11.  Baptism  and  Descent  of  the 
Spirit  ttpon  Jesus.    See  on  M.  3, 13-17. 

12,  13.  Temptation  of  Jesus.  See  on  M. 
4. 1-11.  In  Mk'sbriefnotice  of  the  Temptation, 
there  is  one  e.xpressive  particular  not  given 
l.y M. or L.— that  "He  was  with  the  wild 
beasts;"  no  doubt  to  add  terror  to  solitude, 
and  aggravate  the  horrors  of  the  whole  scene. 
Contrast  Adam  surrounded  by  all  the  beasts 
as  his  peaceful  servants  in  paradise,  yet 
falling  before  the  Tempter,  with  Jesus  in 
a  rocky  solitude,  amidst  beasts  of  prey,  and 
a  fiercer  enemy  bent  on  His  overthrow,  yet 
itanding  unscathed  and  coming;  forth  from 
2J 


this  first  taste  of  humiliation  "  more  than 
Conqueror ! " 

14-20.  Jesus  Enters  on  His  Public 
AVoRK.  See  on  M.  4.  12, 17-22.  Mk.  has  one 
particular  peculiar  to  himself,  about  Zebe- 
dee  and  his  two  sons— that  they  had  "hired 
servants"  {v.  20,)  which  shows  that  they 
were  in  good  circumstances. 

21-28.  Demoniac  Healed.    See  on  L.  4. 

31-37. 

29-34.  Peter's  Mother -in -Law,  and 
MANY  othebs,  Healed.  See  on  M.  8. 14-17. 
34.  suffered  not,  Arc- See  on  L.  4.  41. 

35  -  39.  Jesus,  Alone  at  Morning 
Prayer,  is  Sought  Out  and  Goe.s  Forth 
Preaching  and  Healing.  35.  AU  day  in 
pubUc,  he  snatches  the  hours  from  sleep 
lor  solitary  communion  with  His  Father, 
stealing  away  unperceived  from  the  twelve. 
AVhat  an  example  !  prayed— 'continued  in 
prayer.'  cf.  L.  0.  12;  Is.  60.  4.  38.  See  on  L. 
4. 12,  43,  which  is  more  lull. 


Christ  clcanFcth  a  hfrr. 


MARK,  II. 


33  And  all  the  city  was  gathered  to^'ether 
at  the  door. 

34  And  he  healed  many  that  were  sick  of 
divers  diseases,  and  cast  out  many  devils; 
and  "sutlered  not  the  devils  3  to  speak,  be- 
cause they  knew  him. 

35  If  And  *  in  the  morning,  rising  up  a 
frreat  while  before  day,  he  went  out,  and 
departed  into  a  solitary  place,  and  "  there 
prayed. 

36  And  Simon  and  they  that  were  with  him 
tollowed  after  him. 

37  And  when  they  had  found  him,  they 
Baid  unto  him.  All  men  seek  for  thee. 

38  And  he  said  unto  them,  <*  Let  us  go  into 
the  next  towns,  that  I  may  preach  there 
also:  lor  '  therefore  came  1  forth. 

3a  And  /  he  preached  in  their  synagogues 
throughout  ail  Galilee,  aud  <>  cast "  out 
devils. 

40  IT  And  ^  there  came  a  leper  to  him,  be- 
seeching him,  and  kneeling  down  to  him,  i 
Kud  saying  unto  him.  It"  thou  wilt,  thou 
Civnst » make  me  clean. 

41  And  Jesus,  J  moved  with  compassion, 
put  torth  hU  hand,  aud  touched  him,  and 
saith  unto  hun,  I  will;  be  thou  clean. 

42  And  as  soou  as  he  had  spoken,  imme- 
diately the  leprosy  departed  &om  him,  and 
he  was  cleansed. 

43  And  he  straitly  charged  him,  and  forth- 
with sent  hiin  away; 

44  And  saith  unto  him.  See  thou  say  no- 
thmg  to  any  man:  but  go  thy  way,  show 
thyself  to  the  priest,  and  offer  for  thy 
cleansing  those  things  *  wliich  Moses  com- 
manded, for  a  testimony  unto  them. 

45  But  'he  went  out,  and  began  to  publish 
It  much,  and  to  blaze  abroad  the  matter, 
insomuch  that  Jesus  could  no  more  openly 
enter  into  the  city,  but  was  without  m 
desert  places:  '"and  they  came  to  bim  from 
every  qoaiter. 

CHAPTER  II. 
1  Christ  folloiued  by  muUittides:  S  he  hcaleth  the 
paUy,  Hcatkth  Levi,  \5  justifieth  himself  for 
eating  with  publicans  and  sinners,  lb  excuseth 
MS  disciples  for  not  fasting,  etc. 
A  Ni)  again  "he  entered  into  Capernaum 
after  some  days;  and  it  was  noised  that 
he  was  in  the  house. 

2  And  straightway  many  were  gathered 
together,  insomuch  that  there  was  no  room 
to  receive  them,  no,  not  so  much  as  about 
the  door:  aud  he  *  preached  the  word  unto 
them. 

3  And  they  come  unto  him,  bringing  one 
sick  of  the  palsy,  which  was  borne  of 
tour. 

4  And  when  they  could  not  come  nigh 
onto  him  for  the  press,  they  uncovered  the 
roof  where  he  was :  and  when  they  had 
broken  it  up,  they  let  do\vn  the  bed  wherein 
the  sick  of  the  palsy  lay. 

5  When  Jesus  "saw  their  faith,  he  said 
onto  the  sick  of  the  palsy,  <i  tion,  thy  sins 
be  forgiven  ihee. 

6  But  there  were  certain  of  the  scribes 
sittins' there,  aud  reasoning  in  their  hearts, 

7  Why  doth  this  ma»t  tlius  speak  blas- 
phemies? *who  can  forgive  sins  but  God 
Dnlyl 

8  And  immediately /when  Jesus  perceived 
in  his  spirit  that  they  so  reasoned  within 
themselves,  he  said  unto  them.  Why  reason 
ye  these  thiu-rs  in  your  lie;u-ts? 

y  Wheihor  ''is  it  easier  to  say  to  the  sick 
of  the  piilsy,  Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee;  or 

2i 


The  call  of  Matthew. 


CHAP.  1. 

a  ch.  a.  12. 

Lu.  4.  41. 

Acts  16. 

17,  18. 

3  Or,  to  say 

that  they 

6  Lu.  4.  42. 
c  Heb.  6.  7. 
rf  Lu.  4.  43. 
«  U.  61.  1. 
John  16.23. 


Johi 


Mat.! 


Lu.  5.  VI. 
i  Gen.  18. 14 

Jer.  32.  17. 
j  Heb.  2. 17. 

Heb.  4.  15. 
k  Lev.  14.  3, 

4,  10. 
Lu.  5.  14. 
I  Lu.  5.  15. 
m  ch.  2.  13. 


CHAP.  2. 

o  Mat.  9.  1. 

Lu.  5.  18. 

6  Isa.  61.  1. 

Eph.  2.  17. 

Heb.  2.  3. 
e  Gen.  22.  12. 

Heb.  4.  13. 
d  Ps.  103.  3. 

Isa.  53. 11. 
e  Job  14.  4. 

Ps.  13U.  4. 

U.  43.  25. 

Kom.  3.  33. 
/  1  Sa.  16.  7. 

1  Chr.29. 

17. 

Ps.  7.  9. 

Ps.  139.  1. 

Jer.  17.  10. 

fliat.  9.  4. 

Heb.  4.  13. 

Kev.  2.  23. 
g  JIat.  9.  5. 
h  Isa.  53. 11. 

Dan.  7.13. 
i  Fs.  33.  9. 


received. 
I  Jlat.  9.  10. 
m  Isa.  65.5. 
n  iMat.  9. 12, 

13. 

Blat.  1811. 

Lu.  5.  31, 

32. 

Lu.  19. 10. 


Ex.  29.  32, 


to  say.  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  bed,  aud 
walk? 

10  But  that  ye  may  know  that "  the  Son 
of  man  hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins, 
(he  saith  to  the  sick  of  the  palsy.) 

11  I  say  unto  thee,  Arise,  and  take  up 
thy  bed,  and  go  thy  way  into  thine 
house. 

12  And  •  immediately  he  arose,  took  up 
the  bed,  and  went  forth  before  them  all : 
insomuch  that  they  were  all  amazed,  and 
glorified  God,  saving,  We  never  saw  it  on 
this  fashion. 

13  IT  And  }  he  went  forth  again  by  the 
sea-side;  and  all  the  multitude  resorted 
unto  him,  and  he  taught  them. 

14  And  *  as  he  passed  by,  he  saw  Le>a  the 
son  of  Alpheus  sitting  i  at  the  receipt  of 
custom,  and  said  unto  him.  Follow  me. 
And  he  arose  and  followed  him. 

15  And  '  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  Jesus 
sat  at  meat  in  his  house,  many  publicans 
and  suiners  sat  also  together  with  Jesus 
and  his  disciples :  for  there  were  many, 
and  they  followed  him. 

IG  And  when  '"  the  scribes  and  Pharisees 
saw  him  eat  with  publicans  and  sinners, 
they  said  unto  his  disciples,  How  is  it  that 
he  eateth  and  drinketh  with  publicans  and 
sinners? 

17  When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  saith  unto 
them,  "  They  that  are  whole  have  no  need 
of  the  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick:  I 
came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners 
to  repentance. 

IS  H  And  "the  disciples  of  John  and  of  the 
Pharisees  used  to  fast:  and  they  come  and 
say  unto  him,  Why  do  the  discijiles  of  John 
and  of  the  Phaiisees  fast,  but  thy  disciples 
fast  not? 

19  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Can  the 
children  of  p  the  bride-chamber  fast  while 
the  bridegroom  is  with  them?  as  long  as 
they  have  2  the  bridegroom  with  them,  they 
cannot  fast. 

20  But  the  days  will  come,  when  the  bride- 
groom shall  be  taken  away  from  them,  and 
then  shall  they  fast  in  those  days. 

21  No  man  also  seweth  a  piece  of  "  new 
cloth  on  an  old  garment;  else  the  new  piece 
that  filled  it  up  taketh  away  from  the  old, 
and  the  rent  is  made  worse. 

22  And  no  man  putteth  new  wine  iuto  old 
bottles;  else  the  new  wine  doth  burst  the 
bottles,  and  the  wine  is  spilled,  and  the 
buttles  will  be  maiTed:  but  new  wine  must 
be  put  into  new  bottles. 

23  IT  And  '"it  came  to  pass,  that  he  went 
through  the  corn  fields  on  the  sabbath  day; 
and  his  disciples  began,  as  they  went,  *  to 
pluck  the  ears  of  corii. 

24  And  the  Pharisees  said  nnto  him.  Be- 
hold, why  do  they  on  the  sabbath  day  that 
which  is  not  lawful? 

25  And  he  said  unto  them,  Have  ye  never 
read  <what  David  did,  when  he  had  need, 
and  was  an  himgered,  he,  aud  they  that 
were  with  him? 

2(J  How  he  went  into  the  house  of  God  in 
the  days  of  Abiathar  the  high  priest,  and 
did  eat  the  showbread, "  which  is  not  lawful 
to  eat  but  for  the  priests,  and  gave  also  to 
t)iem  which  were  with  hiin? 

27  And  he  said  unto  them.  The  sabbath 
was  made  for  man,  and  not  uiau  for  the 
sabbath: 

26  Therefore  "  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  also 
of  the  sabbath. 


■  Withered  Uand  ITenTed. 


40--45.  Leper  Healed,  gee  on  M.  8.  2-4. 
45.   Jesus  coiild  no  more,   (i'c.  —  Thus,  this 
b.aziiif,'  of  the  matter,"  natural  as  it  was 
to  a  grateful  spirit,  impeded  Christ's  work. 

^  CHAPTEK  II. 

tvtX?^;  ^"^^a  Paralytic  Healed.    See  on 
W  ^-tV"^-    2.  preached  to  them— i.  e.  indoors. 
Had  He  gone  forth,  as  He  naturally  would, 
the  paralytic's  faith  woidd  have  had  no  such 
opportiuiity  to  display  itself. 4. uncovered  the 
root  .  .     broke  it  up  —  deterinined  to  brino 
Imn  into  contact  ivith  Jems.    It  was  a  faith 
victorious  over  aU  difficulties, 
c.^^"^''-,^*-'^^^^^'^^'^   C-iLL   AND   Feast. 
See  on  M   9.  9-13.     14.  son  of  Alpheus-not 
the  sanie  Alpheus  as  in  ch.  3.  18.    14.  receipt 
of  custom— the  toll-house  or  booth  in  which 
the  collector  sat.    Being  here  by  the  sea-side 
(^/ i2-'.}t  i^S^t  be  the  ferry-tax  for  the  sea 
of  GaUlee. 
is-2:i.  Fastino.    See  on  M.  9. 14-17. 
23-28.  Plucking  Corn-Eaks  on  the  Sab- 
bath.   See  on  M.  12.  1-8.    25,  26.  The  show- 
bread  was  for  the  priests  alone  i  Le.  24.  29) ;  but 
Dav^.d,  suffering  in  God's  cause  and  strait- 
ened lor  provisions,   asks  and  receives  it 
from  the  high  priest  (l  Sa.  21.  6.).    Abiathar 
-In  1  ba.  21.  1,    '^limelech."    Tliey  were 
father  and, son.     27.   A  glorious  and  far- 
reachmg  principle.    28.  Lord  of  the  Sabbath 
—not  surely  to  abolish  it  (a  strange  lordship! 
put  to  own  it,  to  interpret  it,  to  i)reside  over 
It,  and  to  ennoble  it  by  merging  it  in  "  the 
Lord's  Day."  (Ee.  l.  lo.) 
_      ,  ^      CHAPTEEIII. 
Ver.  1-r.    Withered  Hand  Healed— 
Ketirement  to  Avoid  Danger.    See  on 
,     '^^^'^''^^'  ^^^  ^-  6-  6-11.     2.  watched  him, 
<^S^—l\^&y  were  now  come  the  length  of  dog- 
ging lus  steps,  to   collect   materials   for  a 
charge  of  impiety  agamst  Him.   4.  do  good  or 
evil      save  or  kill— He  shuts  them  up  to  this 
starthng  alternative:  'Not  to  do  good  u-hen 
m  our  power,  is  to  do  evil;  not  to  save  life,  is 
to  fci^^-Must  the  letter  of  the  Sabbath  rest 
be  kept  at  this,  expense'if"    ITiis  unexpected 
thrust  shut  their  mouths.  6.  anger . .  grieved 
r-a  very  important  passage,  one  of  the  very 
few  which  reveal  our  Lord's  feelings.    How 
holy  tins      anger'   was,  appears  from  the 
grief     at  their  hardness  which  mingled 
•mth  it.    6.  how  to  destroy  Him— the  first 


ITAP^K,  n,  m.  IV. 


Parable  of  the  Smi'cr. 


Sl;3o.  Hls  Mother  and  Brethren  i-E£:i 
xo  Speak  avith  Uui.    8ee  on  M.  12.  40-50 
CHAPTEE,  IV. 
Ver.  1-25.    Parable  of  the  Sower— 
Reason  FOR  Teaching  IN  Parables    1  2 
See  on  M   13.  l,  2,  3,  &c.    Tlie  Seed  is  the 
word  of  God  (i7    14;  L.  8.  11.);  the  Soiver 
p.  the  Son  of  Man  (M.    13.  37.),  and  aU 
foitliful    preachers    of    the    word    imder 
Hun.     Ihese  are  the  same  in  all  the  cases 
described  :  me  whole  difference  lies  in  the 
soils,   which  mean  different  states  of  the 
human  heart.    According  to  these  will  the 
fnut  of  preacliing  be,  hoM'ever  faithful  the 
preacher,  however  pure  liis  message.    First 
case:    'The  way-side''  {v.  4.)-by  the  side  of 
the  hard  path  through  the  field,  where  the 
soil  was  not  broken  up.    Not  only  could  the 
seed  not  get  beneath  the  surface,  but  "it 
was  trodden  down,"  and  afterwards  picked 
up  and  devoured  by  the  fowls.    HeaHs  aU 
fnbroken  and  hard  are  no  fit  soil  for  savina 
truth.    They  apprehend  it  not  (M.  13. 19.).  as 
Gods  means  ot  restoring  them  to  Himself; 
It  penetrates  not,  makes  no  impression,  but 
lies  loosely  on  the  surface  of  the  heart,  till 
the  Wicked  One— afraid  of  loosing  a  victim 
by  Ins      believing  to  salvation"  tL.  8    12) 
—finds   some   frivolous   subject  by  whose 
greater  attractions  to  draw  off  the  atten- 
tion, and  straightway  it  is  gone.     Of  how 
many  hearers  of  the  word  is  this  the  graphic 
but  painful  history!    Second  case:  "Tlie 
stony  (rather,  rocky j  ground"  (v.  5.'— i.  e  not 
ground  with  stones  in  it,  which  would  not 
prevent  the  roots  striking  downward,  but 
ground    where    a    thin    surface    of    earth 
covers   a  rock.     "Immediately"  the   seed 
m  such  case  "springs  up"-aU  the  quicker 
from   the    shaUowness   of   the    soil  — "be- 
cause  It    has   no    depth    of   earth."     But 
the  sun,  beating  on  it,  as  quickly  scorches 
and  mthers  it  up  "because  it  has  no  root" 
(«.   6.)    and   "lacks   moisture"    (L.   8.   6.). 
ficarte  superficiaUy  impressed  receive   Vie 
truth  unth  ^ngular  readiness,  yea  with  joy 
{V.  13  ) ;  but  the  heat  of  tribulation  or  persecu- 
tion because  of  the  word'  (M.  13.  21.)  — {the 
tnals  which  their  new  profession  brings  upon 
them},— quickly  dries  up  their  relish  for  the 
truth  and  withers  all  the ' hasty  promise  of 
Jrmt  which  they  had  put  on.    Such  disav- 


""'A;"-  „Y- .,""."  ""  "csi-iuy  iiim— me  nrst  jruit  which  they  i 

Sfr"w  ^  f:^onf'TT  ^^S.^^^ri^'^''^^'^ -i"^''  pf'aYaiihfula;;TawaU^ 
our  ix,ra.    bee_pn  L.  6.  11.    Herodians-the  rngminidry  afc^   hmv  frequent  are  they 


""^  -iJviLi.  oec  uu  u.  D.  11.  nerooians— the 
supporters  of  Herod's  dynasty,  created  by 
h^,^^^'";^  pohtical  rather  than  a  religious 
party.  But  though  the  Pharisees  opposed 
them  as  untrue  to  their  religion  anci  coun- 

n^ni^fni  ^w  ^^1  *¥r°^  Combining  together 
against  Christ.   See  M.  22.  lo,  16. 

8-12.     SUMBIARY  OF  LABOURS  BY  THE  SeA 

OF  Galilee.  See  on  M.  12.  15. 16.  11.  How 
glorious  this  extorted  homage  to  the  Son  of 
God!    See  Ja.  2. 19. 

oni?-  ^.^^  Tttelve  Chosen.  See  L.  6. 12-16. 

-'o-3o.  Charges  against  Jesus  of  IVIad- 
NEss  AND  Demoniacal  Possession,  by  his 
Kelations  AND  THE  Scribes.  20,21.  cometh 
together  agam— referrmg  back  to  the  gather- 
"1?  mentioned  at  ch.  2.  2.  Ms  friends—'  his 
relatives  See  v.  31,  and  on  M.  12.  46.  22.  He 
hath  Beelzebub-M.  and  L.  merely  say,  "  He 
casteth  out  devils  ihrouah  Beelzebub;"  but 
Ppfil^K  'k  ^^Sa%^^  ^^^  Ilimself  iwssessed  by 
Er?if  ^^?-  ^\^y  repeated  this  in  other 
terms  afterwards.  See  J.  8.  48,  r.2.  23-30 
fcee  on  M.  12.  25-32.  and  on  L.  11.  21  22 


Third  case:  ''The  thorny  groioul"  (v  7) 
-ground  not  thoroughly  cleaned  of  the 
thistles,  &c.;  which,  rising  above  the  good 
seed  choke"  or  "smother"  it,  excluding 
light  and  air,  and  drawing  away  the  mois^ 
ture  and  richness  of  the  soiL  Hence  it  "  be- 
comes unfnutful"  (V  22.J— it  gi-ows,  but 
Its  growtli  is  checked,  and  it  never 
ripens.  The  evU  here  is  neither  a  hard 
nor  a  shallow  soil— there  is  softness  enough, 
and  clepth  enough;  but  it  is  the  exfst- 
euce  m  it  of  what  draws  aU  the  mois- 
ture and  richness  of  the  soU  away  to  itself 
and  so  starves  the  plant.    "What  are  these 

thorns?  (l )  '.rhe  cares  of  this  world"— 
anxious,  unrelaxing  attention  to  the  business 
of  this  present  hfe  ;  (2.)  "the  deceitfulness of 
nches  —the  fruit  of  this  wordly  "  care;"  '3  ) 

the  pleasures  of  this  life,"  or  "  the  lu.sts 
01  other  things  entering  in"  iv.  19.)— the 
enjojinents,  in  themselves  it  may  be  in- 
nocent, which  wordly  prosperity  enables 
one  to  indulge.   TJiese  "  choke*'  or  '^  smolh^r  " 


The  hvclve  aposiles  chosen. 


MA  UK,  ITT.  IV. 


Piirullc  of  the  sower. 


CHAPTER  III. 

1  Christ  heaUth  the  withered  hand;  6  the  Phari- 
tces  conipire  his  death:  13  he  chooseth  twelve 
apoctlest  '£!  he  confuteth  the  Pharisees'  Uat- 
phemy  respecting  his  easting  ont  devils,  etc. 

AND  "he  entered  again  into  the  syiia- 
Ro^e;  and  there  was  a  man  there 
which  had  a  ivithered  hand. 

2  And  they  watched  him,  whether  he 
would  heal  him  on  the  sabhath  day;  that 
they  misrht  accuse  him. 

3  And  he  saith  unto  the  man  which  had 
the  withered  hand,  l  Stand  forth. 

4  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Is  it  lawful  to 
do  good  on  the  sabbath  days,  or  to  do  evil? 
to  save  life,  or  to  kill!  But  they  held  their 
peace. 

5  And  when  he  had  looked  round  about 
on  thtm  with  >>  anger,  being  grieved  for  the 

2  hardness  of  their  hearts,  he  saith  unto 
the  man.  Streteh  forth  thine  hand.  And 
he  stretched  it  out;  and  his  hand  was  re- 
stored whole  as  the  other. 

6  And  "the  Pharisees  went  forth,  and 
straightway  took  counsel  with  «*  the  Ilero- 
dians  against  him,  how  they  might  destroy 
him. 

7  IT  But  Jesus  withdrew  himself  with  his 
disciples  to  the  sea:  and  a  great  multitude 
from  Galilee  followed  him,  *  and  from 
Judea, 

8  And  from  Jemsalem,  and  from  Idumea, 
and /rom  beyond  Jordan;  and  they  about 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  a  great  multitude,  when 
they  had  heard  what  great  things  he  did, 
came  unto  him. 

9  And  he  spake  to  his  disciples,  that  a 
small  ship  should  wait  on  him  because  of 
the  multitude,  lest  they  should  throng 
him: 

10  For  he  had  healed  many;  insomuch 
that  they  8  pressed  upon  him  for  to  touch 
him,  as  many  as  had  plagues. 

11  And /unclean  spaits,  when  they  saw 
him,  fell  down  before  him,  and  cried,  say- 
ing, B  Tliou  art  the  Son  of  God. 

12  And  '<■  he  straitly  charged  them  that 
they  should  not  make  him  known. 

13 IT  And* he  goeth  up  into  a  mountain, 
and  calleth  iinto  him  whom  he  would:  and 
they  came  unto  him. 

14  And  he  ordained  twelve,  that  they 
should  be  with  him,  and  that  he  might 
send  them  forth  to  r  -ach, 

15  And  to  have  power  to  heal  sicknesses, 
and  to  cast  out  devils. 

16  And  Simon  >  he  surnamed  Peter; 

17  And  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and 
John  the  brother  of  James;  (and  he  sur- 
named them  Boanerges,  which  is,  *The 
sons  of  thunder;) 

18  And  Andrew,  and  Philip,  and  Bartholo- 
mew, and  Matthew,  and  Thomas,  and 
James  the  son  of  Alpheus,  and '  Thaddeus, 
and  Simon  the  Canaanite, 

19  And  Judas  Iscariot,  which  also  betrayed 
liim.    And  they  went  *  into  an  house. 

20  II  And  the  multitude  cometh  together 
again,  ^  so  that  they  could  not  so  much  as 
eat  bread. 

21  And  when  his  5  friends  heard  of  it,  they 
went  out  to  lay  hold  on  him:  for  they  said, 
lie  is  beside  tiimself. 

22  ^  And  the  scribes  which  came  down 
from  Jerusalem  said, "  He  hath  Beelzebub, 
and  by  the  prince  of  the  devils  casteth  he 
out  devils. 

2J  And  "  he  called  them  unto  him,  and 
t-J 


CHAP.  8. 

a  Mat.  12.  9. 
Lulio  G.  G. 

1  Ariao, 
BtariJ  forth 
in  tho 
midst. 
Dan.  6. 10. 
Fhil.  1.1*. 

6  Pa.  09.  9. 

2  Or, 
blindness. 

e  M.it.  12. 14. 
d  Mot.  22.10. 
«  Lu.  6.  17. 


g  Acts  IG.  17. 

Mat.  14.33. 

ch.  1.  1. 
ft  ch.  1.  £5, 

34. 

Blat.  12.10. 
i  Mat.  10. 1. 


Lu. 


12. 


Lu.  9.  1. 
;•  John.  1.  42. 
*  Isa.  58.  1. 
I  Jude  1. 
4  Or,  homo, 
m  ch,  6.  31. 
6  Or, 

John  7.  6. 

John  10.20. 

n  Mat.  9  34. 

Mat.  10.25. 


John  10  22. 
o  Mat.  12.  25. 
P  Is.  49.  24. 

Mat.  12.29. 
3  Mat   12.31. 

Lu.  12. 10. 

1  John  5. 

10. 
»•  Acts  7  61. 


«  M;<t.  12.  46. 

Lu.  8.  19. 
t  .'Mat.  13.  55. 
ch.  B.  3. 
John  7.  3. 
«  Dv.u.  33.  9. 
Rnm.  8  29. 
Heb.  2.  11. 


CHAP.  4. 
«  Mat.  13. 1. 

Lu.  8.  4. 
6  ch.  12.  38. 
'  John  15.6. 

Col.  1.  5. 
d  Pro.  2.  1. 

Pro.  4.  7. 

Pro.  13.20. 

Mat.  13.10. 

Luke  8.9. 
e  1  Cor.  2.10. 
/I  Cor.  1.18. 

1  Cor.  5.12. 
Col.  4.  6. 
1  Thess.  4, 


3.7. 


said  unto  them  in  parables,  llow  can  Sataa 
cast  out  Satan? 

24  And  If  a  kingdom  be  divided  against 
itself,  that  kingdom  cannot  stand. 

25  And  if  a  house  be  di^ided  against  itself, 
that  house  cannot  stand. 

26  And  if  Satan  rise  up  against  himself, 
and  be  divided,  he  cannot  stand,  but  hath 
an  end. 

27  ^'o  P  man  can  enter  into  a  strong  man's 
house,  and  spoil  his  goods,  except  he  will 
first  bind  the  strong  man;  and  then  he  will 
spoil  his  house. 

28  Verily  « 1  say  unto  you,  All  sins  shall 
be  forgiven  mi  to  the  sons  of  men,  and 
blasphemies  wherewith  soever  they  shall 
blaspheme ; 

29  But  he  that  shall  blaspheme  agamst 
the  Holy  Ghost  hath  *"  never  forgiveness, 
but  is  in  diuiger  of  eternal  damnation: 

30  Because  they  said.  He  hath  an  uucleai' 
spirit. 

31  H  There  '  came  then  his  brethren  and 
his  mother,  and,  standing  without,  sent 
mito  him,  calling  him. 

32  And  the  multitude  sat  about  him;  and 
they  said  unto  him.  Behold, '  thy  mother 
and  thy  brethren  without  seek  for  thee. 

33  And  he  answered  them,  saying,  Who 
is  my  mother,  or  my  bretliren? 

34  And  he  looked"  round  about  on  them 
wliich  sat  about  him,  and  said,  "Behold 
my  mother  and  my  brethren! 

35  For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  God. 
the  same  is  my  brother,  and  my  sister,  and 
mother. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
1    The  parable   of   the  sower:    14  the  meaning 

thereof,  26  Of  the  seed  grotving  secretly,  etc. 
AND  "he  began  again  to  teach  by  the 
sea-side :  and  there  was  gathered  unto 
him  a  great  multitude,  so  that  he  entered 
into  a  ship,  and  sat  in  the  sea;  and  the 
whole  multitude  was  by  the  sea  on  the 
land. 

2  And  he  taught  them  many  things  by 
parables,  *  and  said  unto  them  in  his  doc- 
trine, 

3  Hearken;  Behold,  there  went  out  a 
sower  to  sow: 

4  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sowed,  some 
fell  by  the  way-side,  and  the  fowls  of  the 
air  came  and  devoured  it  up. 

5  And  some  fell  on  stony  ground,  where 
it  had  not  much  earth;  and  immediately  it 
sprang  up,  because  it  had  no  depth  of 
earth: 

6  But  when  the  sun  was  up,  it  was 
scorched;  and  because  it  had  no  root,  it 
withered  away. 

7  And  some  fell  among  thorns,  and  the 
thorns  grew  up,  and  choked  it,  and  it 
yielded  no  fruit. 

8  And  other  fell  on  good  ground, '  and  did 
yield  fruit  that  sprang  up  and  increased; 
and  brought  forth,  some  thirty,  and  some 
sixty,  and  some  an  hundred. 

9  And  he  said  unto  them.  He  that  hath 
ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

10  H  And  't  when  he  was  alone,  they  that 
were  about  him  with  the  twelve  asked  of 
liini  the  parable. 

11  And  he  said  unto  them.  Unto  you  it  is 
given  to  know  *  the  mystery  of  the  kingdom 
of  God:  but  unto  /them  that  are  without, 
all  these  things  are  done  in  parables: 

12  That  <' seeing  they  may  see,  and  not 
perceive ;  and  hearing  they  may  hear,  aud 


PixrahU  of  the  Seed  Growing. 


MAEK.  V. 


Tempest  Stilled,  etc. 


the  word;  drawing  off  so  much  of  one's  atten- 
tion, absorbing  so  much  of  one's  interest,  and 
using  tip  so  much  of  one's  time,  that  only  the 
dregs  of  these  remain  for  spiritual  things,  and 
a  fagged,  hurried,  and  heartless  formMlism  is 
at  length  all  the  religion  of  such  persons. 
What  a  vivid  picture  is  this  of  the  mournful 
cmuiition  of  many,  especially  in  great  comtner- 
cial  countries,  who  once  promised  much  fruit ! 
*'  They  bring  no  fruit  to  perfection  "  (L.  8. 14.) ; 
indicating  now  much  growth  there  may  be, 
in  the  early  stages  of  such  a  case,  and 
promise  of  fruit  — wliich  after  all  never 
ripens.  Fourth  case:  The  good  ground  [v. 
8.)  — i.e.  of  qualities  precisely  the  reverse 
of  the  other  three  soils:  from  its  softness 
and  tenderness,  receiving  and  cherishing 
tlie  seed;  from  its  depth,  allowing  it  to  take 
firm  root,  and  not  quickly  loosing  its  mois- 
ture ;  and  from  its  cleanness,  gi\'ing  its 
whole  vigour  and  sap  to  the  plant.  In 
such  a  soil  the  seed  brings  forth  fniit," 
in  all  different  degrees  of  profusion,  accord- 
ing to  the  measure  in  which  the  soil  pos- 
sesses those  qualities.  A  heart  soft  and  ten- 
der, stirred  to  its  depths  on  the  great  things  of 
eternity,  and  jealously  guarded  from  wordly 
engrossments,  such  only  is  tlie  "honest  and 
good  heart"  (L.  8.  15.),  which  'keep^'  (or  '"re- 
tains") tlie  seed  of  the  word,  and  bears  fruit 
just  in  proportion  as  it  is  such  a  heart. 
iSuch  "bring  forth  fruit  with  patience" 
{v.  15.),  or  continuance,  'endurinr;  to  the 
end;'  in  contrast  with  those  in  whom  the 
word  is  "  choked"  and  brings  no  fruit  to  pier- 
.fection.  Tlie  "  thirty-fold"  is  designed  to  ex- 
press the  loicest  degree  of  fruitfulness;  the 
*'  hundred-fold  "  the  highest ;  and  the  "  sixty- 
fold  "  the  miermediafe  degrees  of  fruitfulness. 
As  'a  hundred-fold,'  though  not  unexam- 
pled (Ge.  26. 12.),  is  a  rare  return  in  the  na- 
tural husbandry,  so  the  highest  degrees  of 
spiritual  fruitfulness  are  too  seldom  wit- 
nessed. The  closing  words  of  this  intro- 
ductory parable,  "  He  that  hath  ears,"  &c.  {v. 
9.),  seem  designed  to  call  attention  to  the 
fundamental  and  ^lniversal  character  of  it. 

10-12.  See  on  M.  13.  10-17.  13.  how  then 
know  all  parables?— implsdng  that  tliis  para- 
ble, being  of  a  fundamental  and  ^miversal 
character,  was  to  pave  the  way  for  other 
teachings  of  the  same  nature,  and  be  a  sort  of 
general  key  to  open  them;  so  that  not  under- 
standing this  one,  they  would  still  less  com- 
prehend the  others.  21-25.  See  on  L.  8. 
16-18. 

26  20.  Parable  of  the  Seed  Growing 
We  Know  not  How.  This  beautiful  para- 
ble, peculiar  to  Mk.,  is  designed  to  teach  the 
imperceptible  growth  of  the  word  sown  in  the 
heart,  from  its  earliest  stage  of  development 
to  the  ripest  fruits  of  practical  righteousness, 
sleep  and  rise  night  and  day— go  about  his 
other  ordinary  occupations,  leaving  it  to  the 
wcll-kno\Mi  laws  of  vegetation  imder  the 
genial  influences  of  heaven.  Tliis  is  the 
sense  of  "the  earth  bringing  forth  fruit  of 
herself."  (v.  28.)  first  the  blade,  &c.— beau- 
tiful allusion  to  the  succession  of  similar 
stages,  though  not  definitely-marked  periods, 
in  the  Christian  life,  and  generally  in  the 
kingdom  of  God.  29.  This  charmingly  points 
to  the  transition  from  the  eartlily  to  the 
heavenly  condition  of  the  Christian  and  the 
Cliurch. 

30-34.  Parable  of  the  Mustard-Seed. 
31.  less  than  all  seeds— not  absolutely,  but 


popidarly  and  proverbially:  thus,  "  If  ye  had 
faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  i.  e.  '  never 
so  little.'  greater  than  all— not  absolute- 
ly, but,  in  relation  to  the  size  of  the  seed, 
proverbially  great,  especially  in  warm  lati- 
tudes, fowls  lodge,  (fee— to  express  the  amvli- 
tude  of  the  tree.  But  as  tlus  seed  has  a  hot 
fiery  vigour,  gives  out  its  best  virtues  when 
bruised,  and  is  grateful  to  the  taste  of  birds, 
wliich  are  accordingly  attracted  to  its  bran- 
ches both  for  shelter  and  food,  is  it  straining 
the  parable  to  suppose  that  besides  the  won- 
derful growth  of  His  ldngdom,our  Lord  select- 
ed this  seed  to  illustrate  further  the  shflter, 
repose,  and  blessedness  it  is  destined  to  afford 
to  the  nations  of  the  world  ?  [Trench.J 
33,  34.    See  on  M.  13.  34,  35. 

35-41.  Tempest  Stilled.  See  on  M.  8. 23, 27. 
36.  took  him  even  as  he  was  in  the  ship;-with- 
out  any  preparation,  without  leaving  the 
vessel  he  had  been  speaking  from,  other 
little  ships— probably  of  people  wishing  to 
follow  him.  37.  a  great  storm  of  wind—'  Tlie 
lake  is  situated  in  a  deep  depression,  and 
bounded  on  the  N.  &  N.E.  by  mountain- 
ranges  rising  to  the  elevation  of  SUO  or  1000 
feet,  wliich  renders  it  liable  to  sudden  and 
violent  storms.'  [w.  &  av.].  beat  into— lit. 
'  kept  pitching  on'  the  ship,  was  now  fuU— 
'was  already  filling.'  38.  carest  Thou  not— 
unbelief  and  fear  making  them  forget  their 
place.  39.  See  on  v.  41.  40.  why  so  fearful? 
—There  is  a  natural  apprehension  under  dan- 
ger; but  there  was  unbelief  in  their  fear. 
41.  they  feared  exceedingly— were  struck 
with  deep  awe.  what  manner  of  man  is  this, 
that  even,  &c.— The  Church  has  all  along 
been  singing  of  Jehovah,  "  Thou  rulest 
the  raging  of  the  sea:  when  the  waves 
thereof  arise,  Thou  stUlest  them!  The 
Lord  on  high  is  mightier  than  the  noise  of 
many  waters,  yea,  than  the  mighty  waves  of 
the  sea:"  (Ps.  89.  9;  93.  4.)  But  lo,  we  have 
amongst  us  One  of  our  own  flesh  and  blood, 
who  with  his  word  of  command  hath  done 
the  same!  Exhausted  with  the  fatigues  of  the 
day,  He  was  but  a  moment  ago  in  a  deep  sleep 
undisturbed  by  the  howling  tempest;  we  had 
to  awake  Him  with  the  cry  of  our  terror;  but 
rising  at  our  call.  His  majesty  was  felt  by 
the  elements,  for  they  were  instantly  hushed ! 
"  What  Manner  of  Man  is  iHisi" 
CHAPTEE  V. 

Ver.  1-20.  Demoniac  of  Gadara  Healed. 
See  on  M.  8.  28-34.  2.  out  of  the  tombs— hewn 
out  of  the  rock,  and  serving  for  shelters  and 
lurking  places.  Observe  the  complicated 
evil  which  the  powers  of  darkness  inflicted 
on  their  victim.  They  deprived  him  of  the 
exercise  of  his  rational  powers;  they  so 
lashed  his  spirit,  that  he  could  not  suffer 
even  a  garment  upon  his  body,  but  went 
naked,  (L.  8.  27,)  and  could  not  endure  the 
sight  of  living  men  and  social  comfort,  but 
dwelt  among  the  tombs,  as  if  the  sepulchral 
gloom  had  a  mysterious  congeniality  with 
the  wretchedness  of  his  spirit;  they  allowed 
liiui  not  a  moment's  repose  even  there,  for 
"ahcays,  night  and  day,h&  was  in  the  moun- 
tains and  in  the  tombs,  crying"— his  unmin- 
gled  misery  venting  itself  in  wild  waiUng 
cries ;  nay,  so  intolerable  was  his  mental 
torture,  that  he  "  kept  cutting  himself  with 
stones  I'  —the  natural  explanation  of  which 
seems  to  be,  that  one  in  this  state  is  fain  to 
draw  off  his  feelings  from  the  mind,  when 
its  anguish  grows  unendurable,  by  trying  to 


I'oraUe  of  the  mustard  seed. 


The  leijlon  of  devils  caet  out. 


not  understand;  lest  at  any  time  they 
should  be  converted,  and  their  sins  sliouiil 
Lie  Ibrgiven  them. 

id  And  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye  not 
this  parable?  and  how  then  will  ye  know 
all  parables? 

14  II  The  "  sower  soweth  the  word. 

15  And  these  are  they  by  the  way-side, 
where  the  word  is  sown ;  but,  when  they 
have  heard,  « Satan  cometh  immediately, 
and  takcth  away  the  word  that  was  sown 
\i\  their  hearts. 

16  And  these  are  they  likewise  which  are 
sown  on  stony  ground;  who,  when  they 
have  heard  the  word,  immediately  receive 
it  with  gladness; 

17  And  have }  no  root  in  themselves,  and 
so  endure  but  for  a  time:  afterward,  when 
atiliction  or  persecution  ariseth  for  the 
word's  sake,  immediately  they  are  offended. 

18  And  these  are  they  which  are  sown 
among  thorns ;  such  as  hear  the  word, 

19  And  the  cares  of  this  world,  *and  the 
deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the  lusts  of 
other  things  entering  in,  choke  the  word, 
and  it  becometh  unfruitful. 

'20  And  these  are  they  which  are  sown  on 
good  'ground;  such  as  hear  the  word,  and 
receive  it,  and  bring  forth  fniit,  some  thirty- 
fold,  some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred. 

21  It  And  "^he  said  unto  them.  Is  a  candle 
brought  to  be  put  under  a  i  bushel,  or 
under  a  bed?  and  not  to  be  set  on  a  candle- 
stick? 

22  For  "  there  is  nothing  hid,  which  shall 
not  be  manifested ;  neither  was  anything 
kept  secret,but  that  it  should  come  abroad. 

23  If  »  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  let  him 
hear. 

24  And  he  saith  unto  them,  P  Take  heed 
what  ye  hear:  'with  what  measure  ye 
mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you;  and 
unto  you  that  hear  shall  more  be  given. 

25  For  ''he  that  hath,  to  him  shall  be 
given:  and  he  that  hath  not,  from  him 
shall  oe  taken  even  that  which  he  hath. 

26  H  And  he  said,  *  So  is  the  kingdom  of 
God,  as  if  a  man  should  cast  seed  mto  the 
ground; 

27  And  should  sleep,  and  rise  night  and 
day,  and  the  seed  should  spring  and  grow 
up,  he  knoweth  not  how. 

28  For  the  earth  bringeth  forth  fruit  of 
herself;  first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after 
that  the  full  com  in  the  ear. 

29  But  when  the  fruit  is  "  brought  forth, 
immediately  '  he  putteth  in  the  sickle,  be- 
cause the  harvest  is  come. 

30  If  And  he  said,  "  Whereunto  shall  we 
liken  the  kingdom  of  God?  or  with  what 
comparison  shall  we  compare  it? 

31  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which, 
when  it  is  sown  in  the  earth,  is  less  than 
all  the  seeds  that  be  in  the  earth: 

32  But  when  it  is  sown,  it  "  groweth  up, 
and  becometh  greater  than  all  herbs,  and 
shooteth  out  great  branches;  so  tliat  the 
fowls  of  the  air  may  lodge  under  the  shadow 
of  it. 

33  And  *"  with  many  such  parables  spake 
he  the  word  unto  them,  as  they  were  able 
to  hear  it. 

34  But  without  a  parable  spake  he  not 
unto  them:  and  when  they  were  alone,  he 
expounded  aU  things  to  his  disciples. 

35  H  And  "  the  same  day,  when  the  even 
was  come,  he  saith  unto  them,  Let  us  pass 
over  Uiito  the  oLhtr  side. 


CHAI».  4. 

ft  Mat.  l;il9. 


,•25. 

i  2  Cor.  2.11. 

•2  Cor.  4   4. 

1  Pet.  5.  8. 
j  Job  -27.  10. 
A  1-8.  52.  7. 

Pro.  23  5. 
Ercl.  6.  13. 
Lu.  18. 24. 
Acta  6.  I. 
1  Tir...  6. 
9.  17 

Tit.  1.11. 
JKom.  7.4. 

2  Cor.  5.17. 
2  Pet.  1.4. 

m  Mat.  6.15. 

Lu.  8.  It). 

Lu.  11. aa. 
1  The  word 


the 


M.-it.  11. 15. 

P  I  John  4.1 

q  .Vat.  7.  2. 

u.  e.  S8. 

Cor.  9.  6. 

r  Mat.  la  12. 

Mat  a.-j'jg. 

Lu.  8.  18. 

Lu.  19.  20. 

8  Mat.  13.  24. 


u  JNIat.  1B.31. 

Lu   13.  18. 

Acta  2.  41. 

Acta  4.  4. 

Acta  6.  14. 

Acta  19.at). 
V  JLU.  1.  11. 

Kev.  11.15. 
«■  .-Mat.  13.34. 

JohnlG.12. 
X  Isa.  42.  4. 

Mat.  a.  IS, 


Ps.  29.  10. 
Ps.  B5  5,7. 
P»  «9.  9. 
Pa.  93.4. 
Pb.  107. 
23-29. 
Ps.  135.5,0. 
Nah.  1.  4. 
■■  P«.  33.  8, 9. 


c  Lev.  11.  7. 

Deu.  14.  8. 

la.  tJ5.  4. 
d  1  Kin.  22. 

Job  1. 12. 
Job  2.  6. 
Job  12.16. 

eil..m.  1I..20. 
1  Joitc  -6.  S. 


36  And  when  they  had  sent  away  the  mul. 
titude.  they  took  him  even  as  he  was  in 
the  ship.  And  there  were  also  with  him 
other  little  ships. 

37  And  there  arose  a  great  storm  of  ^ind, 
and  the  waves  beat  into  the  ship,  so  that 
it  was  now  ftill. 

38  And  he  was  in  the  hinder  part  of  the 
ship,  asleep  on  a  pillow:  and  tney  awake 
him,  and  say  unto  him.  Master,  carest  thou 
not  that  we  perish? 

39  And  he  arose,  and  ^  rebuked  the  wind, 
and  said  unto  the  sea.  Peace,  be  still.  And 
the  wind  ceased,  and  there  was  a  great 
calm. 

40  And  he  said  unto  them.  Why  are  ye  so 
fearful?  how  is  it  that  ye  have  no  faith? 

41  And  they '  feared  exceedingly,  and  said 
one  to  another.  What  manner  of  man  is 
this,  that  even  the  wincl|»nd  the  sea  obey 
him? 

CHAPTER  V. 
1  Christ  cofteth  out  the  legion  of  devils:  21  Jairvs'i 
suit  for  his  dUixighter:  25  the  bloody  issue  heaUd, 
etc. 

AND  "they  came  over  unto  the  other 
■^^  side  of  the  sea,  into  the  country  of  the 
Gadarenes. 

2  And  when  he  was  come  out  of  the  ship, 
immediately  there  met  him  out  of  the 
tombs  a  man  with  an  unclean  spirit, 

3  Who  had  his  dwelling  among  the  tombs; 
and  no  man  could  bind  him,  no,  not  with 
chains: 

4  Because  that  he  had  been  often  bound 
with  letters  and  chains,  and  the  chains  had 
been  j)lucked  asunder  by  him,  and  the 
fetters  broken  in  pieces:  neither  could  any 
man  tame  him. 

5  And  always,  night  and  day,  he  was  in 
the  mountains,  and  in  the  tombs,  crying, 
and  cutting  himself  with  stones. 

6  But  when  he  saw  Jesus  alar  off,  he  ran 
and  *  worshipped  him, 

7  And  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  and  said, 
What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou 
Son  of  the  most  high  God?  I  adjure  thee 
bv  God,  that  thou  torment  me  not. 

8  (For  he  said  unto  him.  Come  out  of  the 
man,  thou  unclean  spirit.) 

9  And  he  asked  him.  What  is  thy  name? 
And  he  answered,  saymg.  My  name  is 
Legion:  for  we  ai-e  many. 

10  And  he  besought  him  much  that  he 
would  not  send  them  away  out  of  the 
country. 

11  Now  there  was  there,  nigh  mito  the 
mountains,  a  great  herd  of  "  swine  feeding. 

12  And  all  the  devils  besought  him,  saying. 
Send  us  into  the  swine,  that  we  may  enter 
into  them. 

13  And  forthwith  Jesus  ^  gave  them  leave. 
And  the  unclean  spirits  went  out,  and 
entered  into  the  swine:  and  the  herd  ran 
violently  down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea, 
(they  were  about  two  thousand,)  and  were 
choked  in  the  sea. 

14  And  they  that  fed  the  swine  fled,  and 
told  it  in  the  city,  and  in  the  country. 
And  they  went  out  to  see  what  it  was  that 
was  done. 

15  And  they  come  to  Jesus,  and  see  him 
that  was  possessed  with  the  devil,  and  had 
the  legion,  sitting,  and  clothed,  and  *  in  his 
riyht  mind:  and  they  were  afraid. 

16  And  they  that  saw  it  told  them  how  it 
befell  to  him  that  was  possessed  with  the 

.  devil,  and  also  concerning  the  swine. 


Jalriis''  Danglifcr  Piavcd. 


JIAP.K,  VL 


Mission  of  Vie  Tn-che  Ar^odla. 


make  the  body,  thus  lacerated  and  smartin^?, 
bear  its  owTi  share.  One  other  feature  of  the 
evil,  thus  diabolically  inflicted,  is  very  sig- 
aiiflcant— "  no  man  could  iame  him;  for  he 
liad  been  often  bound  with  fetters  and 
chains,  and  the  chains  had  been  plucked 
asunder  by  him,  and  the  fetters  broken  in 
pieces!"  (v.  4.)  And  now,  suppose  ye  that 
tliis  man  was  a  sinner  above  ail  sinners,  be- 
cause he  siTlTeredsuch  thin^'srlJS'ay;  iL.13.  2-3,) 
but  on  the  theatre  of  the  body  we  see  affect- 
ingly  exhibited 'w/i.at  the.  powers  of  darkness 
are,  when  uncontrolled,  and  wJiat  men  hare 
to  expect  from  them  when  once  given  into 
their  hand!  Human  reason  they  cannot 
abide,  for  it  is  a  light  shining  full  upon  their 
own  darkness.  Human  liberty,  which  is  one 
^ith  law,  in  its  highest  state— "the  perfect 
law  of  ^ioerfiy"— this  they  hate,  substituting 
for  it  a  wild  anarchy,  that  can  submit  to  no 
rational  control,'  Human  jjeace  they  can- 
not endure,  for  they  have  lost  their  own— 
"there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked."  For  the 
Fame  reason,  human  comfort,  in  any  tlie 
least  and  lowest  of  its  forms,  they  will  never 
leave,  if  they  can  take  it  away.  And  over 
the  bowlings  and  self-inflicted  tortures  of 
their  maddened  victims  they  sing  the  dance 
of  death,  saying  to  all  their  comijlaints  and 
appeals  for  sympathy,  with  the  chief  priests 
to  Judas,  "  What  is  that  to  us?  see  thou  to 
that !"  Is  it  £0.'  Then,  0  the  blessedness  ot 
being  delivered  out  of  the  kingdom  ot  dark- 
ness, and  translated  into  the  Kingdom  of 
God's  dear  Son!"  iCo.  1. 13.) 

15-17.  See  on  L.  8.  35-37.  18.  lie  prayed  Mm 
that  lie  might  be  with  him— the  graCetul  heart 
fresh  from  the  hands  of  demons,  clinging  to 
its  wondrous  Benefactor.  19 .  g:o  home,  i:c. 
— To  be  a  missionary  for  Christ  in  the 
region  where  he  was  so  well  known  and  so 
long  dreaded,  was  a  far  nobler  calling  than 
to  follow  Him  where  nobody  had  ever 
heard  of  him,  and  where  other  trophies  not 
less  illustrious  could  be  raised  by  the  same 
power  and  grace.  20.  Decapolis— the  ten- 
citied  region.  See  on  M.  4.  25.  Tiirouuhout 
that  district  did  this  m.onument  of  mercy  pro- 
claim his  new  found  Lord. 

21-43.  Jairus'  Daughter  Eaised,  and 
Issue  of  IJlood  Healed.  See  on  M.  o. 
18-2G.  21.  See  on  L.  8.  40.  25,  26.  Pitiable 
case,  and  alTectingly  aggravated— emblem  ot 
our  natural  state,  as  fallen  creatures  \Ez.  ic 
5,  C,)  and  illustrating  the  worse  than  vanity 
of  all  liuman  remedies  for  spiritual  maladies 
(Ho.  5. 13.).  27.  when  she  heard  of  Jesus,  came 
— ^This  was  the  right  experiment  at  last,  be- 
hind—shrinking, yet  seeking,  touched— Tliis 
was  ceremonially  defiling  to  the  person 
touched;  but  the  instinct  of  her  heart  told 
her  that  He  was  above  such  laws.  See  on 
M.  8.  3.  28.  If  I  may  but  touch  his  clothes— 
i.  e.  come  in  contact  with  Him  at  all-.—xe- 
markable  faith  !  29.  fountain  dried  u  i— not 
only  the  issue  stopt,  but  the  cai  sj  of  it 
thoroughly  removed,  felt  in  her  boay,  <fcc.— 
was  conscious,  from  her  bodily  sensations, 
of  a  perfect  cure.    30.  knowing  in  Himself— 


conscious  of  the  forth-going  of  His  healing   _     _  , ..._ 

power,  which  was  not  as  in  prorliets  aiut  I  Dead  Sea.    (Joseph.  Ant.  xviii.  5,  2.)    Hero- 


royal  seal  on  it.  Go  in  peace— Glorious  dis- 
missal !  35,  36.  As  soon  as,  &c.  —  Jesus 
knov  ing  how  the  heart  of  the  agonized  father 
would  sink  at  the  tidings,  and  the  reflections 
at  the  delay  which  would  be  apt  to  rise  in 
his  mind,  hastens  to  reassure  liim,  and  in 
his  accustomed  style;  "Be  not  afraid,  only 
believe  "—words  of  unchanging  preciousness 
and  power  !  How  vividly  do  sucli  incidents 
bring  out  Christ's  knowledge  of  the  human 
heart  and  tender  sympathy!  (Heb.  4.  15.) 
41.  Talitha-Cumi— Aramaic,  or  Syro-Chaldaic, 
the  then  language  ol  Palestine.  Mark  loves 
to  give  such  wonderful  words  just  as  they 
were  spoken.  See  ch,  7.  34;  14.  3G.  42,  43. 
walked  . . .  sometliing  to  eat— in  proof  of  per- 
fect restoration. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Ver.  1-6.  Chmst  Kejected  at  Ts'aza- 
Beth.  See  on  M.  13.  63-68;  and  on  L.  4.  liJ, 
&c.  1.  his  own  country  —  Nazareth.  2. 
whence,  &c.— It  bore  umnistakeabie  marks 
01  the  supernatural,  such  mighty  works— as 
tliey  had  heard  of,  for  He  wrought  none 
there,  brother  of  James,  &c.— Certainly,  the 
natural  sense  of  these  words  is.  that  these 
were  well  known  in  Nazareth  as  the  family 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  after  the  birth  of  Christ. 
See  on  M.  13.  64-66.  offended—'  scandalized,' 
or  '  stumbled.'  4.  Our  proverb,  '  Too  much 
familiarity  breeds  contempt,'  and  similar 
ones  in  other  langTiages,  based  on  the  same 
principle,  show  how  true  it  is  of  social  in- 
tercourse generally.  How  affecting  is  its 
application  to  the  "Chiefest  among  tea 
thousand,  the  Altogether  Lovely!— Even  He, 
it  seems,  had  become  too  common  in  Maza- 
reth  to  be  appreciated  !  5.  could  do  no  mighty 
work— i.  e.  because  of  their  unbelief  [V.  C,) 
which — on  his  own  nile,  M.  7.  6— tied  up  his 
hands,  if  one  may  so  speak,  6.  marvelled-— 
See  on  M.  8. 10. 

7-13.  Mission  OF  the  Twelve  Apostle.^. 
See  on  M.  10. 1-15.  13.  anointed  with  oil  and 
healed—'  This  oil  was  not  used  medicincdly, 
but  as  a  vehicle  of  tlie  healing  power  com- 
mitted to  them,  a  symbol  ot  a  deeper  thing 
than  the  oil  itsell  could  accomplish,'  [Alp.  J 
of  which  we  have  many  examples.  See  on 
A.  5.  14;  2  Ki.  6.  14,  &c.  It  widely  differed 
from  what  Romanists  caU  extreme  unction. 
[Beng.I  They  do  not  appear  to  have  taken 
it  with  them,  but  employed  it  as  they  found 
in  Mith  the  sick— the  more  manliest  the  mir- 
acle,   rib.  ] 

14-30.  Herod  thinks  Jesus  a  Resur- 
rection OF  THE  Murdered  Baptist- 
Account  of  His  Death.  14.  King  Herod 
—  Herod  Antipas.  one  of  the  three  sons  of 
Herod  the  Great,  and  own  brother  of 
Archelaus,  (ch.  2.  22,)  who  ruled  as  ethnarch 
over  Galilee  and  Perea.  he  said— "to  his 
servants,"  M.  14,  2.  or  councillors,  court 
ministers.  John  risen,  &c.  —  The  murdered 
prophet  haunted  his  guiltybreast  like  a  spectre, 
and  seemed  to  liim  alive  again  and  clothed 
with  uneartlily  powers,  in  the  person  of 
Jesus.  15.  See  on  ch.  8.  28.  17.  in  prison— 
the  castle  of  Machasrus.  at  the  southern 
extremity  ot  Herod's  dominions,  near  the 


apostles,  a  potvcr  foreign  to  Him,  ttti 
dwelling  in  Him.  31-a3.  See  on  L.  8. 
45-47.  34.  made  thee  whole  ...  be  whole  — 
Though  healed  as  soon  as  she  believed,  it 
seemed  to  her  a  stolen  cure— she  feared  to 
acknowledge  it.     Jesus  therefore  sets  His 


dias  —  granddaughter  ot  Herod  the  Great, 
his  brother  Philip's  wife— This  Philip  was 
not  the  tetrarcliof  that  name  (L.  :i.  1,)  but 
Herod  Ihilip,  another  sou  of  Heroa  the 
Great,  di-sinherited  by  his  father.  Herod 
Antipas'  wife  was  the  diiughter  of  Aretas, 


Jah-us's  daugJifflr  restored  to  life. 


MA  UK,  VI. 


Cliriat  cont^nwed  by  Ms  cnimfrymen. 


17  And  /  they  began  to  pray  him  to  depart 
out  of  their  coasts. 

18  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  ship, 
he  ^  that  had  been  possessed  with  the  devil 
prayed  him  that  he  mijrht  he  ^nth  him. 

1!)  Howbeit  Jesus  suffered  him  not,  but 
Baith  unto  him,  Go  home  to  thy  friends, 
and  teU  them  how  great  things  the  Lord 
hath  done  for  thee,  and  hath  nad  compas- 
sion on  thee. 

'M  And  he  departed.and ''  began  to  publish 
in  Decapolis  now  great  things  Jesus  had 
done  for  him:  and  all  men  did  marvel. 

'21  II  And  'when  Jesus  was  passed  over 
again  by  ship  unto  the  other  side,  much 
[leople  gathered  unto  him:  and  he  was  uigh 
unto  the  sea. 

'22  And.  J  behold,  there  cometh  one  of  the 
nilers  of  the  sjiiagogue,  Jairus  by  name ; 
and  when  he  saw  him,  he  fell  at  his  feet, 

2'o  And  besought  him  gi'eatly,  saying.  My 
little  daughter  lieth  at  the  point  of  death: 
/  pray  thee,  come  and  lay  thy  hands  on 
her,  ttat  she  may  be  healed;  and  she  shall 
live. 

'24  And  Jesus  went  with  him ;  and  much 
people  followed  him,  and  thronged  him. 

25  If  And  a  certain  woman,  *  which  had  an 
issue  of  blood  twelve  years, 

26  And  had  suffered  many  things  of  many 
physicians,  and  had  spent  all  that  she  had, 
and  *  was  nothing  bettered,  but  rather  gi-ew 
worse, 

'27  When  she  had  heard  of  Jesus,  came  in 
the  press  behind,  and  *"  touched  his  gar- 
ment. 

'23  For  she  said.  If  I  may  touch  but  his 
clothes,  I  shall  be  whole. 

29  And  "  straightway  the  fountain  of  her 
blood  was  dried  up  •  and  she  felt  in  her  body 
that  she  was  healed  of  that  plague. 

'M  And  Jesus,  immediately  knowing  in 
himself  that "  virtue  had  gone  out  of  him, 
turned  him  about  in  the  press,  and  said. 
Who  touched  my  clothes? 

31  And  his  disciples  said  unto  him.  Thou 
Beest  the  multitude  thronging  thee,  and 
sayest  thou.  Who  touched  me? 

o2  A.nd  he  looked  round  about  to  see  her 
that  had  done  this  thing. 

33  But  the  woman,  feaiing  and  trembling, 
knowing  what  was  done  in  her,  came  and 
fell  down  before  him,  and  told  him  aU  the 
truth. 

34  And  he  said  unto  her.  Daughter,  ^  thy 
faith  hath  made  thee  whole;  go  in  peace, 
and  be  whole  of  thy  plague. 

35  If  While  '  he  yet  spake,  there  came  from 
the  ruler  of  the  synagogue's  house  certain 
which  said.  Thy  daughter  is  dead:  why 
troublest  thou  the  Master  any  further? 

36  As  soon  as  Jesus  heard  the  word  that 
was  spoken,  he  saith  unto  the  ruler  of  the 
B\iiagogue,  »■  Be  not  afraid,  only  believe. 

37  And  he  sutlered  no  man  to  follow  him, 
Bave  Peter,  and  James,  and  John  the 
brother  of  James. 

;W  And  he  cometh  to  the  house  of  the  ruler 
of  the  synagogue,  and  seeth  the  tumult, 
and  them  that  wept  and  wailed  greatly. 

30  And  when  he  was  come  in,  he  saith 
unto  them.  Why  make  ye  this  ado,  and 
weep?  the  damsel  is  not  dead, but  *  sleepcth. 

40  And  they  laughed  him  to  scom.  'But 
when  he  had  put  them  all  out,  he  taketh 
the  lather  and  the  mother  of  the  damsel, 
and  them  that  were  with  him,  and  entereth 
Ui  where  the  damsel  was  lying. 


CHAP.  5. 

f  Doll.  fi.  L'S. 

1  Ki  17.18. 

Job  21    14. 


t  Gen.  49  10. 

j  Wat.  9  18. 
Acta  13  15. 
*  Lov.  16.25. 
I  I's.  108.  I'J. 
»»  Acta  5.15. 
Acta  19. 

n  Ex.  15.  26. 
o  Lu.  G.  19. 
p  Mat.  9. 22. 

ch.  10. 52. 

Acts  14.  9. 
q  Lu.  8.  49. 
r  John  11.25, 

40. 
8  John  U.  11. 
t  Acts  9.  40. 
u  l>3.  33.  9. 


CHAP.  6. 
a  Mat.  13.54. 

Lu.  4.  10. 
6  John  6.  42. 
c  Is.  53.  2,  3. 

1  Cor.  1.23 
d  Mat.  12.4C. 

Gal.  1.  19. 
e  Mat.  11.  6. 
/  Mat.  13. 57. 

John  4.  44. 
g  Gen.  19.22. 

Gen.  32.25. 

Mat.  13.53. 

ch  9  23. 
h  Is.  53. 1,  2, 

16. 
i  Blat.  9.  35. 

Lu.  13.  22. 
j  Mat.  10.  1. 

ch.3.  13. 

Lu.  9  1. 
1  Tlie  word 

Bi.-nifiuth 

a  Piece  of 


farthing, 
Slat.  10.  9 
but  here  i( 
is  taken  in 
general  for 
money. 
Luko  9. 


k  Ac 


(  Mat.  10. 11. 

Lu.  9.  4. 

Lu.  10.7,8. 

m  Mat. 10.14. 

Lu.  10. 10. 

n  Ads  13  61. 

Acts  18.  6. 

o  Heb.lO.  31. 

i  Jam.  5. 14. 


41  And  he  took  the  damsel  by  the  hand, 
and  said  unto  her,  Talitha  cum!;  which  is, 
being  interpreted,  Damsel,  I  say  unto  thee, 
arise. 

42  And  "straightway  the  damsel  arose, 
and  walked;  for  she  M'as  of  the  aqe  of 
twelve  years.  And  they  were  astonished 
with  a  gieat  astonishment. 

43  And  "  he  charged  them  straitly  that  no 
man  should  know  it;  and  commanded  that 
something  should  be  given  her  to  eat. 

CIIArTER  VI. 

1  Christ  is  contemned  by  his  own  countrymen.  16 
Of  John  Baptist's  imprisonment  aud  death.  3-1 
The  miracle  of  the  loaves  and_fishes,  etc. 

A  ND  "  he  went  out  from  thence,  and  came 

-^■^  into  his  own  country;  and  his  disciples 

follow  him. 

2  And  when  the  sabbath  day  was  come,  he 
began  to  teach  in  the  synagogue:  and  many 
hearing  him.  were  a8tonished,saying,''  From 
whence  hath  this  man  these  things?  and 
what  wisdom  is  this  which  is  given  unto 
him,  that  even  such  mighty  works  are 
wrought  by  his  hands? 

3  Is  "not  this  the  carpenter,  the  son  of 
Mavy,  <ithe  brother  of  James,  and  Joses, 
and  of  Juda,  and  Simon?  and  are  not  his 
sisters  here  with  us?  And  they* were  of- 
fended at  him. 

4  But  Jesus  said  imto  them,  /  A  prophet  is 
not  without  honour,but  in  his  ovni  country, 
and  among  his  own  kin,  and  in  his  own 
house. 

5  And  ^  he  could  there  do  no  mighty  work, 
save  that  he  laid  his  hands  upon  a  few  sick 
folk,  aud  healed  thtm. 

6  And  /» he  marvelled  because  of  their 
unbelief,  » And  he  went  round  about  the 
villages,  teaching. 

7  II  And  :>'  he  called  unto  Mm  the  twelve, 
and  began  to  send  them  forth  by  two  and 
two;  and  gave  them  power  over  unclean 
spirits ; 

8  And  commanded  them  that  they  should 
take  nothing  for  their  journey,  save  a  stall 
only ;  no  scrip,  no  bread,  no  i  money  in 
their  purse: 

9  But  *  be  shod  with  sandals;  aud  not  put 
on  two  coats. 

10  And  ^he  said  unto  them,  In  what  place 
soever  ye  enter  into  an  house,  there  abide 
till  ye  deriart  from  that  place. 

11  And  ^  whosoever  shall  not  receive  you, 
nor  hear  you,  when  ye  depart  thence, 
shake  "  off  the  dust  under  your  feet  for  a 
testimony  against  them.  "Verily  I  say 
unto  you.  It  shall  be  more  tolerable  for 
Sodom  2  and  Gomorrha  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, than  for  that  city. 

12  And  they  went  out,  and  preached  that 
men  should  repent. 

13  And  they  cast  out  many  devils,  P  and 
anointed  witn  oil  many  that  were  sick,  and 
healed  them. 

14  II  And  9  king  Herod  heard  of  Mm;  (for 
his  name  was  si)read  abroad:)  and  he  said, 
That  John  the  Baptist  was  risen  from  the 
dead,  and  therefore  mighty  works  do  show 
forth  themselves  in  him, 

15  Others  *"  said.  That  it  is  Elias.  And 
others  said.  That  it  is  a  prophet,  or  as  one 
of  the  prophets. 

16  But  «when  Herod  heard  thereof,  he 
said.  It  is  John,  whom  I  beheaded:  he  ia 
risen  from  the  dead. 

17  For  Herod  himself  had  sent  forth  and 
laid  hold  upon  John,  and  bound  lim  a 


Death  ofJchn  the  Baptis 


IIAIIK,  VL 


rive  Thousand  Ted. 


king  of  Arahia;  but  lie  prevailed  on  Hero- 
dias,  Ms  half-brother  Philip's  wife,  to  for- 
sake her  husband  and  live  with  him,  on 
condition,  says  Josephus,  (Antiq.  xviii. 
5,  1,)  that  he  should  put  away  his  o-mi 
wife.  This  involved  nim  afterwards  in 
war  with  Aretas,  who  totally  defeated  him 
and  destroyed  his  army.    18.  not   lawful 


31-44.  Five  Thousand  MiEACTTLOui^LY 
Fed.  31,  32.  they  departed  by  ship— "over 
the  sea  of  Galilee,"  J.  t>.  i.  into  a  desert  place 
—  "belonging  to  the  city  called  Bethsaida," 
L.  9.  10,  on  the  noi-th-eastem  shore  of  iho 
lake;  called  Jidias  by  Philip  the  tetrarc'i, 
(L.  3.  1.  who  raised  it  from  a  village  to  a 
city.     Tliither  he  retired,  as  would   seem, 


ISoble  fidelity !_  It  was  not  lawful,  because  :  partly  to  avoid  plots  against  him,  following 


(1.)  Herod's  wife  and  Herodias'  husband 
were  both  lixang;  i2.)  The  parties  were  be- 
sides within  the  forbidden  degrees  of  consan- 
guinity {see  Le.  20.  21  ;  Herodias  being  the 
daughter  of  Aristobulus,  the  brother  of  Doth 
Herod  and  Phihp  "Joseph,  xviii.  5,  4.>.  20. 
Herod  feared  John— But  J  oh  nfca  rednot  Herod. 
[Bksg.]  observed  —  rather  tas  in  Marg.) 
■  kept'  or  •  preserved'  him  in  safety,  that 
Herodias  might  not  have  her  wiU  of  liim. 
[Ueng.  Mey.  J  did  many  things,  &c.— strik- 
ing statement,   (by  I^lk.  only,^  iUustrat:ng 


upon  the  Baptist's  death— exemplifjdng  his 
o%\-n  directions  about  flight  from  persecu- 
tion M.  10.  23;  partly  to  "rest  a  while"  with 
Ms  disciples;  "for  there  were  many  coming 
and  going,  and  theyhad  no  leisure  so  much  as 
to  eat"  \.v.  31  ;  and  partly,  as  the  apostles  had 
but  just  returned  from  their  mission  and 
reported  their  success  (L.  9.  10,  that  he 
might  open  to  them  a  little  further  the  things 
of  the  Kingdom.  33,  How  grajjhic  !  afoot— 
here,  rather  by  land,'  A.  20.  I3.i  34.  moved  with 
compassion— At  the  sight  of  the  multitudes 


the  working  of  contrary  principles  in  the  I  who  had  followed  him  by  land  and  even 
slaves  of  passion.  21.  suprer,  (fcc. —  Ihis  I  got  before  him,  he  was  so  moved,  as  was  his 
grapliicminuteness  of  detail  aildsmuchtothe  •  wont  in  such  cases,  with  compassion,  because 
interest  of  the  tragic  narrative.  22.  daughter  they  were  like  shephercUess  sheep,  as  to  fore- 
of  Herodias— by  her  proper  husband,  PhUip:  go  both  privacy  and  rest  that  he  mi^'ht  mini- 
Salome  was  hr  ''-  ''  '     ""  '^      ^     .1  r.. 


..er  name    Joseph,  lb.}.    23.  ster  to  them.     The  approaching  fassover, 
sware,  &c.  — Those   in  whom   passion  and  i  no  doubt,  made  the  crowds  gi-eater.    iSeeJ\ 
luxury  have  destroyed  self-command  will 
in  a  capricious  moment  say  and  do  what 


in  their  cool  moments  they  bitterly  recTet. 
25.  Give  me  the  head  of  John,  tc  — Aban- 
doned vjornen  o/re  more  shanuless  and  heart- 
less than  men.  The  Baptist's  fidelicy  marred 
the  pleasures  of  Herorlias,  and  this  was  too 
good  an  opportimity  of  getting  rid  of  him  to 
let  slip.  26.  the  king— so  called  by  courtesy, 
fcee  on  v.  14.  sorry— for  he  'heard  John 
gladly,  and  did  many  tilings '  in  compliance 
with  John's  injunctions.  This  only  shows 
how  far  HerotUas  had  won  him  over,  as 
Jezebel  did  Aliab,  to  agree  to  what  his 
awakened  conscience  kept  him  long  from 
executing,  his  oath— See  how  men  of  no 
principle,  but  troublesome  conscience,  will 
stick  at  breaking  a  rash  oath,  while  consent- 
ing to  the  worst  crimes  !  and  their  sakes  which 
Bat  with  him— lalse  shame,  which  could  not 
brook  being  thought  to  be  troubled  with  reli- 
gious or  moral  scruples.  To  how  many  has 
this  iiroved  a  fatal  snare!  27,  beheaded— 
B;e-;sed  martjTl  Dark  and  cheerless  was 
thine  end;  but  thou  hast  now  thy  Master's 
benediction,  i  M.  11. 6,) and  hast  tound  the  Life 
thou  gavest  away  .'M .  10.  39. ' .  But  where  are 
they  in  whose  skirts  is  found  thy  blood  ?  28. 
head  in  a  charger  . . .  gave  it  to  her  mother— As 
Herodias  did  not  shed  the  blood  ot  the  stern 
reprover,  but  only  got  it  done,  and  gloated 
aver  it,  streaming  from  the  trunkless  head, 
so  the  anti christian  "Woman"  is  only 
'"drunken  with  the  bhod  of  the  saints  and  of 
theraartyrs  of  Jesus  Rev.  17.  6);  she  gets  "the 
Jieast"—' the secidar  arm,'  to  shed  it.  See  on 
Rev.  17. 3,  &c.  29.  Ms  disciples— i.  e.  the  Bap- 
tist's, M.  adds  that '  'they  went  and  told  Jesu;  ' 


6.  4,  5.)     35.  the  day  far  spent  — M.  says  it 
"  lat 


was  "evening,"  and  yet  mentions  a  later 
evening  of  the  same  day,  v.  23.  The  earlier 
began  at  3  p.m. ;  the  later  at  sunset.  37.  Give 
ye  them  to  eat  — doubtless  said  to  prepare 
them  for  this  new  kind  of  miracle.  Here, 
and  in  J.  C  5-9.  follows  some  further  dialogue 
—"to  prove  them,  for  he  Himself  knew  what 
he  would  do"  J.  6.  6.  .  40.  in  ranks  by  hun- 
dreds and  by  fifties— Doubtless  this  .vas  to 
show  at  a  glance  the  number  fed,  and  to 
enable  all  to  witness  this  glorious  miracle  in 
an  orderly  manner,  on  the  grass— says  M. 
[U.  19.,— '■  Jsow  there  was  much  grass  in  the 
place  "  (J.  6. 10.;— the  bushy  wastes  of  Beth- 
saida. blessed— L.  adds,  "them"  i9.  16,1  le. 
the  loaves  and  fishes,  John  calls  this  'giv- 
ing thanks"  (6.  11.;  Tliis  thanksgiving  for 
the  meat  and  benediction  of  it  as  the  food  of 
thousands,  was  the  crisis  ot  the  miracle,  his 
disciples  to  set  before  them  — Thus  were  the 
twelve  held  up  as  His  future  ministers.  42. 
did  all  eat,  and  were  filled- Ail  the  four 
Evangelists  mention  this,  and  John  says 
they  got  "as  much  as  they  would"  6.  ll,) 
to  show  that  vast  as  was  the  multitude, 
and  scanty  the  pro^'isions,  the  meal  to  each 
was  a  full  one.  43.  And  tiiey  took  up,  (i:c.— but 
not  without  being  bidden;  for  Jesus  said, 
"  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain,  that 
nothing  be  lost"  (J.  6.  12. .  Tliis  was  to 
bring  out  the  whole  extent  of  the  miracle. 
01  the  fragments—'"  which  remained  over  and 
above  unto  them  that  had  eaten"  J.  G.  13.). 
twelve  baskets  full— the  word  for  "baskets" 


here  denotes  part  of  the  luggage  taken  by 
J  ews  on  a  .journey,  to  carry,  it  is  said,  both 
their  pro-s-isions  and  hay  to  sleep  on,  that 
(14. 12.).  H  these  disclipes  had,  up  to  this  time  they  might  not  have  to  depend  on  Gentiles, 
stood  apart  from  Him,  as  adherents  of  Jolm,  |  and  so  run  the  risk  of  ceremonial  pollution. 
iCh.  11.  2,)  perhaps  they  now  came  to  Jesus  1 44.  five  thousand  men—"  besides  women  and 


not  without  some  secret  reflection  on  Him 
for  his  seeming  neglect  of  their  master;  but 
perhaps,  too,  as  orphans,  to  cast  in  their 
lot  henceforth  with  the  Lord's  disciples. 
How  Jesus  felt,  or  what  he  said,  on  receiving 
this  intelligence,  is  not  recorded;  but  niitfht 
it  not  have  been  said,  as  at  the  grave  ol  his 
triend  Lazarus,  "Jesus  wept;" 
31 


children,"  M.  14.  21.  Of  these,  however,  there 
would  probably  not  be  many;  as  only  the 
males  were  obliged  to  go  to  the  approaching 
festival.  "We  have  faint  precursors  of  this 
glorious  miracle  in  the  doings  of  Elijah— 

1  Ki.  17.  14-16- and  still  more  of  Llisha, 

2  Ki.  4.  1-7,  and  42-14:  but  besides  the  in- 
feriority of  the  things  done,  those  proijheta 


JoJi-n  iht  Eaitisl  beheaded. 


JAAUK,  vi: 


Christ  walkeUi  en  the  sea. 


prison  for  Herodias'  sake,  his  brother 
Philip's  wife;  for  he  had  married  her. 

18  For  John  had  said  unto  Herod,  'It  is 
not  lawful  fur  thee  to  have  thy  brother's 
wife. 

19  Therefore  Herodias  had  3  a  quarrel 
against  him,  and  would  have  killed  him; 
but  she  could  not: 

20  For  Herod  "  feared  John,  knowing  that 
he  was  a  just  man  and  an  holy,  and  *  ob- 
served him ;  and  when  he  heard  him,  he 
did  many  things,  and  heard  him  gladly. 

21  And  "  when  a  convenient  day  was 
com.e,  that  Herod,  •"  on  his  burth  day,  made 
a  supper  to  his  lords,  high  captains,  and 
chief  estates  of  Galilee ; 

22  And  when  *  the  daughter  of  the  said 
Herodias  came  in,  and  danced,  and  pleased 
Herod  and  them  that  sat  with  him,  the 
king  said  unto  the  damsel.  Ask  of  me  what- 
soever thou  wilt,  and  I  will  give  it  thee. 

23  And  he  sware  unto  her,  ^  Whatsoever 
thou  shalt  ask  of  me,  I  will  give  it  thee, 
unto  the  half  of  my  kingdom. 

24  And  she  went  forth,  and  said  unto  her 
mother.  What  shall  I  ask?  And  she  said, 
Tlie*^  head  of  John  the  Baptist. 

25  And  she  came  in  straiglitway  with  haste 
unto  the  king,  and  asked,  saying,  I  will 
that  thou  give  me  by  and  by  in  a  charger 
the  head  of  John  the  Baptist. 

26  And  the  king  was  exceeding  sorry;  yet 
for  his  oath's  sake,  and  for  their  sakes 
which  sat  with  him,  he  would  not  reject 
her. 

27  And  immediately  the  king  sent  6  an 
executioner,  and  commanded  his  head  to 
be  brought:  and  he  went  and  beheaded 
bim  in  the  prison, 

28  And  brought  his  head  in  a  charger,  and 
gave  it  to  the  damsel:  and  the  damsel  gave 
It  to  her  mother. 

29  And  when  his  disciples  heard  of  it,  they 
came  and  "  took  up  his  corpse,  and  laid  it 
in  a  tomb. 

30  IT  And  ^the  apostles  gathered  them- 
selves together  unto  J  esus,  and  told  him 
all  things,  both  what  they  had  done,  and 
what  they  had  taught. 

31  And  "he  said  unto  them.  Come  ye 
yourselves  apart  into  a  desert  place,  and 
rest  a  while:  for  <*  there  were  many  coming 
and  going,  and  they  had  no  leisuie  so  much 
as  to  eat. 

32  And  they  departed  into  a  desert  place 
by  ship  privately. 

33  And  the  people  saw  them  departing, 
and  many  knew  him,  and  ran  afoot  thither 
out  of  all  cities,  and  outwent  them,  and 
came  together  unto  him. 

34  And  *  J  esus,  when  he  came  out,  saw 
much  people,  and  was  moved  with  com- 
passion toward  them,  because  they  were  as 
sheep  not  having  a  shepherd:  and  /he  be- 
gan to  teach  them  many  things. 

35  And  if  when  the  day  was  ijow  far  spent, 
his  disciples  came  un  to  him,  and  said.  This 

a  desert  place,  aud  now  the  time  is  far 


3(j  Send  them  away,  that  they  may  go 
into  the  comitry  round  about,  and  into  the 
villages,  and  buy  themselves  bread:  lor 
they  have  nothing  to  eat. 

37  He  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
Give  ye  them  to  eat.  And  they  say  mito 
him,  «  Shall  we  go  and  buy  two  hundred 
Sljeimywoith  of  bre;id,  aud  give  them  to 
eut'< 

32 


t  Lev.  18. 16. 
Lav.  20.  21. 
2  Sa.  12.  7. 
Dan.  5.  22, 
2a. 

Eph.  5.  11. 
2  Tim.  4.  2. 
Heb.  13.  4. 


"  Mat.  14  5. 
Mat.  21.26. 
4  Or,  kept 

«ave'd  him. 
V  Mat.  14.  6. 
t«  Gen  40.20. 
KEsth.  1.11, 

y  E's'th.  5  3,6. 

E^h.  7.2. 
«  Pro.  12.  10. 
6  Or,  one  of 

his  guard. 
a  Acts  8.  2. 
6  Lu.  9.  10. 
c  Mat.  14. 13. 
d  ch.  3.  20. 
e  Mat.  9.  36. 

ilat.  14.14. 
f  Isa.  54.  13. 

Isa.  Ul.  1. 

Lu.  9.  11. 
9  Mat.  14.15. 

Lu.  9.  12. 
74  Nu.  11. 13, 

2  Ki.4.43. 

6  The  Ko- 
man  penny 

ponco  half- 

pfnny. 

Mat.  13.28. 
i  Mat  14.17. 
Mat.  15.  34. 
ch.  S.  5. 

Lu.  9.  13. 
John  6.  9.; 

7  baDqi;et3, 

1  Cor.  14. 

40. 
}•  1  Sa.  9.  13. 

Mat.  'jG.26. 

1  Ti.  4.4.5. 
k  Mat.  14.22. 

John  6.  17. 

8  Or,  over 

BeUisaid.!. 
I  Mat.  14  23. 


m  Lu.  24.  28. 
n  ch.  8.  17. 
o  Jer.  17.  9. 

ch.  3.  5. 

ch.  16. 14. 

Rom.  8.  7. 

Ilcb.  3. 13. 
P  Mat.  14.3i. 
4  Mat.  U.  DO. 

Acts  5.  16. 
9  Or.  it. 


CHAP.  7. 
a  yUi.  15. 1. 

1  Or, 

2  witli  tha 
fist,  or, 
Uiligently. 
Theoi.h}- 

tho  clb-v^. 


38  He  saith  unto  them,  How  many  loaves 
have  ye?  go  and  see.  And  when  they 
knew,  they  say,  »Five,  and  two  fishes. 

39  And  he  commanded  them  to  make  all 
sit  dovra  7  by  companies  upon  the  green 
grass. 

40  And  they  sat  down  in  ranks,  by  hun- 
dreds, and  by  fifties. 

41  And  when  he  had  taken  the  five  loaves 
and  the  two  fishes,  he  looked  up  to  heaven, 
and>  blessed,  and  brake  the  loaves,  and 
gave  them  to  his  disciples  to  set  before 
them ;  and  the  two  fishes  divided  he  among 
them  all. 

42  And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  filled. 

43  And  they  took  up  twelve  liaskets  full 
of  the  fragments,  ancl  of  the  fishes. 

44  And  they  that  did  eat  of  the  loaves 
were  about  five  thousand  men. 

45  IT  And  *  straightway  he  constrained  his 
disciples  to  get  into  the  ship,  and  to  go  to 
the  other  side  before  8  ui.to  Bethsaida, 
while  he  sent  away  the  people. 

46  And  when  he  had  sent  them  away,  he 
departed  into  a  mountain  to  pray. 

47  And  '  when  even  was  come,  the  ship 
was  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  and  he  alone 
on  the  land. 

48  And  he  saw  them  toiling  in  rowing; 
for  the  wind  was  contrary  unto  them:  and 
about  the  fom-th  watch  of  the  night  he 
cometh  imto  them,  walking  upon  the  sea, 
and  "*  would  have  passed  by  them. 

49  But  when  they  saw  him  walking  upon 
the  sea,  they  supposed  it  had  been  a  spuit, 
and  cried  out: 

50  For  they  all  saw  him,  and  were  trou- 
bled. And  immediately  he  taUced  with 
them,  and  saith  unto  them,  Be  of  good 
cheer:  it  is  I ;  be  not  afraid. 

51  And  he  went  up  unto  them  into  the 
ship;  and  the  wind  ceased:  and  they  were 
sore  amazed  in  themselves  beyond  mea- 
sure, and  wondered. 

52  For  "  they  considered  not  the  miracle 
of  the  loaves:  for  theii-  "heart  was  hard- 
ened. 

53  And  P  when  they  had  passed  over,  they 
came  into  the  land  of  Gennesaret,  and 
drew  to  the  shore. 

54  And  when  they  were  come  out  of  the 
ship,  straightway  they  knew  him,     - 

55  And  ran  through  that  whole  region 
round  about,  and  began  to  carry  about  in 
beds  those  that  were  sick,  where  they 
heard  he  was.  ,    . 

56  And  whithersoever  he  entered,  into 
villages,  or  cities,  or  country,  they  laid  the 
sick  hi  the  streets,  and  besought  nini  that 
they  9  might  touch  if  it  were  but  the  bor- 
der of  his  garment:  and  as  many  as  touched 
9  him  were  made  whole. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
14  Meat  defiUth  not  a  man.  24  Christ  heaUth  the 
Si/ro  phenician  wonan's  daughter,  31  aiid  one 
that  luas  deaf,  and  stammered  in  his  speech. 
rPHEN  "  came  together  mito  him  the 
■*■  Pharisees,  and  certain  of  the  scribes, 
which  came  from  Jerusalem. 

2  And  when  they  saw  some  of  his  disciples 
eat  bread  with  i  defiled  (that  is  to  say,  with 
unwashen)  hands,  they  found  fault. 

3  (For  the  Pharisees,  and  all  the  Jews, 
except  they  wash  their  hands  Soft,  eat  not, 
holding  the  tradition  of  the  elders, 

4  And  when  they  come  from  the  market, 
except  they  wash,  they  eat  not.  And  many 
other  things  there  be  which  they  have 


Of  Ceremonial  Pollution,. 


n^iAiiK,  vn. 


Tlic  Syrophcnician  IVoinan, 


acted  ever  as  servants,  saj-ing,  "  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,"  "when  they  announced  the  mir- 
acles they  Avere  to  perform;  whereas,  the  one 
feature  which  most  struck  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  Jesus  was  the  air  of  Personal 
authority  with  which  he  ever  taught  and 
wi-ought  his  miracles. 

45-62.  Jesus  Walks  ox  the  Sea.  See 
on  J.  6. 14-21. 

53-56.  Incidents  on  Landing.  53.  See 
on  M.  14.  34.  drew  to  the  shore— a  nautical 
term  is  here  employed,  nowhere  else  used 
in  the  N.  T.  [w.  &  w.]  54-55.  How  rich  in 
detaUs,  as  usual  in  this  Gospel.  54,  55.  knew 
him  and  ran,  &c.— At  lliis  period  of  our  Lord's 
ministry,  the  popular  enthusiasm  in  his  fa- 
vour was  at  its  height,  carry  about— some- 
times misinfornSed  of  the  place  where  he 
was,  and  following  the  rumour  of  His  pre- 
sence. iAlf.1  66.  touch  but  the  border  of  his 
garment— having  heard,  no  doubt,  of  what 
the  woman  with  the  issue  of  blood  expe- 
i-ienced  on  doing  so  (ch.  5.  25-29.  ^  and  per- 
haps of  other  um-ecorded  cases  of  the  same 
nature.  All  this  they  contimced  to  do  whUe 
our  Lord  was  in  that  region  (as  is  implied 
in  the  tenses  of  the  verbs).  The  time  corres- 
ponds to  that  mentioned  J.  7.  1,  when  He 

walked  in  Galilee  "  instead  of  appearing  in 
Jerusalem  at  the  rassover,   "  because  the  !  borders, 
Jews,"  that  is,  the  rulers,  "sought  to  kiU  know  it 
him,''  (J.  6.  15.)  while  the  people    sought  to 
enthrone  him! 

CHAPTER  vn. 

Ver.  1-23.  Discourse  on  Cehemonial 
Pollution.  See  on  M.  15.  1-20.  2.  defiled— 
not  ceremoniaUy  cleansed  by  washing.  4. 
And  from  the  market  — '  after  market,  any 
common  business,  or  attending  a  court  of 
justice,  where,  after  their  subjection  to  the 
Romans,  the  Jews  were  especially  exposed 
to  intercourse  and  contact  with  heatuens. 
[w.  &  w.]  tables— '  couches,' .  such  as  were 
used  at  meals,  which  perhaps  were  merely 
sprinlled  for  ceremonial  purification.  Be  it 
ODserved.  that  such  practices,  though  based 
only  on  the  tradition  of  the  elders,"  might 
seem,  even  to  conscientious  Israelites,  in  the 
liighest  degree  laudable.  It  was  a  ceremo- 
nial economy  they  lived  under;  and  as  one 
principal  design  of  this  economy  was  to  teach 
the  difference  oetv-een  clean  and  unclean  by 
external  symbols,  it  was  natural  to  think  that 


exposed,  in  contrast  with  the  manly  obser- 
vance of  "the  commautbnent  of  God."  9. 
reject,  or  '  set  aside,'  the  commandment,  &c. — 
There  is  an  observable  climax  in  our  Lord's 
representation  of  the  dishonour  done  by 
these  traditionists  to  the  divhie  law.  (l.) 
They  "  gave  up  the  commandment  of  God  that 
they  rmght  hold  the  tradition  of  men"  {v.  8.). 
(2.)  They  "set  aside  the  commancbneat  of 
God  that  they  might  keep  their  own  tradi- 
tion" ,v.  9.)  1,3.!  They  "'made  of  none  effect 
the  word  of  God  through  their  tradition" 
iv.  13^  or  made  it  practically  nuU.  [w.  &  w.l 
10.  curseth— Obsen-e  the  large  sense  of 
"  cursing  "  here,  as  including,  besides  what  it 
expresses,  all  the  dishonour  and  cruelty 
done  to  a  parent  by  mtliliolding  from  them 
the  "honour"  legally  due  to  them.  11.  Cor- 
ban— q.  d.  '  I  have  gifted  this  to  pious  usos, 
and  so  am  not  permitted  to  alienate  any 
portion  of  it,  even  to  save  my  parents  from 
want.'  13.  many  such  things,  &c.— This  was 
but  a  specimen  of  their  hideous  treatment 
of  the  divine  law — all  for  their  own  objects. 
See  on  M.  23.  16-18. 

24-30.  The  Syrophenician  Woman.  34. 
went  into  the  borders  of  Tyre  and  Sidon— i.  e., 
as  seems  from  the  narrative,  actually  into 
those  heathen  territories,  though  on  the 
entered  a  house  and  would  have  none 
because  He  had  not  come  to  minister 
to  heathens,  but  to  avoid  the  wTath  of  the 
Pharisees  at  his  withering  exposure  of  them. 
He  could  not  be  hid— Christ's  fame  had  early 
spread  from  GaUlee  to  these  border  heathen. 
See  ch.  3.  8;  L.  C.  17.  25.  heard  of  him— one 
wonders  how;  but  distress  is  quick  of  hear- 
ing. 26.  a  Greeks,  e.,  a  Gentile,  a  Syrophe- 
nician by  nation— so  called,  as  being  made  up 
of  Syrians  and  Phenicians.  'M.,  •wTitmg  for 
Jews,  describes  her  ;ch.  15.  22,)  as  "a  woman 
of  Canaan."  [w.  (fcw.l  besought  Mm— "cried 
unto  Him,  saying.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O 
Lord,  thou  Son  of  David."  Thus,  though  no 
Israelite  herself,  she  salutes  Him  as  Israel's 
promised  Mesdah.  27.  But  Jesus  said  unto 
her— not  at  first,  however,  nor  for  a  long 
time,  as  we  learn  from  M.  "He  ansicerecl 
her  not  a  v-ord,"  M.  15.  23,  (1.)  expressly 
to  show  that  He  was  not  sent  to  such 
as  she.  He  had  given  express  injunctions 
to  the  Twelve,  "Go  not  into  the  way 
-  of   the    Gentiles"    (M.  10,  5.;;    and    being 

the  more  mviclly  and  varioudy  they  could  Himself  now,  in  point  of  fact,  amongst  them, 
bring  this  before  their  own  minds,  the  more  '  it  was  necessary,  for  consistency's  sake,  to 
would  they  be  falling  in  with  the  spirit  and  let  it  be  seen  that  he  had  not  gone  thither 
following  out  the  de.sign  of  that  economy.ifor  missionary  purposes.    Therefore,  He  not 


Such  are  the  plausibilities  by  v)hich  most  of 
the  symbolical  features  of  the  Romish  ritual 
are  defended.  JN or  is  it  merely  as  acts  of  will- 
worship,  without  divine  warrant,  that  they 
are  to  be  condemned,  but  as  tending  to  iceak- 
en  the  sense  of  divine  authority  for  what  is 
commanded  by  mixing  it  up  with  v:hat  is 
purely  human,  though  originally  introduced 
with  the  best  intentions.  Examples  of  tliis 
deep  principle  will  readUy  occur  — .such  as 
the  effect,  everj^vhere  seen,  of  observing  a 
multitude  of  saints'  days  in  weakening  the 
sense  of  the  paramount  claims  of  "  the  Lord's 
Day."  7,  8.  m  vain  they  worship  .  .  .  teacliing, 
&c.— putting  the  commandments  of  men  on  a 


only  kept  sUence,  but  actually  left  the  house 
and  proceeded  on  liis  way,  as  wiU  presently 
appear.  (2.)  To  try  and  to  whet  her  faith, 
patience,  and  perseverance.  And  it  had  the 
desired  effect:  "  She  cried  after  them'  (M.  15. 
23).  which  shows  that  he  was  already  on  his 
way  from  the  place.  Tlie  disciples,  as  often 
in  such  cases,  thinking  her  troublesome— so 
importunate  were  her  cries— asked  their 
Lord  to  "send  her  away,"  i.e.,  to  grant  her 
request  and  be  rid  of  her;  for  His  reply 
shows  that  they  meant  to  solicit  favour  for 
her,  though  not  from  the  best  of  motives. 
To  this  Jesus  answered,  "I  am  not  sent  but 
unto  the  lest  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel' 


level  Avith  the  divine  prescriptions:— </tw|  (M.  15.  24.)— a  speech  evidently  intended  for 
made  their  whole  toorshin  "vain;"  an  im-  the  disciples  themselves,  to  satisfy  them 
portant  confirmation  of  the  remarks  above  I  that,  though  the  gi-ace  He  was  about 
made.  8.  Tlie  drivelling  nature  of  these  [  to  shew  to  this  Gentile  believer  was 
iniiltitudinouo  obsei-vaiices  is  here  pointedly  i  beyond  his  commission,  he  bad  not  gong 


Of  the  Pharisees'  traditiovs. 


AIAUK,  VITI. 


A  rmiUUude  miraculousli/fcd. 


received  to  hold,  as  the  washing  of  cups, 
and  Spots,  brasen  vessels,  and  of*  tables.) 

5  Then  *  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  asked 
him.  Why  walk  not  thy  disciples  according 
to  the  tradition  of  the  elders,  but  eat  bread 
with  unwashen  hands? 

6  He  answered  and  said  nnto  them.  Well 
hath  Esaias  projihesied  of  you  hji^ocrites, 
as  it  is  written,  "^This  people  honoiireth  me 
with  their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from 
me. 

7  Howbeit  in  vain  do  they  worship  me, 
teaching  for  doctrines  the  commandments 
of  men. 

8  For,  laying  aside  the  commandment  of 
God,  ye  hold  the  tradition  of  men,  as  the 
Wfishing  of  pots  and  cups:  and  many  other 
such  like  things  ye  do. 

9  And  he  said  unto  them.  Full  well  ye 
6  reject  the  commandment  of  God,  that  ye 
may  keep  your  o^vn  tradition. 

10  For  Moses  said,  <*  Honour  thy  father 
and  thy  mother;  and,  '  Whoso  curseth 
father  or  mother,  let  him  die  the  death: 

11  Uut  ye  say,  If  a  man  shall  say  to  his 
father  or  mother.  It  is/Corban,  (tliat  is  to 
say,  a  gift.)  by  whatsoever  thou  might€st 
be  pro  ri  ted  by  me;  Iw  sluiU  be  free. 

12  And  ye  sutler  him  no  more  to  do  ought 
for  his  father  or  his  mother; 

13  Making  the  word  of  God  of  none  effect 
through  your  tradition,  which  ye  have 
delivered:  and  many  such  like  things  do  ve. 

14  IT  And  when  he  had  called  all  the 
people  unto  him,  he  said  unto  them, 
Hearken  unto  me  every  one  of  you,  and 
understand: 

15  There  is  "nothing  from  without  a  man, 
that  enteiing  into  him  can  defile  him:  but 
the  things  which  come  out  of  him,  those 
are  they  that  defile  the  man. 

16  If  1  any  man  ha\  e  ears  to  hear,  let  him 
hear. 

17  And  <  when  he  was  entered  into  the 
house  from  the  people,  his  disciples  asked 
him  concerning  the  parable. 

IS  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Are  ye  so 
without  understanding  also?  Do  ye  not 
perceive,  that  whatsoever  thing  from  with- 
out eutereth  into  the  man,  it  cannot  defile 
him; 

19  Because  it  entcreth  not  into  his  heart, 
but  into  the  belly,  and  goeth  out  into  the 
diaught,  pm'giiig  all  meats? 

20  And  he  said.  That  which  cometh  out 
of  the  man,  that  defileth  the  man. 

21  For  }  from  \^'ithin,  out  of  the  heart  of 
men^  proceed  evU  thoughts,  adulteries, 
fornications,  murders, 

22  Thefts,  6  covetousness,  ^vickedness,  de- 
ceit, lasci\iousness,  an  evil  eye,  blasphemy, 
pride,  foolishness: 

23  All  these  evil  things  come  from  within, 
and  defile  the  man. 

24  H  And  *from  thence  he  arose,  and 
v/ent  into  the  borders  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
and  entered  into  an  house,  and  would 
have  no  man  know  it:  but  he  could  not  be 
hid. 

25  For  a  certain  woman,  whose  young 
daugliter  had  an  unclean  spirit,  heai'd  of 
him,  and  came  and  fell  at  his  feet: 

26  The  woman  was  a  i  Greek,  a  Svro- 

Ehenician  by  nation;   and  she   besought 
ini  tliat  he  would  cast  forth  the  devil  out 
of  her  daughter. 

27  But  J  esus  said  unto  her.  Let '  the  chil- 
dieu  liist  be  filled:  for  it  is  not  meet  to 


a  half. 

4  Or,  beds. 

6  Mat.  15.  2. 
c  Is.  29  13. 

Alat.  15.  8. 

Tit.  1.  14, 

16. 

5  Or,  frus- 
trate. 
laa.  24.  6. 
Tit.  1.  14. 

d  Ex.  20.  VI. 

Deu.  5  16. 

aiat.  15.  4. 
e  Ei.  21.  17. 

Ley.  20.  9. 

Pro.  2<).20. 
/  Mat.  15.  5. 

Mat.  23  18. 

1  Tim.  5  8. 
g  Act»  1U.14, 

15. 

Kom.14.17. 

1  Cor.  8.  8. 

1  Tim.  4.4. 

Tit.  1  15. 
h  Mat.  11.15. 
t  Mat.  15  15. 
;•  Gen.  6.  5. 

Gon.  8.  21. 

Mat.  15  19. 

Acts  8.  22. 

Gal.  5.  19. 


ncsses, 
wicked- 
nesses. 
k  Mat.  15.21. 
7  Or, 

Gentile. 

{  Mat.  10.5,6. 

Acts  13.  46. 

Kom.  9.  4. 

Eph.  2.  12. 

m  Mat.  9  29. 

ch.  9.  23 

1  John  3.8. 

n  Mat.  16  29. 

0  Mat.  9  32. 
Lu.  11. 14. 

P  ch.  8.  23. 
John  9.  6. 

1  ch.  6.  41. 
John  11.41. 
John  17.  1. 

r  John  11. 
33,38. 


lis.  42.  2. 
ch.  5.  43. 
cfa.  8.  26. 


CHAP.  8. 
a  Mat.  16  32. 
6  Ps.  145.  9. 

Heb  2  17. 

Heb.  4.  15. 
c  Num.  11. 

21.  22. 

2  Kin.  4. 

42.  43. 


e  Deu.  8.10. 

lTi.4.4,5. 
/  Mat.  14.  19. 

ch.  e.  41. 
tfJIat.  15.39. 
h  Mat.  12.;«. 


take  the  chUdi-eu's  bread,  and  to  cast  it 
unto  the  dogs. 

28  And  she  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
Yes,  Lord:  yet  the  dogs  under  the  table  eat 
of  the  children's  crumbs. 

29  And  he  said  unto  her.  For  this  saying 
go  thy  way;  the  devil  is  gone  out  of  thy 
daughter. 

30  And  when  she  was  come  to  her  house, 
she  found  "*  the  devil  gone  out,  and  her 
daughter  laid  upon  the  bed. 

31  IT  And  **  again,  departing  from  the 
coasts  of  TjTe  and  Sidon,  he  came  unto 
the  sea  of  Galilee,  through  the  midst  of 
the  coasts  of  JJecapolis. 

32  And  "they  bring  unto  him  one  that 
was  deaf,  and  had  an  impediment  in  iiis 
speech;  and  they  beseech  him  to  put  his 
hand  upon  him. 

33  And  he  took  him  aside  from  the  multi- 
tude, and  put  his  fingers  into  his  ears,  and 
he  P spit,  and  touched  liis  tongue; 

34  And,  9  looking  up  to  heaven,  ^  he  sighed, 
and  saith  unto  him,  Ephphatha,  that  is. 
Be  opened. 

35  And  *  straightway  his  eai-s  were  opened, 
and  the  string  of  his  tongue  was  loosed, 
and  he  spake  plain. 

36  And  *  he  charged  them  that  they  should 
teU  no  man:  but  the  more  he  charged  them, 
so  much  the  more  a  great  deal  they  pub- 
lished it; 

37  And  were  beyond  measure  astonished, 
sajing.  He  hath  done  all  things  well:  he 
nvdveth  both  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the 
dumb  to  speak. 

CHAPTER  VIIL 
1  Christ  feedeth  the -peo-pU  miraculously ;  22  aiveth 
a  blind  man  fiis  sight;  27  acknmvledgeth  that  he 
is  Christ  who  should  suffer  and  rise  again,  etc. 
TN  those  days  "  the  multitude  being  very 
■*-  great,  and  having  nothing  to  eat,  Jesus 
called  his  disciples  unto  him,  and  saith 
unto  them, 

2  I  have  *  compassion  on  the  multitude, 
because  they  have  now  been  with  me  three 
diiys,  and  have  nothing  to  eat: 

3  And  if  I  send  them  away  fasting  to  their 
own  houses,  they  will  faint  by  the  way:  for 
divers  of  them  came  from  far. 

4  And  his  disciyiles  answered  him,  From 
whence "  can  a  nmn  satisfy  these  men  with 
bread  here  in  the  wilderness? 

5  And  <i  he  asked  them.  How  many  loaves 
have  ye?  And  they  said.  Seven. 

6  And  he  commanded  the  people  to  sit 
down  en  the  ground:  and  he  took  the  seven 
loaves,  and  '  frave  thanks,  and  brake,  and 
gave  to  his  disciples  to  set  before  them; 
and  they  did  set  them  before  the  people. 

7  And  they  had  a  few  small  fishes:  and 
he/  blessed,  and  commanded  to  set  them 
also  before  theyn. 

8  So  they  did  eat,  and  were  filled:  and 
they  took  up  of  the  broken  meat  that  was 
left  seven  baskets. 

9  And  they  that  had  eaten  were  about 
four  thousand:  and  he  sent  them  away. 

10  fl  And  ^  straightway  he  entered  into  a 
ship  with  his  disciples,  and  came  into  the 
parts  of  Dalmanutha. 

11  And  ''the  Pharisees  came  forth,  and 
began  to  question  with  him,  seeking  of  him 
a  sign  from  heaven,  tempting  him. 

12  And  he  sighed  deeply  in  his  spiiit,  and 
saith,  Why  doth  this  generation  seek  after 
a  sign?  Verily  I  say  mi  to  you.  There  shall 
uo  sign  be  given  unto  this  generation. 


Deaf  and  Dumb  Man  Healed. 


jiAEK,  nn. 


Sign  from  Heaven  SougM. ' 


•when  Tliou  foundest  on  Thy  way  to  Galilee, ! 
Tliou  sentest  away  to  make   many  rich !  ' 


ultronenudy  to  dispense  it.  Yet  did  of  certain  actions  He  was  about  to  do  to 
even  tliis  speech  open  a  gleam  of  hope,  awaken  and  direct  his  thoughts  to  the  proper 
could  she  have  discerned  it.  ' "  I  am  not  source  of  relief,  put  his  finger,  &c.— To  the 
SENT,"  did  He  say?  Ti'uth,  Lord,  Tliou  impotent  man  He  said,  "Wilt  thou  be  made 
comest  not  hither  in  quest  of  ws,  but  I  come  whole i"  to  the  blind  men  "What  will  ye 
in  quest  of  T}\ce;  and  must  I  go  empty  away?  that  I  shall  do  unto  you?  (M.  20.  32,^  and 
So  did  not  the  woman  of  Samaria,  whom,  |  "  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this!" 

(M.  9.  28.)  But  as  this  patient  could  hear 
nothing,  our  Lord  substitutes  sj-mbolical 
But  this  our  poor  Syrophenician  could  not  actions  upon  each  of  the  organs  affected.  He 
attain  to.  Wliat,  then,  can  she  answer  to  puts  his  fingers  into  his  ears,  as  if  he  would 
such  a  speech?  Nothing.  She  has  reached  pierce  through  the  olistacles  which  hindered 
her  lowest  depth,  her  darkest  moment ;  she  soundsfromreachingthem.[GiioT.,TKENCH.] 
AviU  just  utter  her  last  cry:  "Then  came  she  spit— See  Marg.  and  toii.ched  his  tongue— i.  e. 
and  worshipped  Him,  sajdng.  Lord,  help  with  his  finger  wetted  with  the  moisture  of 
me  r  M.  15.  25.  Tills  appeal,  so  artless,  and  His  own  mouth  lib.]  as  if  to  lubricate  the 
A\Tung  from  the  depths  of  a  believing  heart,  organ,  or  facilitate  its  free  motion.  By  this 
reminding  us  of  the  Publican's  "  God  be  mer-  action  He  showed  that  the  healing  virtue 
ciful  to  nie,  a  sinner,"  moved  the  Redeemer  was  from  His  own  Person.  34.  looking  up  to 
at  last  to  break  silence— but  in  what  style?  heaven  —  ever  acknowledging  His  Father, 
Let  the  children  first  be  filled— Is  there  hope  even  while  the  Healing  was  seen  to  flow  from 
here?  "Illled  riE,ST?— then  1117  turn,  it  Himself  iSee  J.  5. 19. i  he  sighed— 'over  the 
scems,i5coming!— but  then,  "The  cHiLriREN  M-reck  which  sin  had  brought  about,  the 
fust/'  Ah!  when,  on  that  rule,  shall  my  malice  of  the  devil  in  deforming  the  fair 
turn  ever  come?  But  ere  she  has  time  for  features  of  God's  original  creation,'LTREXCH,] 
tliese  ponderings  of  his  word,  another  word  but  with  a  yet  more  painful  impression 
comes  on  the  back  of  it— for  it  is  not  meet ...   of  that  "  evil  thing  and  bitter"  whence  all 

have  sprang,  and  which,  when  Him- 
self took  our  infirmities  and  bare  our  sick- 
ness "  I.M.  8.  17,J  became  mysteriously  Hia 
o\\-n. 

"In  thought  of  these  His  bro-ws  benign, 
Not  even  in  healing,  cloudless  shine."— [Kehle.'} 
go  unblest?  But  Thou  hast  spoken,  and  Ephphatha— See  on  ch.  5.  41.  36.  tell  no  man 
the  victory  is  mine.  28.  Yes,  Lord,  yet,  j  —Into  this  verv  region  He  had  sent  the  man 
(fcc— 'I  thank  Thee,  O  blessed  One,  for  that  out  of  whom  had  been  cast  the  legion  of 
word!  That's  my  whole  case.  Is'ot  of  the  devils  to  proclaim  "  what  the  Lord  had  done 
children?  True.  A  dog?  True  also.  Yet  the  for  him"  ich.  5.  19.)  Now  He  will  have  them 
dogs  under  the  table  are  allowed  to  eat  of  "  teU  no  man."  But  in  the  former  case,  there 
the  children's  crumbs.  Give  me  that,  and  I  was  no  danger  of  obstructing  His  ministry 
am  content.  One  crumb  of  power  from  lliy  by  "  blazing  the  matter,"  (see  on  ch.  1.  45, )  as 
table  shall  cast  the  devU  out  of  my  daughter,  j  He  himself  had  left  the  region;  whereas  now 
O  what  lightning-quickness,  what  reach  of  He  was  sojourning  in  it.  But  they  could 
mstinctive  ingenuity,  do  we  behold  in  tliis  I  not  be  restrained;  nay  the  prohibition  seemed 
woman!  29.  And  he  said  unto  her  — "O  wo-  only  to  whet  the  determination  to  publish 
man,  great  is  thy  faith;  be  it  unto  thee  even  his  fame.  37.  He  hath  done  all  tlungs  weU 
as  thou  -wilt."  INI.  15.  28.  For  this  saying,  go  '  —  'reminding  us  of  the  words  of  the  fir.st 
thy  way,  the  devU  is  gone  out  of  thy  daughter—  creation  (Ge.  1.  31,  Greek,)  upon  which  we 
That  moment  the  deed  was  done,  v.  30,  and  are  thus  not  unsuitably  thrown  back,  for 
M.  15.  28.  The  wonderfulness  of  tills  case  in  Christ's  work  is  in  the  truest  sense  "a  new 
aU  its  features  has  been  felt  in  every  age  of ,  creation."  [Trench.]  M.  adds,  that  seeing 
the  Church,  and  the  balm  it  has  adniini-  the  miracles  wrought  on  this  occasion,  "they 

stered,  and  will  yet  administer,  to  milUons  glorified  the  Gpd_ofJ[srael "  ^ ""  " 

wiU  be  known  only  in  that  day  that  shall  re- 


dogs,  &c.— Is  this  the   death  of  her  hopes?  our  iUs  have  sprang,  and  which,  when  Him 

Nay,  but  it  is  life  from  the  dead.    "Out  of  '-'*■  * — ^ -"** — •*' -'  ' =-'- 

the  eater  shall  come  forth  meat,"  (Ju.  14.14.) 
At  evening  time  it  shall  be  light.  {Ze.  14.  7.) 
Ha!  I  have  it  now.  Hadst  Thou  kept 
silence,  what    couM    I     have    done    but ! 


veal  the  secrets  of  all  hearts 
31-37.  Deaf  aud  Dujib  JMan  Healed 


See  on  M.  15. 31. 
CHAPTEE  VHI. 
Ver.  1-9.  Four  Thousand  jriRACuxous- 
LY  Fed.  See  on  M.  15.  32-38.  6.  gave  to  his 
31.  unto  the  sea  of  GaUiee  tlirough  the  coasts  disciples— ' kept  giving'  {the  imperfect  tense, 
of  Decapolis— crossing  the  Jordan,  on  liis  re-  here  used,  marking  continuous  distribution], 
turn  from  the  borders  of  TjTe  and  Sidon,  and  I  [w.  &  w.] 

approachinj;  the  lake  on  its  east  side.  M.  |  10-13.  Sign  from  Heaven  Sought.  See 
adds  that  He  "  went  up  into  a  momitain,  and  on  M.  15.  39,  and  16. 1-4.  12.  sighed  deeply  in 
sat  do-rni  there,"  and  tnat  "great  multitudes  :  his  spirit— These  glimpses  into  the  interior  of 
came  unto  Him,  ha\ang  with  them  lame,  |  the  Kedeemer's  heart,  in  which  Mk.  abounds, 
bUnd,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many  others,  I  are  more  precious  than  rubies.  The  state  of 
casting  them  down  at  Jesu.s'  feet,  and  He !  the  Pharisaic  heart,  which  prompted  the 
healed  them,"  to  the  amazement  of  all.  See  ■  desire  for  a  fresh  sign,  went  to  his  very  soul. 
on  M.  13.  29-31.  ISIk.  here  singles  out  one  of  1  Why  a  sign?—'  but  from  unbelief  and.  hypo- 
these  cases,  whose  cure  had  something  pecu-  crisy,  which  repels  from  itself  the  evident 
liar  to  itself.  32.  they  beseech  Him  to  put !  miracles  and  clear  proofs  already  afforded  ! 
his  hand  upon  him— In  their  eagerness  they  [Stier.]  There  shaU  be  no  sign,  <tc.  —  lit. 
are  too  otticious:  our  Lord,  though  usually  (after  the  Jewish  manner  of  expres.singa 
doing  as  they  here  suggested,  -will  deal  Avith  solemn  and  peremptory  determination,)  *It 
this  case  in  His  own  way.  33.  took  him  aside  there  sliaU  be  given  to  this  generation  a 
from  the  multitude— So  before.  He  "  took  the  j  sign.'  a  generation  incapable  of  appreciating 
blind  man  by  the  hand  and  led  liim  out  of  the  such  demonstrations.  See  He.  4.  5,  and  Ps. 
town."  ch.  8.  23— probably  to  fix  his  imdis-  95.  11.  (Marg.) 
tractcd  attention  oji  Himself,  and  by  meana '     14-21.    Tue  Leavkn  OS"  TUfi  PiiARioJiiia 


ITie  hlind  restored  to  si(ihf. 


WAUK,  IX. 


Tlie  trausfgnralimx  of  Clirlst. 


13  And  he  left  them,  and,  entering  into 
the  shin  again,  departed  to  the  other  side. 

14  ^  Now  » the  disciples  had  forgotten  to 
take  bread,  neither  nad  they  in  the  ship 
n-ith  them  more  than  one  loat 

15  And  f  he  charged  them,  sajing.  Take 
heed,  beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Phari- 
sees, and  of  the  leaven  of  Herod. 

16  And  they  reasoned  among  themselves, 
Ba.nng,  It  is'' because  we  have  no  bread. 

17  And  when  Jesus  knew  it,  he  saith  unto 
them.  Why  reason  ye  because  ye  have  no 
bread  ?  '  perceive  ye  not  yet,  neither 
understand  1  have  ye  your  heait  yet 
hardened? 

18  Hanng  eyes,  see  ye  not?  and  having 
ears,  hear  ye  not?  and  do  ye  not  remem 
ber? 

19  When  "*  I  brake  the  five  loaves  amonj, 
five  thousand,  how  many  baskets  full  of 
fi-agments  took  ye  up?  They  say  unto  him 
Twehe. 

20  And  "  when  the  seven  araon^  four 
thousand,  how  many  baskets  full  of  frag 
ments  took  ye  up?  And  they  said.  Seven. 

21  And  he  said  unto  them.  How  is  it  "that 
ye  do  not  undei-stand  ? 

22  IF  And  he  cometh  to  Bethsaida;  and 
they  bring  a  blind  man  unto  him,  and  be- 
sought him  to  touch  him. 

23  And  he  took  the  blind  man  by  the 
hand,  and  led  him  out  of  the  town;  and 
when  P  he  had  spit  on  his  eyes,  and  put  his 
hands  upon  him,  he  asked  him  if  he  saw 
ought. 

24  And  he  looked  up,  ajid  said,  I  see  men 
as  trees,  walking. 

25  After  that  he  put  his  hands  again  upon 
his  eyes,  and  made  him  look  up:  and  he 
was  restored,  and  saw  every  man  clearly. 

26  And  he  sent  him  away  to  his  bouse, 
sajing,  Neither  go  into  the  town,  «  nor  tell 
it  to  any  in  the  to\^Ti. 

27  IT  And  *■  J  esus  went  out,  and  his  disci- 
ples, into  the  towns  of  Cesarea  Philippi: 
and  by  the  way  he  asked  his  disciples, 
saying  unto  them.  Whom  do  men  say  that 
lam? 

28  And  they  answered,  *  John  the  Baptist: 
but  some  say,  Elias;  and  others,  One  of 
the  prophets. 

29  And  he  saith  unto  them,  But  whom  say 
ye  that  1  am?  And  Peter  answereth  and 
saith  unto  him, « Thou  art  the  Christ. 

30  And  "  he  charged  them  that  they  should 
tell  no  man  of  him. 

31 H  And  "  he  began  to  teach  them,  that 
the  Son  of  man  must  sufler  many  things, 
and  be  rejected  of  the  elders,  and  of  the 
chief  priests,  and  scribes,  and  be  killed,  and 
alter  three  days  rise  again. 

32  And  he  spake  that  saying  openly.  And 
Peter  took  him,  and  began  to  rebuke  him. 

33  But  when  he  had  tm'ued  about,  and 
looked  on  his  disciples,  he  rebuked  Peter, 
saying.  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan:  ""lor 
thou  savoinrest  not  the  things  that  be  of 
God,  but  the  things  that  be  of  men. 

34  H  And  when  he  had  called  the  people 
unto  him,  with  his  disciples  also,  he  said 
unto  them,  *  Whosoever  will  come  after 
me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his 
cross,  and  follow  me. 

35  i  or  *  whosoever  will  save  his  life  shall 
lose  it ;  but  whosoever  shall  lose  his  lile  for 
my  S!ike  and  the  Gospel's,  the  same  shall 
save  it. 

iHi  i-"oi-  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he 


CHAP.   8. 

i  Mat.  16.  5, 

/  .Mat.  16.  6. 

Lu.  la.  1. 

1  Cor.  5.  7. 

*  JUt.  16.  7. 

;  ch.  6.  62. 

"»  Mat.  24. 

20. 

ch.  6.  43. 
Lu.  9.  17. 
John  6.1i 
n  Mat.  15.37. 
0  ch.  6.  62. 
P  ch   7.  33. 
«  Mat.  8.  4. 
ch  5.43. 
r  Mat.  Itj.l3. 

Lu.  9.  18. 
8  Mat.  14.  2. 
t  Mat.  10.  6. 

John  0.  eg. 

John  ll.'.i7. 
t*  Mat.  16.21). 
"JUt.  18  21, 

Mat.  17.2J. 

Lu.  9.  22. 
«>  Rom.  8.  7. 

1  Cor.2.14. 
X  Mat  .10.  -.iS. 

Blat.  16.  24. 


Lu. 


23. 


Lu.  14.  27. 
Gal.  5.  24. 
Gal.  6.  14. 
P  John  12. 
25. 


2  Ti.  1.  8. 
2  Ti.  2.  12. 
1  Johns. 


CHAP.  9. 

a  Mat.  16  23. 

Lu.  9.  27. 
6  Mat.  24.3IJ. 

AUt.  25.al. 

Lu.  22. 18. 

Heb.  2. 8,9. 
ejlat.  17.1. 

Lu.  9.  23. 
d  Dan.  7.  9. 

Mat.  28.  3. 
«  Ex.  40.  34. 

Isa.  42.  1. 

2  Pet.  1.17. 
/Heb.  1.1,2. 

Hob.  2.  3. 

Hob.  12.25, 

26. 
g  Mat.  17.  9. 
A  Mai.  4  5. 

JMat.  17.10. 
i  Ps.  22.  6. 

laa.  53.  2. 

Can.  9.  26. 

Zech.  13.  7. 
;•  Lu.  23.  U. 

Phil.  2.  7. 
k  Mat.  11.14. 

Mat.  17.12. 

Lu.  1.  17. 
J  Mat.  17. 14. 

Lu.  9.  37. 
1  Or, 

Be I Tee? 
mSLit.17.14. 
Lu.  9.  38. 
Or,  (lasli. 
otii  liim. 


shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul? 

37  Or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange 
for  his  soul? 

38  Whosoever  '  therefore  shall  be  ashamed 
of  me  and  of  my  words  in  this  adulterous 
and  sinful  generation,  of  him  also  shall  the 
Son  of  man  be  ashamed,  when  he  cometh 
in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  the  holy 
angels. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
2  Jesus  transfigured:  11  he  instnicteth  fits  <fif- 
ciples  concerning  Elias;  14  casleth  forth  a  dumb 
and  deaf  spirit;  'M  foreteUeth  his  death,  etc. 
AND  he  said  unto  them,  "Verily  I  say 
-^■^  unto  you.  That  there  be  some  of  them 
that  stand  here,  which  shall  not  taste  of 
death,  till  they  have  seen  *  the  kingdom  of 
God  come  with  power. 

2  IT  And  *  after  six  days  Jesus  taketh  with 
him  Peter,  and  James,  and  John,  and  lead- 
eth  them  up  into  an  high  mountain  apart 
by  themselves:  and  he  was  transfigured 
before  them. 

3  And  his  raiment  became  shining,  ex- 
ceeding <i  white  as  snow;  so  as  no  fuller  on 
earth  can  white  them. 

4  And  there  appeared  unto  them  Elias 
with  Moses:  and  they  were  talking  with 
Jesus. 

5  And  Peter  answered  and  said  to  Jesns, 
Master,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here:  and  let 
us  make  three  tabernacles;  one  for  thee, 
and  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elias. 

6  For  he  wist  not  what  to  say;  for  they 
were  sore  afraid. 

7  And  there  was  *  a  cloud  that  over- 
shadowed them:  and  a  voice  came  out  of 
the  cloud,  saying.  This  is  my  beloved  Son: 
hear /him. 

8  And  suddenly,  when  they  had  looked 
round  about,  they  saw  no  man  any  more, 
save  Jesus  only  with  themselves. 

9  And  »as  they  came  down  from  the 
mountain,  he  ch.irged  them  that  they 
should  tell  no  man  what  things  they  had 
seen,  till  the  Son  of  man  were  liseu  from 
the  dead. 

10  And  they  kept  that  saying  with  them- 
selves, questioning  one  with  another  what 
the  rising  from  the  dead  should  mean. 

11  IT  And  they  asked  him,  sajing.  Why  say 
the  scribes  ''  that  Elias  must  first  come? 

12  And  he  answered  and  told  them,  Eliaa 
verily  cometh  first,and  rec toreth  all  things ; 
and  » how  it  is  written  of  the  Son  of  man, 
that  he  must  sufler  many  things,  and  >  be 
set  at  nought. 

13  But  I  say  unto  you.  That  *  Elias  is 
indeed  come,  and  they  have  done  unto  him 
whatsoever  they  listed,  as  it  is  written  of 
him. 

14  f  And  J  when  he  came  to  his  disciples, 
he  saw  a  great  multitude  about  them,  and 
the  scribes  questioning  with  them. 

15  And  straightway  all  the  people,  when 
they  beheld  him,  were  greatly  amazed,  and 
running  to  him  saluted  him. 

16  And  he  asked  the  scribes.  What  ques- 
tiou  ye  i  with  them? 

17  And  '"one  of  the  multitude  answered 
and  said.  Master,  1  have  brought  unto  thee 
my  son,  which  hath  a  dumb  spirit: 

18  And  wheresoever  he  t<iketh  him,  he 
2  teareth  him ;  and  he  foameth,  and  giiash- 
eth  wth  his  teeth,  and  piiieth  away:  and  I 
spake  to  thy  disciples  that  they  should  cast 
him  out;  and  they  could  not. 


Lcfiven  ofihe  rnarisees  and  Sadducecs.  MAEK,  IX. 


Peter's  Confession  oj  Christ,  Ax. 


A>T5  Sapkucees.  See  on  M.  16. 5, 12.  14.  put  Ms  hands  again . . .  saw  dearly— Perhaps 
cue  loaf— Here  we  have  another  example  of  the  one  operation  pertectly  re.-itored  the 
that  graphic  circumstantiality  which  gives  €*/e5,  while  the  other  miparted  inmiediately 


such  a  charm  to  this  briefest  of  the  four  Go. 
pels.    The  circumstance  of  the  "  one  loaf 


the  faculty  of  a.nng  thtm.    'Tis  the  only  re- 
rded  example  of  a  progressive  cure,  and  it 


only  remaining  'was  more  suggestive  of  their  ■  certainly  illustrates  similar  methods  in  the 
Master's  recent  miracles  than  the  entire ,  spiritual  kingdom.  Of  the  four  recorded 
absence  of  provisions.'  [vr.  &  \v.]  15.  leaven  i  cases  of  sight  restored,  all  the  patients  save 
of  the  Pharisees— "  and  of  the  Saiducees,"  '  one  either  came  or  v:cre  brought  to  thePhy- 
M.  16.  6.  and  the  leaveu  of  Herod— Ihe  teach- 1  sician.  In  the  case  of  the  man  bom  blind, 
ing  or  "doctrine"  ,r.  12.,  of  the  Pharisees  and  tlie  Physician  came  to  the  patient,  fctme 
of  the  Sadducees  was  Quite  difi'erent,  but '  seek  and  find  Christ:  of  others  He  is  found 
both  were  equally  pernicious;  and  the  who  seek  Him  not.  See  on  M.  13. 44,  46.  20 
Herodians,  though  rather  a  political  party,   ''°''*'  ^^"^  *"  '''^''  >i""<'o_T>^c:iri,.=  t-ha  ,i=„q1  r^o. 

were  equally  envenomed  again.st  our  Lord's -„ „ — „    , 

spiritual  teaching.     See  on  ch.  3.  6.     The  ;  matter,    retirement  in  this  case  •would  be 

penetrating  and  diffusive  quality  of  leaven, 

for  good  or  bad,  is  the  ground  of  the  com- 

p^ri.son.    16.— But  a  little  ago  He  was  tried 

with  the  obduracy  of  the  Pharisees;  now  He 

is  tried  with  the  obtuseness  of  his  own  di.s- 

ciples.   Tlie  nine  questions,  following  in  rapid 

succession,  v.  17-21,  show  how  deeply  He  was 

hurt  at  this  want  of  spiritual  apprehension, 

and  worse  still,  their  low  thoughts  of  Him, 

as  if  He  would-utter  so  solemn  a  warning  on 

so  pettv  a  subject.    It  will  be  seen,  however, 

from  the  verj'  form  of  their  conjecture,  "  It 

is  because  v:e  have  no  bread,"  and  our  Lord's  i  the  Mediterranean  Sea.    It  was  situated  at 

astonishment  that  they  should  not  by  that  i  the  foot  of  Mount  Lebanon,  near  the  sources 


sent  hi-m  to  his  house— Besides  the  usual  rea- 
sons   against   going    about    "blazing    the 
matter,    retirement  '"  *'"'  = 
salutary  to  himself. 

27-38.  Peter's  Coxfesston  of  Christ- 
First  Explicit  Ajs^xouncement  of  His 
Approaching  Death— Rebuke  of  Peter, 
AND  General  AVarnlng.  See  on  M.  16. 
13-28.  27.  Csesarea  Philippi  —  originally  Pa- 
neas,  but  changed,  by  Philip  the  tetrarch 
who  rebuilt  it  ,  in  houour  of  the  Roman 
Emperor,  llberius,  into  Cctsarca  Joseph. 
Antiq.,  x\aii.  2. 1.  ,  to  which  he  added  Phi- 
lippi, after  his  own  name,  to  distinguish  it 
from  Ciesarea  of  Palestine   A.  lo.  l,  (fcc.  on 


time  have  known  better  what  He  took  up 
His  attention  with— that  He  ever  left  the  ahote 
care  for  His  cnvn  temporal    icants  to   the 


of  ths  Jordan.  John— risen  from  the  dead. 
M.  adis  as  another  theory— Jeremias  —  M. 
16.  14.     "SVas   this   because    "the  Man  of 


Tvelve;  that  He  did  this  so  entirely,  that  j  sorrows"  seemed  to  resemble  'theweepin 


finding  they  were  reduced  to  their  last  loaf 
they  felt  as  if  unworthy  of  such  a  trust,  and 
could  not  think  but  that  the  same  thought 
was  in  their  Lord's  mind  which  was  pressing 
upon  their  own;  but  yet  that,  so  far  wTong 
were  they,  that  it  hurt  His  feelings— sharp 
just  in  .proportion  to  His  love— that  such  a 
thou.uht  of  Him  should  have  entered  their 
minds !  AVTio  that  like  angels  ' '  desire  to  look 
into  these  things"  will  not  prize  such  glinvpses 
above  gold?  17.  heart  yet  hardened  — How 
strong  an  expression  to  use  of  real  disci  iiles! 
cf.  ch.  6.  52,  and  on  J.  6.  21.  19,  20.  baskets- 
full  .  .  .  Twelve  .  .  .  Seven  —  Profuse  as  were 
our  Lord's  miracles,  we  see  from  this  that 
tliey  were  not  wrought  at  random,  but  that 
He  carefully  noted  their  minutest  details, 
and  desired  that  this  should  be  done  by 
those  who  witnessed,  as  doubtless  by  all  who 
read  the  record  of  them.  Even  the  different 
kind  of  baskets  used  at  the  two  miraculous 
feedings— so  carefully  noted  in  the  two  nar- 
ratives, both  in  M.  and  IMk.— are  here  also 
referred  to;  the  one  smaller,  of  which  there 


prophet?'  29.  But  whom  say  ye,  (tc.  —  He 
had  never  put  this  question  before,  but  the 
crisis  He  was  reaching  made  it  fitting  that 
He  should  now  have  it  out  of  them.  "We 
may  suppose  this  to  be  one  of  those  moments 
of  which  the  prophet  says,  in  His  name, 
"  Tlien  1  said.  Ihave  laboured  in  vain;  I  have 
spent  my  strength  for  nought,  and  in  vain" 
;ls.  49.  4.  .  "  Lo,  these  tliree  years  I  come 
seeking  fruit  on  this  fig  tree;"  and  what  is  it  ? 
As  the  result  of  aU,  I  am  taken  for  "  John 
the  Baptist,  Elias,  Jeremias,  one  of  the 
prophets."  Yet  some  there  are  that  have 
"beheld  my  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  Only 
Begotten  of  the  Father,"  and  'I  shaU  hear 
their  Aoice,  for  it  is  sweet.'  33.  When  He 
had  turned  about  and  looked  on  his  disciples, 
he  rebuked  Peter— for  He  perceived  that  he 
was  but  bokUy  uttering  what  others  felt, 
and  that  the  cheek  was  needed  by  them 
aiso.  34.  When  he  had  called  the  people, 
with  his  disciples  also.  He  said,  Ax.— turn- 
ing the  rebuke  of  one  into  a  warning 
to   all,  including   even  his   general    audi- 


were  twelve,  the  other  much  larger;  of  wliichence:  'A  suffering  and  dying  Messiah  lik- 
there  were  seven.  21.  How  not  understand— j  eth  you  iU;  but  what  if  His  servants  shall 
'  that  care  about  the  fewness  of  loaves  in  vour  I  meet  the  same  fate?  They  may  not;  but 
scrip  coiUd  not  have  prompted  the  warning  I  i  who  follows  Lie  must  be  prepared  for  the 


gave  you.'; 


worst.'    take  up  his  cross 


e  prep; 
-W3  li 


have  become 


22-26.  BLrsT>  Man  at  Bethsaiba  Re- I  so  accustomed  to  this  expression,  in  the 
stored  to  Sight.  22.  to  Eethsaida— Is.  E.  j  sen.«e  of  being  prepar-ed/or  </'iaismr7e?tero?, 
of  the  lake,  besought  Him  to  touch  him— See  that  we  are  apt  to  forget  the  pveciser  sense 
on  ch.  7.  :i3.  23.  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  i  in  which  it  is  here  used  and  iu  M.  16.  24,) 
him— Gf  the  deaf  and  dumb  man  it  is  merely  1  namely,  a  going  forth  even  to  crv-cifinon,  as 
said  that  "He  took  him  aside;"  ,ch.  7.  33  ;!  our  Lord  did  when  made  to  bear  his  own 
but  this  bUnd  man  He  led  by  the  hand  out  of  I  cross    J.  W.  17,)  tiU  relieved  by  Simon  the 


the    to%\Ti,  doing  it  Himself,  rather    than  Cyienian  ;M.  27 


employing  another— great  himiility  [Beng.J 
—that  He  might  gaiu  his  confidence  and 
raise  his  expectation,  spit  on  his  eyes— the 
organ  affected.  See  on  ch.  7.  33.  24.  men  as 
trees  walkhig— he  could  as  yet  only  distin 


35-38.  See  on  L.  0.23-27 


CHAPl'ER  IX. 

Ver.  1-13.  Jesus  Transfigured— Cox- 
yersatiox  about  Elias.  See  on  L.  9.  27-36. 

14-29.  Demonl\c  and  Lunatic  Boy 
Healed.    14-16.  On  the  moniiug  after  the 


guisli  tJiem  from  trees  by  their  moving.   25.  ]  Transfi^nration,   which    appears    to    have 


Si 


Chrisl  enjobieth  humility. 


MARK,  X. 


Of  divorcement. 


19  He  answereth  him,  and  saith,  0  faith- 
less generation,  how  long  shall  I  he  with 
you?  how  loug  shall  I  suffer  you?  Bring 
him  unto  me. 

20  And  they  brought  him  unto  him:  and 
when  "  he  saw  him,  straiglitway  the  spirit 
tare  him;  and  he  fell  on  the  ground,  and 
wallowed  foaming. 

21  And  he  asked  his  father.  How  long  is 
it  a<;o  since  this  came  unto  him?  And  he 
said.  Of  a  child. 

22  And  ofttimes  it  hath  cast  him  into  the 
fire,  and  into  the  waters,  to  destroy  him: 
but  if  thou  canst  do  any  thing,  have  com- 
passion on  us,  and  help  us. 

23  Jesus  said  unto  him,  "  If  thou  canst 
believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that 
believeth.  

24  And  straightway  the  father  of  the  child 
cried  out,  and  said  with  tears.  Lord,  I 
believe ;  P  help  thou  mine  unbelief. 

25  When  Jesus  saw  that  the  people  came 
running  together,  he  «  rebuked  the  foul 
spirit,  saying  unto  him,  Thou  dumb  and 
deaf  spirit,  I  charge  thee,  come  out  of  him, 
and  enter  no  more  into  him. 

26  And  the  spirit  cried,  and  rent  mm 
sore,  and  came  out  of  liim:  and  he  was  as 
one  dead ;  insomuch  that  many  said,  He  is 
dead. 

27  But  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
lifted  him  up ;  and  he  arose. 

23  And  ''when  he  was  come  into  the 
house,  his  disciples  asked  him  privately. 
Why  could  not  we  cast  him  out? 

29  And  he  said  unto  them,  This  kind  can 
come  forth  by  nothing  but  by  prayer  and 
fasting. 

30  IT  And  they  departed  thence,  and  passed 
tlirough  Galilee ;  and  he  would  not  that 
any  man  should  know  it. 

31  For  «he  taught  his  disciples,  and  said 
unto  them.  The  Son  of  man  is  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  men,  and  they  shall  kill 
him ;  and  after  that  he  is  killed,  he  shall 
rise  the  third  day. 

32  But  they  understood  not  that  saymg, 
and  were  afraid  to  ask  him. 

33  IT  And  «  he  came  to  Capernaum:  and, 
beuia;  in  the  house,  he  asked  them.  What 
was  it  that  ye  disputed  among  yom'selves 
by  the  way?  „     , 

3i  But  they  held  their  peace: "  for  by  the 
way  they  had  disputed  among  themselves, 
who  should  be  the  greatest. 

35- And  he  sat  down,  and  called  the  twelve, 
and  saith  unto  them,  "  If  any  man  desire 
to  be  first,  the  same  shall  be  last  of  all,  and 
servant  of  alL 

36  And  "'  he  took  a  child,  and  set  him  in 
the  midst  of  them :  and  when  he  had  taken 
him  in  his  arms,  he  said  unto  them, 

37  ^'^hosoeve^  shall  receive  one  of  such 
children  in  my  name,  receiveth  me:  *and 
whosoever  shall  receive  me,  receiveth  not 
me,  but  him  that  sent  me. 

38  H  And  ^  John  answered  him,  saying. 
Master,  we  saw  one  casting  out  devils  m 
thy  name,  and  he  followeth  not  us:  and  we 
forbade  him,  because'he  followeth  not  us. 

39  But  Jesus  said.  Forbid  him  not:  "for 
there  is  no  man  which  shall  do  a  miracle 
in  my  name,  that  can  lightly  speak  evil  of 
me. 

40  For  "  he  that  is  not  against  us  is  on  our 
part. 

41  For  6  whosoever  shall  gire  you  a  cup  of 
water  to  diiuic  in  my  uanie,  because  yc 


CHAP.  9. 

n  ch.  1.  26. 

Lu.  9.  42. 
0  2  Chr.  20. 

20. 

Mat.  17.  20. 

ch.  11.  23. 

Lu.  17.  6. 


q  Acts  10.3.3. 

1  Jonn  3.8. 
r  .^Ut.  17.19. 
«  JLit.  17.  22. 

Lu    9.  44. 
{Mat.  18.1 

Lu    9.  K. 

Lu.  22.  24. 
«  Pro.  13  l:i. 
B  Mat.  20.2C, 

27. 

ch.  10.  43. 

Jam.  4.  6. 

U>  xMat   1.^.  2 

ch.  10.  ID. 

«Mat   10.40. 

Lu.  9.  48 
y  Nu.  11.  28. 

L  I.  9.  49. 
Z  1  Cor.  12.3. 
a  M»t.  12.:*). 
b  ftLit.  10.  42. 
c  Mat   IS.  6. 

Lu.  17.  1. 


Dexi.  13.  6. 

JIat.  6.  29. 

Mat.  18.  8. 

Col.  3.  5. 

Heb.  12.1. 
d  U   1)6.  24. 

2  Thei.l.O. 
4  Or,  cause 

ortbnd. 
0  Rom.  8. 13. 

Gal.  5.  24. 
/  Lev.  3.  13. 

Ezo.  4.1.  34. 
Sf  JIat.  5.13. 

Lu  14.34. 
/.  Eph.  4.  29. 

Col.  4.  6. 
i  Rom.  12.18. 

Rom.  14  19. 

2  Cor.  13. 

11. 

2  Ti.  2.  22. 

Heb.  12. 14. 


CHAP.  10. 
I  Mat.  19.  1 


John 

11.7. 

1  Mat. 

19.3. 

c  Deu. 

24.1. 

Mat. 

ft.  Si. 

Mit. 

19.  7. 

dOeu 

9.  15. 

Acta  13.18. 

eGen. 

1.27. 

Gen 

ft.  2. 

/Gen 

2.  24. 

r.e.lli. 

E|.h 

.'•..  31. 

g^Lt 

5.  32. 

Mat 

19.9. 

Lu. 

llj.  18. 

Rom 

.  7.3. 

ft  »Lit 

19.13. 

Lu. 

18.  15. 

i  1  Cor.  U. 

2). 

j  Mat 

ia.ij 

belong  to  Christ,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  ho 
shall  not  lose  his  reward. 

42  And  "whosoever  shall  offend  one  of 
these,  little  ones  that  believe  m  me,  it  is 
bitter  for  him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged 
about  his  neck,  and  he  were  cast  into  the 

43  And  if  thy  hand  3  offend  thee,  cut  it  off: 
it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life 
maimed,  than  having  two  hands  to  go  into 
hell,  into  the  fire  that  never  shall  be 
quenched ; 

44  Where  ^  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the 
fire  is  not  quenched. 

45  And  if  thy  foot  offend  thee,  cut  it  off: 
it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  halt  into  life, 
than  ha\ing.two  feet  to  be  cast  into  hell, 
into  the  fire  that  never  shall  be  quenched; 

46  Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the 
fire  is  not  quenched.  ,     , 

47  And  if  thine  eye  *  offend  thee,  «  pluck 
it  out:  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God  with  one  eve,  than  having 
two  eves  to  be  cast  into  hell-fiie; 

48  Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the 
fire  is  not  quenched.  ,:,..,    ^ 

49  For  every  one  shall  be  salted  with  fire, 
and  /  every  sacrifice  shall  be  salted  with 

50  *Salt  ^is  good;  but  if  the  salt  have  lost 
his  saltness.  wherewith  will  ye  season  it? 
Have  ''  salt  in  yourselves,  and  » have  peace 
one  with  another. 

CHAPTER  X. 

2  Of  divorcement.     13  Christ  bl^sseth  children;  23 

telleth  the  datujer  of  riches;    .32  foretdkth  his 

death  and  resurrection.    46  Blitui  Barttmeus 

receivelX  sight. 

A  ND  "  h«  arose  from  thence,  and  cometh 
■^  into  the  coasts  of  Judoa  by  the  larther 
side  of  Jordan:  and  the  people  resort  unto 
him  again:  and,  as  he  was  wont,  he  taught 
them  again.  .  ^    ,  .  . 

2  H  And  6  the  Pharisees  came  to  him,  and 
asked  him.  Is  it  lawful  for  a  man  to  put 
away /iismfe?  temptin^g  him. 

3  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
What  did  .Closes  command  you? 

4  And  th(y  said,  "  Moses  suftered  to  write 
a  biU  of  di  rorcement,  and  to  put  her  away. 

5  And  Je  lus  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
For  d.  the  hardness  of  yom-  heart  ne  wrote 
vou  this  precept:  „  ,, 

6  But  from  the  beginning  of  the  creation 
God "  made  them  male  and  temale.  . 

7  For  fth\s.  cause  shall  a  man  leave  his 
father  and  mother,  and  cleave  to  his  wite; 

8  And  they  twain  shall  be  one  flesh:  so 
then  they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh. 

9  What  therefore  God  hath  jomed  to- 
gether, let  not  man  put  asunder. 

10  And  in  the  house  his  disciples  asked 
him  again  of  the  same  matter. 

11  And  he  saith  unto  them,  ^  Whosoever 
shaU  put  away  his  mfe,  and  marry  another, 
coramitteth  adultery  against  her. 

12  And  if  a  woman  shall  put  away  her 
husband,  and  be  married  to  another,  she 
committeth  adultery.  u-i^,.^,, 

13 1[  And  "  they  brought  young  children 
to  him,  that  he  should  touch  them:  and  ^is 
disciples  rebuked  those  that  brought  them. 

14  But  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  ■vvas  much 
displeased,  and  said  unto  them,  ^ufier  the 
little  children  to  come  unto  me  and  lorbid 
tlieni  not:  lor  *of  such  is  the  kmgdom  ol 

15  Verily  I  say  unto  joa,;  Whosoever  shall 


Christ  casteth  out 


MARK,  IX. 


a  Deaf  and  Dumb  Spirit. 

taken  place  at  night,  Jesus  "  came  down  i  enough  to  cure  the  boy,  and  by  the  dignity 
from  the  hill"  (see  on  L.  9.  37,)  with  Peter  i  with  which  He  had  ordered  him  to  be  brought 
and  James  and  John,  and,  on  approacliing  to  Him— in  this  mixed  state  of  mina,  he 


the  other  nine,  found  them  surrounded  by 
a  great  multitude,  "and  the  Scribes  ques- 
tioning "  or  disnuting  with  them.  iN'o  doubt 
these  cavillers  were  twitting  the  apostles  of 
Jesus  with  their  inability  to  cure  the  Demo- 
niac boy  of  whom  we  are  presently  to  hear, 
aaid  insinuating  doubts  even  of  their  Mas- 
ter's ability  to  do  it;  while  they,  zealous  for 
their  Master's  honour,  would  no  doubt  refer 
to  Ms  past  miracles  in  proof  of  the  contrary. 
But  no  sooner  was  Jesus  "  beheld,"  than  "all 
the  people"  ('the  multitude')  were  gi-eatly 
amazed,— or  'astounded'— "and  running  to 
him  saluted  him."  l"he  singularly  strong 
expression  of  surprise,  the  sudden  arrest  of 
the  discussion,  and  the  rush  of  the  multitude 
towards  Him,  can  be  accounted  for  by  nothing 
less  than  something  amazing  in  Ms  appear- 
ance. There  can  hardly  be  any  doubt  that 
His  countenance  still  retained  traces  of  His 
transfiguration-glory.  (See  Ex.  34.  29,  30. 
[Beng.,  De  W.,  Mey.,  Trench,  Alf.]  No 
wonder,  if  tMs  was  the  case,  that  they  not 
only  ran  to  Him  but  saluted  Him.  Our 
Lord,  however,  takes  no  notice  of  what  had 
attracted  them,  and  probably  it  gradually 
faded  away  as  He  drew  near;  but  addressing 
Hmiself  to  the  Scribes,  he  demands  the 
subject  of  their  discussion,  ready  to  meet 
them  where  they  had  pressed  hard  upon  his 
nalf-mstructed  and  as  yet  timid  apostles. 
17, 18.  Ere  they  had  time  to  reply,  the  father 
of  the  boy,  whose  case  had  occasioned  the 
dispute,  himself  steps  forward  and  answers 
the  question;  telling  a  piteous  tale  of  deaf- 
ness, and  dumbness,  and  fits  of  epilepsy, 
ending  with  tMs,  that  the  disciples,  though 
entreated,  could  not  perform  the  cure.  19, 
20.  Our  Lord  replies  to  the  father  by  a  severe 
rebuke  to  the  disciples.  As  if  wounded  at 
the  exposure  before  such  a  multitude  of  the 
weakness  of  his  disciples'  faith,  which  doubt- 
less He  felt  'as  a  reflection  on  Himself,  He 
puts  them  to  the  blush  before  all— it  is  given 
with  more  severity  in  M.  17.  17 — but  in  lan- 

fuage  fitted  only  to  raise  expectation  of  what 
lunself  would  do  :— "How  long  shall  /  be 
with  you,"  and  yet  you  cannot  perfonn  this 
cure  ?  High  claims  these ;  but  they  shall 
speedily  be  made  good.  20,  24.  The  order  to 
bring  the  patient  to  Him  was  instantly 
obeyed-  when  lo!  as  if  conscious  of  the  pre- 
sence of  Ms  divine  Tormentor,  and  expecting 
to  be  made  to  quit,  the  fovd  spirit  rages  and 
is  furious,  determmed  to  die  nard.  doing  all 
the  miscMef  he  can  to  this  poor  cliild  Miiile 
yet  within  Ms  grasp:-"  When  he  saw  Him, 
straightway  the  spirit  tare  him,"  kc.  Still 
Jesus  does  nothing,  but  keeps  conversing 
with  the  father  about  the  case— partly  to 
have  its  desperate  features  told  out  by  him 
who  knew  them  best,  in  the  hearing  of  the 
spectators  ;  partly  to  let  its  virulence  have 
tune  to  show  itself;  and  partly  to  deepen  the 
exercise  of  the  father's  soul,  to  draw  out  his 
faith  and  thus  prepare  both  him  and  the  by- 
standers for  what  He  was  to  do.  Having 
told  briefly  the  affecting  features  of  the  case, 
the  poor  father,  half  dispirited  by  the  failure 
of  the  disciples,  and  the  aggravated  virulence 
of  the  malady  itself  in  the  presence  of  their 
Master,  yet  encouraged  too  by  what  he  had 
heard  of  Christ,  by. the  severe  rebuke  He  had 
given  to  His  disciples  for  not  having  faith 
5i 


closes  Ms  description  of  the  case  with  these 
touching  words,  "Bid  if  thou  canst  do  any- 
thing, have  compassion  on  us,  and  help  us  !" 
— maMng  the  case  Ms  own.  \cf.  M.  1.5.  26, 
"Lord  help  me,",  [Axf.]  Still,  nothing  done. 
Tlie  man  is  but  struggling  into  faith.  It  must 
come  a  step  further.  But  he  had  to  do  with 
Him  who  breaks  not  the  bruised  reed,  and 
wbo  knew  how  to  inspire  what  He  demanded. 
23.  The  man  had  said  to  Htm,  "//  Thou, 
canst  do;"  Jesus  retorts  upon  him,  "IJ 
thou  canst  believe."  The  man  had  said,  "If 
Tliou  canst  do  anything-"  Jesus  replies,  "aH 
things  are  possible"  to  faith: — 'My  doing  all 
depends  on  thy  belieying.'  To  impress  this 
still  more.  He  redoubles  upon  the  believing: 
"If  thou  canst  beikve,  aU  things  are  possible 
to  Mm  that  hellevetli."  '  Thus  the  Lord  helps 
the  birth  of  faith  in  that  struggling  soul;  and 
now,  though  with  pain  and  sore  travail,  it 
comes  to  the  birth.'  [Olsh.,  Tkench.]  24. 
—Seeing  the  case  stood  still  waiting  not 
upon  the  Lord's  power  but  nis  faith,  the 
man  becomes  immediately  conscious  of  con- 
flicting principles,  and  rises  into  one  of  the 
noblest  utterances  on  record:  "Straightway," 
kc.—q.  d.  'It  is  useless  concealing  from  Thee, 

0  Tliou  mysterious,  mighty  Healer,  the  un- 
belief that  still  struggles  in  tMs  heart  of 
mine;  but  that  heart  bears  me  witness  that 

1  do  believe  in  Thee-  and  if  distrust  stiU  re- 
mains, I  disown  it,  I  wrestle  with  it,  I  seek 
help  from  Thee  against  it.'  Two  things  are 
very  remarkable  here:  (1.)  The  fit  and 
owned  presence  of  unbelief,  which  oMy  the 
strength  of  the  man's  faith  could  have  so  re- 
vealed to  his  own  consciousness.  (2.)  His 
appeal  to  Christ  for  help  against  his  felt  un- 
belief—a, feature  in  the  case  quite  unparallel- 
ed, and  showing,  more  than  aU  protestations 
could  have  done,  the  insight  he  had  attained 
ofapowerin  Christmore  glorioii.s  than  any  He 
haclbesought  for  his  poor  child.  25.— The  work 
was  done;  and  as  the  commotion  and  con- 
fusion in  the  crowd  was  now  increasing, 
Jesus  at  once,  as  Lord  of  spirits,  gives  the 
word  of  command  to  the  "dumb  and  deaf 
spirit",  to  be  gone,  never  again  to  return  to 
that  victim.  26.— The  malignant  cruel  spirit, 

see  on  ch.  5.  2,  &c.j  now  conscious  that  Ms 
time  was  come,  gathers  up  his  whole  strength, 
v,-ith  intent  by  a  last  stroke  to  MU  Ms  victim, 
and  had  nearly  succeeded:  "in  so  much  that 
many  said.  He  is  dead."  But  the  Ix)rd  of  life 
was  there  ;  the  Healer  of  aU  maladies,  the 
Friend  of  sinners,  the  Seed  of  the  woman, 
a  "  Stronger  than  the  strong  man  anned, 
was  there.  The  very  faith  wliich  Christ  de- 
clared to  be  enough  for  everything  being  now 
found,  it  was  not  possible  that  the  serijent 
should  prevail.  He  might  "  bruise  the  heel," 
and  he  does  it  to  this  believing  man  in  Ms 
child.  But  "  his  own  head"  shall  go  for  it — 
his  "works  shall  be  destroyed,"  (l  J.  3.  8,) — 
as  related  in  v.  27.  28,  29.  This  kind—'  of  evil 
spirits,'  perhaps,  fasting— 'as  thev  could 
not  I'gst  whUe  He  was  with  them,  ■  h.  2.  i9,i 
perhaps  this  was  intended'  as  ii  great  prin- 
ciple '  for  their  after  guidance,'  1  Ale. ]  Great 
and  difficult  duties  require  special  preparer- 
Hon  and  self-denial. 

30-32.  Christ's  Second  Explicit  An- 
nouncement OP  His  Death  and  Eesxjr- 
BECTioN.  See  on  M.  17.  22, 23;  and  L.  9. 43  45. 


T?ie  dawjer  ofrkhes. 


AIARK,  XT. 


Blind  Bartimens  healed^ 


not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  a3  a  little 
child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein. 

16  And  he  *  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put 
hix  hands  upon  them,  and  blessed  them. 

17  IT  And '  when  he  was  gone  forth  into  the 
waVj  there  came  one  runnins,  and  kneeled 
to  him,  and  asked  him.  Good  Master,  what 
shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life? 

18  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest 
thou  me  good?  there  is  none  good  hut  one, 
that  is,  God. 

19  Thou  knowest  the  commandments,"*  Do 
not  commit  adultery,  Do  not  kill.  Do  not 
steal.  Do  not  bear  false  witness,  Defraud 
not.  Honour  thy  father  and  mother. 

20  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
Master,  all  these  have  I  obsen'ed  from  my 
youth. 

21  Then  Jesus,  beholdina;  him,  loved  him, 
and  said  unto  him.  One  thing  thou  lackest: 
go  thy  way,  sell  "  whatsoever  thou  hast, 
and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have 
treasure  "in  heaven:  and  come,  take  up 
tlie  P  cross,  and  follow  me. 

22  And  he  was  sad  at  that  sasing,  and 
went  away  giieved:  for  he  had  gieat  pos- 
sessions. 

23  H  And  «  Jesus  looked  round  about,  and 
saith  unto  his  disciples.  How  hardly  shall 
they  that  have  riches  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God! 

24  And  the  disciples  were  astonished  at  his 
words.  But  Jesus  answereth  again,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Children,  how  hard  is  it 
for  them  ^  that  trast  in  riches  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God! 

25  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through 
the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

26  And  they  were  astonished  out  of 
measure,  saying  among  themselves,  Who 
then  can  be  saved? 

27  And  Jesus,  looking  upon  them,  saith. 
With  men  it  is  impossible,  but  not  with 
God:  for  *  with  God  all  things  are  possible. 

28  %  Then  '  I'eter  began  to  say  mito  him, 
Lo,  we  have  left  all,  and  have  followed 
thee. 

29  And  Jesus  answered  and  said,  Yerily  I 
say  unto  you.  There  is  no  man  that  hath 
lelt  house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father, 
or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lauds, 
for  my  sake,  and  the  Gospel's, 

30  But  "  he  shall  receive  an  hundred-fold 
now  in  this  time,  houses,  and  bretluen,  and 
sisters,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and 
lands, "  with  persecutions;  and  in  the  world 
to  come  eternal  life. 

31  But  "'many  that  are  first  shall  be  last; 
and  the  last  tirst. 

32  IT  And  *  they  were  in  the  way  going  up 
to  Jerusalem;  and  Jesus  went  befuiethem: 
and  they  were  amazed;  and  as  they  fol- 
lowed, they  were  afraid.  2' And  he  took 
again  the  twelve,  and  began  to  tellthem 
what  things  should  happen  unto  him, 

33  Saying,  Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jeru- 
salem: and  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  de- 
livered mito  the  chief  piiests,  and  unto 


the  scribes;  and  they  shall  condemn  him 

"  .  lall 

Gentiles 


to  death,  and   shall  deliver  him  to  the 


3-i  And  they  shall  mock  him,  and  shall 
scourge  him,  and  shall  spit  upon  him,  and 
Bhall  kill  him:  and  the  third  day  he  shall 
rise  again. 

35  H  And  *  James  and  John,  the  sons  of 
Ztbedee,  come  unto  him,  saying,  ^aater, 


CHAP.  10. 

k  Is.  40.  11. 

I  Mat.  19.  IG. 

Lu.  IS  18. 


Acta 


44. 


1  Ti.  C.13. 

0  J>t-.t.  6.  19, 
20. 

Mat.  19.21. 

Lu.  12.  33. 

Lu.  16.  9. 
P  Acts  14.22. 

2  Tim.  3. 

12. 
9  JIat.  19.23. 

Lu.  18.  24. 
r  Job  31.  24. 

Ps.  52.  7. 

Ps.  62.  10. 

lXim.6. 

«  Jor.  32.  17. 

Mat.  19  26. 

Lu.  1.  37. 

Heb.  7.  25. 
t  aiat.  19.27. 

Lu.18.28. 

M2Chr.25.9. 

Ps.  19.11. 

Lu.  18.  .30. 

K  Acta  14.22. 

1  Thos.  3.3. 

2  Tim.  3. 

Hob.  12.  6. 
"'JNlat.  19.30. 

fiLit.  20.1G. 

Lu.  13  -M. 

«  Mat.  20.17. 

18.  31. 

y  ch.  8.  31. 

ch.  9.  31. 

Lu.  9.  22. 

Lu.  18.  31. 
«  Mat.  20.20. 
a  Acts  12.  2. 

"Rev.  1.9. 
6  Jam.  4.  3. 
c  Mat  20.24 
d  Lu.  22.  25. 

1  Or,  think 
good. 

e  Mat.  20.26, 


ch.  9.  35. 

Lu.  9.  48. 
/■John  13.14. 

Phil.  2.  7. 

Heb.  6.  8. 
g  Isa.  53.  10. 

D.-m.  9.  24, 

iskt.  20.23. 

1  Ti.  2.  6. 

Tit.  2.14. 
h  Mat.  20.29. 

La.  18.  35. 
i  Isa.  11.  1. 

Jer.  23.5.6. 

Rora.  1.  3. 

Rev.  22.1G. 
2  Or,  savei! 


6  Acts  1.  12. 

c  Acts  10.36. 

lieb.  I.  -i. 


we  would  that  thou  shonldest  do  for  U3 
whatsoever  we  shall  desire. 

36  And  he  said  unto  them,  What  would 
ye  that  I  should  do  for  you? 

37  They  said  unto  him.  Grant  unto  us  that 
we  may  git,  one  on  thy  right  hand,  and  the 
other  on  thy  left  hand,  in  thy  glory. 

38  But  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Ye  know  not 
what  ye  ask:  can  ye  drink  of  the  cup  that 
I  diink  of?  and  be  baptized  with  the 
baptism  that  I  am  baptized  with? 

39  And  they  said  unto  him,  We  can.  And 
Jesus  said  unto  them,  "Ye  shall  indeed 
drink  of  the  cup  that  I  drink  of;  and  with 
the  baptism  that  I  am  baptized  withal  shall 
ye  be  baptized: 

40  But  to  sit  on  my  right  hand  and  on 
my  left  hand  is  not  mine  to  give;  but  it 
shall  be  given  b  to  them  for  whom  it  ia 
prepared. 

41  And  "  when  the  ten  heard  if,  they  be- 
gan to  be  much  displeased  with  James  and 
John. 

42  But  Jesns  called  them  to  him,  and  saith 
unto  them,  <*  Ye  know  that  they  which  i  are 
accounted  to  rule  over  the  Gentiles  exercise 
lordship  over  them;  and  their  great  ones 
exercise  authority  upon  them. 

43  But  "so  shall  it  not  be  among  you:  but 
whosoever  will  be  great  among  you,  shall 
be  your  minister; 

44  And  whosoever  of  you  will  be  the 
chiefest,  shall  be  servant  of  all. 

45  For  even /the  Son  of  man  came  net  to 
be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and 
to  ^^ve  his  life  a  ransom  for  many. 

46  if  And '' they  came  to  Jericho:  and  as 
he  went  out  of  Jericho  with  his  disciples 
and  a  gi-eat  number  of  people,  blind  Barti- 
mens, the  son  of  Timeus,  sat  by  the  high- 
way-side begging. 

47  And  when  he  heard  that  it  was  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  he  began  to  cry  out,  and  say, 
Jesus,  tliou  »son  of  Da\id,  have  mercy  on 
me. 

48  And  many  charged  him  that  he  should 
hold  his  peace:  but  he  cried  the  more  a 
gieat  deal,  Tliou  son  of  David,  have  mercy 
on  me. 

49  And  Jesus  stood  still,  and  commanded 
him  to  be  called.  And  they  call  the  blind 
man,  saying  unto  him.  Be  of  good  com- 
fort, rise ;  he  calleth  thee. 

50  And  he,  casting  away  his  garment,  rose, 
and  came  to  Jesus. 

51  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  ^Vhat  wilt  thou  that  1  should  do 
unto  thee?  The  blind  man  said  mito  him 
Lord,  that  I  might  receive  my  sight. 

52  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Go  thy  way: 
thy  laith  hath  i^made  thee  whole.  And 
immediately  >  he  received  his  sight,  and 
followed  Jesus  in  the  way. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
1  Christ  rideth  into  Jerusalem;  12  cvrseth  a  fruit' 
less  fig  tree :  Tt  silencet/i  the  priests  who  quei- 
iioned  his  authority. 

A  ND  "when  they  came  nigh  to  Jerusa- 
-"■  km,  unto  Beth  phage  and  Bethany,  at 
the  mount  of  *  Olives,  he  sendeth  forth  two 
of  his  disciples, 

2  And  saith  unto  them.  Go  your  way  into 
the  tillage  over  against  you:  and  as  sooa 
as  ye  be  entered  mto  it,  ye  shall  find  a  colt 
tied,  whereon  never  man  sat;  loose  him 
and  bring  him. 

3  And  if  any  man  say  unto  you.  Why  do 
ye  this?  say  ye  that 'the  Lord  hath  need 


John  rebuked  for  Exdusivsness. 


MAPJv,  X.    Christ's  Announcement  of  His  Death. 


33-50.  Strife  abiong  the  Twelve,  Who  [Grot.]  and  they  were  amazed—'  struck  with 
suouLD  BE  GREATEdT  IN  THE  KiKGDOM  astonishment'  at  Ms  courage  in  advancing 
.._   TT — ,.,„      T„„„   -r.„„^^_„„   „.-...   !:-„    to  certain  death. 


OF  Heaven— John  Eebuked  Foit.  Ex 
CLUSiVENE.ss.  See  on  M.  IS.  1-9;  and  ou 
L. 9. 46-50.  35.  sliall  be— i.  e.  'let  him  be,'  cf. 
L.  14. 11;  18.  14.  43-48.  See  ou  M.  5.  29,  30, 
The  "offence,"  or  occasion  of  stumblinj?, 
immediately  in  view  here  was  the  dispute 
among  the  apostles,  which  arising  out  of 
their  carnalambition,was  aggravated,  doubt- 
less, as  the  dispute  went  ou,  by  a  number  of 
little  things,  hand  ,  .  .  feet  . . .  eyes,  &c.  — 
'wliatever  i:>  to  thee  an  occanon  of  sin,  sacri- 
fice it,  hov:ever  dear.'  The  literal  interpre- 
tation of  these  precepts  by  some  early  fana- 
tics shows  a  very  low  apprehension  of  spiri- 
tual things,  two  liands  . .  .  feet . . .  eyes,  (fee. 
— *  no  laceration  of  natural  feeling  or  corrupt 
affection  can  be  ivcighed  against  final  perdi- 
tion.' hell  . . .  hell .  .  .  heU-fire,  &c.— Thrice 
repeated,  hoiv  awfid  this,  of  itself  tremendous 
word  sounds  from  tJie  tips  of  Love  incar- 
nate !  But  when  to  this  he  adds,  thrice 
over  in  the  same  terms,  "  where  tlieir  worm 
dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched"  — 
words  enough  to  make  both  the  ears  of 
everyone  that  lieareth  them  to  tingle — one 
cannot  but  loathe  the  mawkish  sentimental- 
ism  which  condemns  all  such  language  in  the 
mouthT  of  His  servants,  as  inconsistent  with 
what  they  presume  to  call  'the  religion  ot 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus.'  It  is  just  the 
apostle  who  breathed  most  of  his  Master's 
love  whose  Epistles  express  what  would  be 
thought  the  harshest  tilings  against  vital 
error  and  those  who  hold  it.  It  is  love  to  men, 
not  Imtred,  that  prompts  such  severity  against 
vjliat  will  inevitably  ruin  them.  (Who  that 
has  any  regard  for  the  teaching  of  Christ  can 
venture,  in  the  face  of  these  verses,  to  limit 
the  duration  of  future  torment?)  49.  A  diffi- 
cult verse.  "Eveiy  one"  probably  means 
'every  follower  of  mine;'  "salting  with  fire," 
'a  fiery  trial  to  season  him,'  and  thus  "every 
sacrifice "  vnil  mean,  '  every  one  who  would 
be  found  an  acceptable  offering.'  In  this 
case,  the  whole  verse  vnU.  mean,  '  Every  dis- 
ciple of  mine  shall  have  a  fiery  trial  to  under- 
go, and  every  one  who  would  present  him- 
self a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable  un- 
to God,  must  have  a  salting,  as  had  the  legal 
sacrifices  of  old.'  He  has  stiU  in  his  eye  the 
unseemly  jarrings  which  had  arisen  amongst 
them.the  peril  to  themselves  of  the  indulgence 
of  such  passions,  and  the  severe  self-sacrifice 
which  salvation  would  cost  them.  50.  q.d., 
*  As  to  this  salt,  forget  not  that  aU  its  value 
lies  in  its  savour  (its  salting  quality) :  If  this 
be  lost,  how  shall  it  be  restored?  isee  M.  6. 
13'.  Well,  Have  this  salt— this  quality  that 
win  make  you  a  blessing  to  others;  and  with 
respect  to  the  miserable  strife  out  of  which 
all  this  discourse  has  sprimg,  "Have  peace 
one  •with  another." '  (l  Th.  5. 13.) 
CHAPTER  X. 

Ver.  1-12.  Final  Departure  frosi  Ga- 
lilee—Divorce.   See  on  M.  19.  1-12. 

13-16.  Little  Children  brought  to 
Christ.    See  on  L.  18.  15-17. 

17-31.  The  Eich  Young  Euleb.  See  on 
L.  18.  18-30. 

32-34.  Fuller  Announcement  of  His 
Approaching  Death  and  itE.-jURRECTioN. 
32.  in  the  way  going  up  to  Jerusalem— proba- 
bly somewhere  between  Ephraim  and  Jeri- 
cho, N.E.  of  Jenisalem.  and  Jesus  went  before 


them—'  in  the  style  of  au  intrepid  Leader.'  'testimony  He  would  yet  receive  from  them 
3G 


Tiae  Saviour,  what  a  noLIe  flame 
Was  kiudled  in  His  breast. 

When,  hasting  to  Jerusalem, 
He  marched  before  the  rest!— [Cojrper.l 
and,  as  they  followed,  they  were  afraid— for 
their  own  safety,  "niese  most  artless  and 
intei-esting  statements  are  peculiar  to  Mk.— 
as  usual,  took  agaui  the  twelve— referring  to 
his  recent  amiouncement  of  the  same  events, 
ch.  9.  31.  This  was  now  the  third  time.  33. 
the  Gentiles— the  first  express  statement  that 
the  Gentiles  would  combine  with  the  Jews  in 
His  death.  The  two  grand  divisions  of  the 
human  race,  for  whom  He  died,  took  part  in 
crucifying  the  Lord  of  Glory,  (.w.  &  w.J  34. 
Singularly  explicit  as  this  announcement 
was,  L.  says,  "they  understood  none  of  these 
tilings,  and  this  saying  was  hid  from  them, 
neither  knew  they  the  things  which  v^ere 
spoken"  18.  341—16.,  not  in  their  literal 
sense,  but  in  their  Messianic  bearing  [Mey.I; 
the  whole  prediction  being  right  in  the  teeth 
of  their  preconceived  notions.  That  they 
should  have  clung  so  teuaciousy  to  the  popu- 
lar notion  of  an  wnsuftering  Messiah,  may 
surprise  us;  but  it  gives  inexpressible  weight 
to  their  after-testimony  to  a  sufiering  and 
dying  Saviour. 

35-45.  Ambitious  Eequest  op  Zebedee's 
Children,  and  the  Keply.  35.  the  sons  of 
Zebedee  come,  saying— M.  -says  their  "  mother 
came  to  him  with  her  sons,  worshipping  him 
and  desiring,"  &c.,  (M.  20.  20;.  Salome  was 
her  name  iJ\Ik.  15.  40;  16.  1).  We  caimot  be 
sure  with  which  of  the  parties  the  move- 
ment originated;  but  as  our  Lord  even  in 
M.'s  account)  addresses  himself  to  James 
and  John,  making  no  account  of  the  mother, 
it  is  likely  the  mother  was  merely  set  on  by 
tiiem.  The  thought  was  doubtless  suggested 
to  her  sons  by  the  recent  promise  to  the 
twelve  of  "thrones  to  sit  on,  when  the  Son 
of  Man  should  sit  on  the  throne  of  his  glory," 
I\[.  19.  28;  but  after  the  reproof  so  lately 
given  them  ch.  9.  39],  they  get  their  mother 
to  speak  for  them,  do  for  us  what  we  shaU 
desire— thus  cautiously  approacliing  the  sub- 
ject. 36.  Though  well  knowing  what  she 
intended,  our  Lord  ^\iJl  have  her  utter  before 
all  the  unseemly  petition.  37.  Thy  right .  . . 
thy  left— i.e.,  assign  them  the  two  places  of 
highest  honour.  '  One  of  these  brethren  had 
his  usual  place  close  to  the  Lord  (J.  13.  23); 
the  other  was  among  the  chosen  three.' 
[Alf.J  38-40.  How  gentle  the  reply  to  such 
a  request,  and  preterred  at  such  a  time, 
after  the  sad  announcement  just  made !  Can 
ye  drink . .  We  can . .  Ye  shall  indeed  drink,  (fee- 
Here  we  see  them  owning  their  mother's 
petition  for  them  as  their  o\ati;  and  doubt- 
less they  were  perfectly  sincere  in  professing 
their  wiUirfgness  to  follow  their  Master  to 
any  suffering  He  might  have  to  endure. 
Well,  and  they  shaU  have  to  do  it.  'The 
one  of  them  was  the  first  of  the  Apostles  to 
drink  the  cup  of  suffering,  and  be  baptized 
with  the  baptism  of  blood,  A.  12.  1,  2;  the 
other  had  the  longest  experience  amon^ 
them  of  a  life  of  trouble  and  persecution. 
L^Vlf.]  For  all  this  unworthy  ambition  they 
were  blessed  men,  and  their  Lord  knew  it; 
and  perhaps  the  foresight  of  what  they  wouJd 
have  to  pass  through,  and  the  courageous 


Christ's  entry  into  Jerusalem. 


AUK,  Xir.       Par.ille  of  the  ickkerf  husJfandmpn, 


of  him;  and  straightway  he  will  seud  him 
hither. 

4  And  they  went  their  way,  and  found  the 
colt  tied  by  the  door  without  in  a  place 
where  two  ways  met;  and  they  loose  niin. 

5  And  certain  of  them  that  stood  there 
said  unto  them,  What  do  ye,  loosing  the 
colt? 

6  And  they  said  unto  them  even  as  Jesus 
bad  commanded:  and  they  let  them  ?o. 

7  And  they  brouarht  the  colt  to  Jesus,  and 
cast  their  garments  on  him;  <*and  he  sat 
upon  him. 

S  And  *  many  spread  their  garments  in  the 
way ;  and  others  cut  down  branches  off  the 
trees,  and  strawed  the/m  in  the  way. 

9  And  they  that  went  before,  and  they 
that  ibllowed,  cried,  saying,  /  Hosanna! 
Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of 
tlie  Lord! 

LO  Blessed  be  the  kingdom  of  our  father 
David,  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord!  "  Hosanna  in  the  highest! 

11  And  ''Jesus  entered  into  JenTsalem, 
and  into  tlie  temple  :  and  when  he  had 
looked  round  about  upon  all  thintcs,  and 

.now  the  even-tide  was  come,  he  went  out 
unto  Bethany  with  the  twelve. 

12  ^  And  » on  the  mon"ow,  when  they  were 
come  from  Bethany,  he  was  himgrv: 

13  And  >  seeing  a  fig  tree  alar  oil' having 
leaves,  he  came,  if  haply  he  might  find  any 
thing  thereon:  and  when  he  came  to  it,  he 
found  nothing  but  leaves;  for  the  time  of 
figs  was  not  yet. 

14  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  it, 
No  man  eat  fruit  of  thee  hereafter  for  ever. 
And  his  disciples  heard  it. 

15  IT  And  *  they  come  to  Jerusalem:  and 
Jesus  went  into  the  temple,  and  began  to 
cast  out  them  that  sold  and  bought  in  the 
temple,  and  overthrew  the  tables  of  the 
money-changers,  and  the  seats  of  them  that 
sold  doves; 

16  And  would  not  suffer  that  any  man 
Bhould  caiTy  any  vessel  through  the  temple. 

17  And  he  taught,  saying  unto  them,  Is  it 
not  written, '  My  house  shall  be  called  i  of 
all  nations  the  house  of  prayer?  but  "'ye 
have  made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 

18  And  "  the  scribes  and  chief  priests 
heard  it.  and  sought  how  they  might  de- 
stroy him:  for  they  feared  him,  because 
lill "  the  people  was  astonished  at  his  doc- 
trine. 

19  And  when  even  was  come,  he  went  out 
of  the  city. 

20  ^  And  P  in  the  momtng,  as  they  passed 
by,  they  saw  the  fig  tree  dried  up  trom  the 
roots. 

21  And  Peter  calling  to  remembrance 
saith  imto  him,  Master,  behold,  fhe  fig  tree 
wliich  thou  cursedst  is  withered  away. 

22  And  Jesus  answering  saith  unto  them, 
2  Have  faith  in  God. 

23  For  «  verily  I  say  unto  you.  That  who- 
Boever  shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Be 
thou  removed,  and  be  thou  cast  into  the 
sea:  and  shall  not  doubt  in  his  heart,  but 
ehall  believe  that  those  things  which  he 
saith  shall  come  to  pass;  he  shall  have 
whatsoever  he  saith. 

24  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  ^  What  things 
soever  ye  desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe 
that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have 
them. 

25  And  when  ye  stand  praying,  •  forgive,  if 
ye   have   ought   against   any;  that  your 

a? 


CDAP.  U. 
d  1  Kin.  1. 

33. 

Zcch.  9.  9. 
e  Mat.  21.  8. 
/  J'E  118.  213. 

l»a  G2.  U. 
g  Ps.  14.S.  1. 
h  MhI.  21.12. 
t  Mat.  21. 18 
)  >Ut.  21.19. 
k  Mat.  21.12. 

Lu.  19.  45. 

John  2.  H. 
I  Isa  56.  7. 

Isa.  00.  7. 

Zech.  2.  11. 


2  Or,  Have 
tho  faith 
of  God. 

g  Mat.  17.20. 

Mat,  21.21. 

Lu  17.  C. 
r  Mat.  7.  7. 

Lu   11   9. 

John  11.13, 

JoliD  15.  7. 

John  1U.24. 

Jaiu.  1.5.ti. 
«  Mat.  (J.  It. 

Tol.  3.  13. 

£|.h.  4  3-J 
t  lUit.  IH.  35. 
"  Mat.  21. 

2.i. 

Lu.  20.  1. 

3  Or,  thing 
V  Mit  a.  5. 

HUl.  14.  5. 

ch.  6.20. 

«"  Job  5.  13. 


Heb.ll  3( 
Kom.  8.  3 
Gal.  4.  i. 


i  *Ut.  21.45, 

ch   11.  IS. 
John  7.  25, 
30,  44. 
;  Mat.  22.16. 
La.  SO.  -J}. 


Father  also  which  is  in  heaven  may  forgive 
you  vour  trespasses. 

2G  But  «if  ye  do  not  forgive,  neither  will 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  forgive 
your  trespasses. 

27  IT  And  they  come  again  to  Jerusalem: 
and"  as  he  was  walking  in  the  temple, 
there  come  to  him  the  chief  priests,  and 
the  scribes,  and  the  elders, 

28  And  say  unto  him.  By  what  authority 
doest  thou  these  things?  and  who  gave 
thee  this  authority  to  do  these  things? 

29  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
them,  1  will  also  ask  of  you  one  !*  question, 
and  answer  me,  and  1  will  tell  you  by  what 
authority  I  do  these  things. 

30  The  baptism  of  John,  was  it  from  hea- 
ven, or  of  men  ?  answer  me. 

31  And  they  reasoned  with  themselves, 
saying.  If  we  shall  say.  From  heaven;  he 
will  say,  Why  then  did  ye  not  beheve 
him? 

32  But  if  we  shall  say.  Of  men;  they 
feared  the  people:  for  "all  me^i  counted 
John,  that  he  was  a  prophet  indeed. 

3;^  And  they  answered  and  said  unto  Jesus, 
\Ve  cannot  tell.  And  Jesus  answering 
saith  unto  them,  "'  Neither  do  I  tell  you  by 
what  authority  I  do  these  things. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
1  The  parable  of  the  vineyard.     13  Touching  the 

paying  of  tri'/ute.    18  I'he  Sadducees  confuted. 

35  A  difficulty  proposed  to  the  scribes,  etc. 

A  ND  "  he  began  to  speak  unto  them  by 
■^^  parables.  A  certain  man  planted  a 
vineyard,  and  set  an  hedge  about  it.  and 
digged  apUice/or  the  winefat,  and  built  a 
tower,  and  let  it  out  to  husbandmen,  and 
went  into  a  far  country. 

2  And  at  the  season  ne  sent  to  the  hns- 
handmen  ,"  servant,  that  he  might  receive 
from  the  husbandmen  of  the  fruit  of  the 
vineyard. 

3  And  they  caught  him,  and  beat  him,  and 
sent  him  away  empty. 

4  And  again  he  sent  unto  them  another 
servant;  and  at  him  they  cast  stones,  and 
wounded  him  in  the  head,  and  sent  him 
away  shamefully  handled. 

5  And  again  he  sent  another;  and  him 
they  killed,  and  many  others;  beating 
some,  and  *  killing  some. 

6  Having  yet  therefore  one  son,  "his  well- 
beloved,  he  sent  him  also  last  unto  them, 
saying.  They  will  reverence  my  son. 

7  But  those  husbandmen  said  among 
themselves,  This  is  <'■  the  heir;  come,  let  ua 
kill  him,  and  the  inheritance  shall  be  ours. 

8  And  they  took  him,  and  *  killed  him, 
and  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard. 

9  What  shall  therefore  the  lord  of  the 
vineyard  do?  He  will  come  and  destroy  the 
husbandmen,  and  /will  give  the  vineyard 
unto  others. 

10  And  have  ye  not  read  this  scripture; 
The  "stone  which  the  builders  rejected  is 
become  the  head  of  the  corner: 

11  This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  f^  it  is 
mar\'ellou3  in  our  eyes? 

12  And  « they  souglit  to  lay  hold  on  him, 
but  feared  the  peojile ;  for  they  knew  that 
he  had  spoken  the  parable  against  them: 
and  they  left  him,  and  went  their  way. 

13  H  And  J  they  send  unto  him  certain  of 
the  Phari-sees  and  of  the  Herodians,  to 
catch  liim  in  his  words. 

14  And  when  they  were  come,  they  say 
unto  him,  Master,  we  know  that  thuu  ai't 


Amhit  0U-.  rrqvcfd o,'  Zchedre'if  Ch ildrcn.  IMARK,  XI. 


TJie  Barren  Fig-Tree  Cursed. 


was  the  cause  of  that  gentleness  which  we 
cannot  but  wonder  at  in  his  reproof.  40.  is 
not  mine  to  give— to  whomsoever  I  merely 
please,  on  a  principle  of  farovritiim.  but  it 
shall  be  given  to  them  for  whom— lit.,  '  but  to 
those  for  whom;'  and  the  full  sense  must  be 
supplied  thus:  'but  it  is  mine  to  pive  to 
those  for  whom.'  From  this  it  wiU  be  seen 
how  far  our  Lord  is  from  disclaiming  the 
right  to  assign  co  each  his  proper  place 
in  His  Kingdom.  On  the  contrary,  He 
expressly  asserts  it;  merely  announcing  that 
file  principle  of  disiixbutlon  is  quite  diffe- 
rent from  what  these  petitioners  supposed. 
for  whom  it  is  prepared— "of  my  Father," 
M.  20. 23.  See  M.  25.  34.  In  so  saying,  our 
Lord  does  not  deny  the  petition  of  James 
and  John,  or  say  they  shall  not  occupy  the 
place  in  His  kingdom  which  they  now  im- 
properly sought:— for  aught  we  know,  that 
may  he  their  true  place.  All  we  are  sure  of 
is,  that  their  asking  it  was  displeasing  to 
Him  "towhomall  judinneut  is  committed," 
and  so  was  not  fitted  to  gain  their  object, 
but  just  the  reverse  (L.  li.  8-11.)  'One  at 
least  of  these  V  rethren  saw  the  Lord  on  His 
■  ross—onHis  right  and  left  hand  the  cruci- 
ied  thieves.  Bitter  indeed  must  have  been 
the  remembrance  of  this  ambitious  prayer 
at  that  moment!'  [Als".]  41.the  ten  much  dis- 
pleased.-'were  moved  ■with  indignation'  as 
che  same  word  is  rendered  in  M.  20. 24.  And 
can  we  blame  them?  Yet  there  was  pro- 
bably a  spice  of  the  old  spirit  of  rivalry  in 
it,  which  in  spite  of  our  Lord's  recent  len.sth- 
ened,  diversified  and  most  solemn  warnings 
against  it,  had  not  ceased  to  stir  in  their 
breasts.  42—45.  0  admirable  -sAlsdom!— 
checking  the  hot  quarrel,  which  doubtless 
would  have  broken  out  at  this  moment  by 
calling  them  aU  equally  around  Him  and 
opening  to  them  calinly  the  relation  in  which 
they  were  to  stand,  and  the  spirit  they  were 
to  cherish,  to  each  other  in  tne  future  work 
of  His  kingdom,  holding  forth  Himself  as 
the  sublime  Model  both  for  their  feeling  and 
for  their  acting!  they  whicli  are  accounted 
to  rule — '  are  recogTiiued  or  acknowledge  i  as 
rulers.'  lordship  .  .  .  authority— as  superiors 
exercising  an  acknowledged  authc  rity  over 
inferiors.  But  so  it  sh2.11  not  be  amr  ng  you—'  In 
tiie  Kingdom  about  to  be  set  vp  this  principle 
^tall  luwe  no  place.  jI'  my  servants  shall 
tJierebeequal;  and  tlie  only  "greatness"  knovm 
to  it  shall  be  the  greatness  of  humility  and 
devotedness  to  the  service  of  others:  He  that 
goes  down  tlie  deepest  in  these  services  of  self- 
denying  humility  sJuill  rise  tlie  highest  and 
hold  the  "chief est"  place  in  that  kingdom; 
evenasthe  Sonof  Man,  Whose  abaementand 
set f -sacrifice  for  others,  transcending  all,  gives 
Him  of  fight  a  place  aX>ove  all!  your  mini- 
ster—one holding  a  subordinate  station, 
servant,  or  slave,  a  servant  of  the  lowest 


m  contrast  with  few  or  with  all,  but  in  op- 
position to  one— tlie  one  Son  of  Man  for  the 
many  sinners,  to  give  Ms  life  a  ransom  for 
—or 'instead  of.'  The  sacrificial  and  vica- 
rious VMture  of  Chrl^ts  death  is  here  ex- 
pressed by  Himself  as  plainly  as  the  -manner 
of  his  death  is  foretold  a  few  verses  before. 
And  to  say  that  this  was  merely  in  accom- 
modation to  Jewish  ideas,  is  to  dishonour 
the  teaching  of  our  Lord,  and  degrade  Juda- 
ism to  a  level  with  the  rites  of  Paganism. 

40-52.  Blind  Bartimeus  Healed.  See 
on  L.  18.  35-43. 

CHAPTER  XL 

Ver.  1-11.  Christ's  Tkiumphal  Entrt 
INTO  Jerusali::.!,  and  Bp.ief  Notice  of 
THE  Sequel  of  xhat  Day.  See  on  M.  21. 
1-11,  14-1". 

12-16.  The  Barren  Fig  Tree  Cursed, 
AND  Lesson  from  it— Second  Cleansing 
OF  the  Temple.  12-13.  It  was  not  now  safe 
for  the  Lord  to  sleep  in  the  City,  nor,  from 
the  day  of  His  Trimuphal  Entiy,  did  He  pass 
one  night  in  it  save  the  last  fatal  one.  He 
was  hungry— How  was  this?  Had  He  stolen 
forth  from  that  dear  roof  at  Bethany  to  the 
"  mountain  to  pray,  and  continued  all  night 
in  prayer  to  God;"  (L.  6.  12.)  or,  "in  the  morn- 
ing," as  on  some  occasions,  "  risen  up  a  great 
while  before  day,  and  departed  into  a  soli- 
tary place  and  there  prayed,"  (Mk.  1.  35.),  not 
breaking  His  fast  thereafter,  but  bending 
His  steps  straight  for  the  citj',  that  He  might 
"work  the  works  of  Him  that  sent  Him  while 
it  was  day?"  ;J.  9.  4.)  We  know  not,  though 
one  lingers  upon  and  loves  to  trace  out  the 
every  movement  of  that  life  of  wonders.  One 
thing,  however,  we  are  sure  of— it  was  real 
bodily  hanger,  which  He  now  sought  to  allay 
by  the  fruit  of  this  fi^  tree,  "if  haply  He 
might  find  anj-thing  thereon  f  not  a  mere 
scene  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  a  lesson,  as 
some  early  heretics  maintained,  and  some 
still  seem  virtually  to  hold.  And  was  there 
not  another  Fig  Tree  to  which  He  came— not 
once  only,  but  "lo!  those  three  years— seeking 
fruit,  and  finding  none';"  (L.  13.  6,  7.)  How 
really,  how  continuously,  how  keenly.  He 
hungered  for  that  fruit,  is  best  understood 
by  His  lamentation  over  it.  "  How  often 
would  I  have  gathered  these,  and  ye  would 
not!"  (M.  23.  37.)  a  fig  tree— "one  fig  tree," 
says  M.  (21.  19,  Marg.i  having  leaves— and 
therefore  promising  fruit,  which  generally 
comes  before  the  leaves,  for  the  time  of  figa 
was  not  yet— lit.  'was  not.'  "What  the  pre- 
cise meaning  of  this  explanation  is,  inter- 
preters are  not  agreed.  I'erhaps  the  most 
probable  is— the  fig-season  or  harvest  had 
not  arrived,  and  consequently  they  must 
have  been  sciU  on  the  trt  e  if  it  had  any  at  all, 
(Bethphage  derives  its  name  from  its  being 
a. tig-region.)  14.  Jesus  said,  (fcc— That  word 
did  not  make  it  barren,  but  it  sealed  it  up  in 


grade.    Both  terms  are  applied  to  our  Lord,  j  its  ovm  barrenness.    "  Hearing  ye  shall  hear 
&  W.J     came  not  to  be  Kiinistered  unto, ,  and  shall  not  understand,  and  seeing  ye  shall 


but  to  minister— As  "the  Word  in  tlie 


see  and  not  perceive:  For,  the  heart  of  this 


ginning  %vith  God,"  He  ira  ministered  imto;!  people  is  waxed  gross,  and  their  eves  they 
i.ndas  the  risen  Eedeemer  in  our  nature,  He  I /lat-e  closed,  lest  tfxey  slwukl  see  with  their 
\snow  ministered  unto,  "angels  and  autho-  ei/es,"  &c.  A.  28.  26,  27.  disciples  heard  it— 
rities  and  powers  being  made  subject  unto  This  is  introduced  as  a  connecting  link,  to 
liim "  (1  Pe.  3.  22. )     But  not  for  this  came  He  '  explain  what  was  afterwards  to  be  said  on 


hither:    The  Served  of  aU  came  to  be  tlie 


explain  wnat  was  aiterwaras  to  oe  saiu  on 
the  subject,  as  the  narrative  had  to  proceed 


Servant  of  aU ;  and  His  last  act  %cas  the  gra  nd-  to  the  other  transactions  of  thi.s  day.  15-18. 
est  Service  ever  beheld  by  tlie  universe  of  God  See  on  L.  19.  45,  48.  20.  in  the  iuorning— of 
—•'He  gave  His  Life  a  Eansom  for  |  the  day  after  the  cursing  of  the  fig  tree.  In 
ManyI"    "Many"  is  here  to  be  taken,  not  M.  (21.19,20.)  the  whole  is  represented  as 


JSi{j7ys  of  ChrLiVs  cominrf. 


MARK,  XIV. 


CHAP.  13. 

h  Zi.  24. 12 

Lu.  12.  U. 


11  But  ''when  they  shall  lead  vou,  and 
deliver  you  up,  take  no  thought  beforehand 
what  ye  shall  speak,  neither  do  ye  pre- 
meditate; but  whatsoever  shall  be  given 
you  in  that  hour,  that  speak  ve:  for  it  is 
not  ye  that  speak,  »but  the  Holy  Ghost. 

12  Now  3  the  brother  shall  betray  the  : «  Acts  a.  4. 
brother  to  death,  and  the  father  the  son ;  Ana  4. 8, 
and  children  shall  rise  up  against  their  \  .  f}:  ,  „ 
parents,  and  shall  cause  them  to  be  put  to  J  f^;  J^^gi 

13  And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my  jlu  21.  le. 
name's  sake:  but  *he  that  shall  endure  *D»n.  12.12. 
unto  the  end,  the  same  shall  be  saved.  2  Ti.  4  7,8. 

14  H  But  f  when  ye  shall  see  the  abomina- 1    "/''•  '^  ^' 
tion  of  desolation,  '"spoken  of  by  Dciniel  j     jA'.  „  - 
the  prophet,  standing  wlieie  it  ousht  not,       lu  '  "•   ' 
(let  him   that  readeth  understand.)  then  I    Kev.  3  10. 
let  "•them  that  be  in  Judea  flee  to  the  i  J  Mat. 24. 15. 

x.;„_  "»  Dub.  9.27. 

«  Ln.  21.21. 
0  Lu.  23.  29. 
P  Deu.2.S.15 

Dan.  9.  2G 

Dan    12.  1. 

Joel  2.  2. 

Jlat.  24.21. 
9Lu    17.2a. 


Conspiracy  agaivst  Christ, 


mountains 

15  And  let  him  that  ia  on  the  house-top 
not  go  down  into  the  house,  neither  enter 
therein,  to  take  any  thing  out  of  his  house: 

16  And  let  him  that  is  in  the  field  not  ttiru 
back  a^'ain  for  to  take  up  his  garment. 

17  But  "woe  to  them  that  are  with  child, 
and  to  them  that  give  suck,  in  those  days! 

18  And  pray  ye  that  yom-  flight  be  not  in 
the  winter. 

19  For  P  in  those  days  shall  be  affliction, 
Buch  as  was  not  from  the  beginning  of  the 
creation  which  God  created  unto  this  time, 
neither  shall  be. 

20  And  except  that  the  Lord  had  shor- 
tened those  days,  no  flesh  should  be  saved: 
but  for  the  elect's  sake,  whom  he  hath 
chosen,  he  hath  shortened  the  days. 

21  And  *  then,  if  any  man  shall  say  to 
you,  Lo,  here  is  Christ;  or,  lo,  Ae  is  there; 
believe  him  not: 

22  For  false  Christs  and  false  prophets 
shall  rise,  and  shall  show  signs  and 
wonders,  to  seduce,  ''if  it  were  possible, 
even  the  elect. 

23  But  *  take  ye  heed:  behold,  I  have  fore- 
told you  all  things. 

24  II  But « in  those  days,  after  that  tribu- 
lation, the  sun  shall  be  darkened,  and  the 
moon  shall  not  give  her  light, 

25  And  the  stars  of  heaven  shall  fall,  and 
the  powers  that  are  in  heaven  shall  be 
shaken. 

26  And  "  then  shall  they  see  the  Son  of 
man  coming  in  the  clouds  with  great  power 
and  glory. 

27  And  then  shall  he  send  his  angels, 
and  shall  gather  together  his  elect  from 
the  fom-  winds,  from  the  uttermost  part  of 
the  earth  to  the  uttermost  part  of  heaven. 

28  Now  learn  a  parable  of  the  fig  tree; 
When  her  branch  is  yet  tender,and  putteth 
forth  leaves,  ye  know  that  summer  is  near: 

29  So  ye,  in  like  manner,  when  ye  shall 
see  these  things  come  to  pass,  know  that  it 
is  nigh,  even  at  the  doors. 

30  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  genera- 
tion shall  not  pass,  till  all  these  thmgs  be 
done. 

31  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away;  but 
my  "  words  sliall  not  pass  away. 

32  H  But  of  that  day  and  that  hour  know- 
elh  no  man,  no,  not  the  angels  which  are 
in  heaven,  neither  the  Son,  but  the  Father. 

33  Take  "■  ve  heed,  watch  and  pray:  for  ye 
know  not  when  the  time  is. 

&t  For  *  the  Son  of  man  is  as  a  man  tak- 
mg  a  far  .iourney,  who  left  his  house,  and 
gave  authority  to  his  servants,  and  to  every 


Lu.  21. 


1  Pa.  1.  5. 

a  2  Pet  3.17. 

t  D.m.  7.  10. 

Ze-i.h.  1.  15. 

Mai.  24.  29. 

Lu.  21.  25. 

tt  D..D.  7.  13. 

Mat. 16  27. 

ch.  14.  12 

Acts  1.11. 

1  Thesa.  4. 

16. 


V  Is.  40.  8. 

Is.  51.  6. 

Pb.  Ui2.  28. 
f  Mat.  24. 

42. 

Mat.  25  13. 

Lu.  12.  4'J. 

Lu.  21.  iH. 

Ko.  13.  11. 

1  Thes.5.6. 
*  Mat.  24.45. 

Mat.  25.14. 
y  Mat.  24. 
42,  44. 

2  Pet.  3. 
1-18. 
Bev.  3.  3. 


man  his  work,  and  commanded  the  porteT 
to  watch. 

35  Watch  »'ye  therefore;  for  ye  know  not 
when  the  master  of  the  house  conieth,  at 
even,  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  cock-crow- 
ing, or  in  the  morning: 

36  Lest,  coming  suddenly,  he  find  you 
sleeping. 

37  And  what  I  say  unto  you  I  say  unto  all. 
Watch. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

1  A  conspiracy  against  Christ:  3  a  woman  pour- 

eth  ointment  on  his  head:  10  Judas  cmtenanteth 

to  betray  him:  \2heeateth  the  passover:  22  ft. 

instituteth  his  sttpper:  G6  i'eter  thrice  denieth 

A  FTLR  "  two  days  was  the  feast  of  the 
■^^  passover,  and  of  unleavened  bread:  and 
the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  sought 
how  they  might  take  him  by  craft,  and  put 
him  to  death. 

2  But  they  said.  Not  on  the  feast  day,  lest 
*here  be  an  upropr  of  the  peo]>le. 

3 1'  And  *  being  in  Bethany,  m  the  house  of 
Simou  ihe  leper,  as  he  sat  at  meat,  there 
came  a  woman  ha%'ing  an  alabaster  box  of 
ointment  of  i  spikenard  very  precious;  and 
she  brake  the  box,  and  pomed  it  on  his 
head. 

4  And  there  were  some  that  had  indigna- 
tion  within  themselves,  and  said.  Why  was 
this  waste  of  the  ointment  made? 

5  For  it  might  have  been  sold  for  more 
than  three  hundred  "pence,  and  have  been 
given  to  the  poor.  And  they  mmmmed 
a.gainst  her. 

6  And  .Jesus  said.  Let  her  alone;  why 
trouble  ye  her?  she  hath  wrought  a  good 
work  on  me. 

7  For  d  ye  have  the  poor  with  you  always, 
and  whensoever  ye  will  ye  may  do  them 
good:  but  me  ye  have  not  always. 

8  She  hath  done  what  she  could:  she  is 
come  aforehand  to  anoint  my  body  to  the 
burying. 

9  V'erily  I  say  unto  you.  Wheresoever  this 
gospel  shall  be  preached  throughout  the 
whole  world,  this  also  that  she  hath  done 
shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her. 

10  H  And  *  Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  the 
twelve,  went  unto  the  chief  priests,  to  be- 
tray him  unto  them. 

11  And  when  they  heard  it,  they  were 
glad,  and  promised  to  give  him  /  money. 
And  he  sought  how  he  might  conveniently 
betray  him. 

12  IT  And  "  the  first  day  of  unleavened 
bread,  when  they  Skilled  the  passover,  his 


Lu.  22.  1. 

JohnU.55. 

John  13. 1. 

b  Mat.  2IJ.  e. 


Lu 


37. 


a  Mat.  26. 2.  i  disciples  said  unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou 
that  we  go  and  prepare  that  thou  mayest 
eat  the  passover? 

13  And  he  sendeth  forth  two  of  his  dis- 
ciples,  and  saith  unto  them.  Go  ye  into  the 
city,  and  there  shall  meet  you  a  man  bear- 
ing a  pitcher  of  water:  follow  him. 

14  And  wheresoever  he  shall  go  in,  say  ye 
to  the  goodman  of  the  house.  The  Master 
saith.  Where  is  the  guest-chamber,  where 
I  shall  eat ''  the  passover  with  my  disciples? 

15  And  he  will  show  you  a  large  upptr 
room  furnished  and  prepared:  there  make 
ready  for  us. 

16  And  his  disciples  went  forth,  and  came 
into  the  city,  and  fomid  as  he  had  said  unto 
them:  and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 

17  And  »iu  the  evening  he  cometh  with 
the  twelve. 

18  And  as  they  sat  and  did  eat,  Jesua 


Jchnl2.1,3. 

1  Or,  pure 

c  Mat.  18.  28. 
d  Deu  15.11. 
e  Mat.  20  14. 
/Zech. 11.12. 

1  Ti.  6.  10. 

JuJe  11. 
8  Lu.  22.  7. 

2  Or, 
sarriBced. 

ft  Ex.  12.  6. 

Lev.  23.  5. 

i  Mat.  'J6.-J0. 


The  Great  Commandment,  d-c. 


»iAPK.  xni. 


Signs  of  Christ's  Coming. 


as  deirancling  the  same  affection,  and  only 
the  extension  of  it,  in  its  proper  measure,  to 
the  creatures  of  Him  whom  we  thus  love, 
our  brethren,  in  the  participation  of  the 
same  nature,  and  neighbours,  as  connected 
with  us  by  ties  that  render  each  dependent 
upon  and  necessary  to  the  other,  as  thyself 
— therefore,  not  "'  with  all  thy  heart,"  <tc. 
Thus,  this  IS  a  condemnation  of  the  idolatry 
of  the  creature.  Our  uttermost  affection  is 
to  be  reserved  for  God.  As  sincerely  ' 
ourselves "  we  are  to  love  all  mankind,  and 
^vith  the  same  readiness  to  do  and  suffer  for 
them  as  we  should  reasonably  desire  them 
to  show  to  us;  'the  golden  nile'— M.  7.  12— 
being  here  our  best  interpreter  of  the  nature 
and  extent  of  these  claims,  none  other  com- 
mandment greatef  than  these—"  On  these  two 
commandments  hang  all  the  law  and  the 
prophets,"  M.  22.  40;  q.d.,  'This  is  all  Scrip- 
ture in  a  nutshell.'  It  is  the  whole  law  of 
human  duty  in  a  portable,  pocket  fomi;  so 
simple  that  a  child  may  understand  it,  so 
brief  that  laU  may  remember  it,  so  compre- 
hensive as  to  embrace  all  possible  cases. 
And  from  its  very  nature  it  is  unchangeable. 
It  is  inconceivable  that  God  should  require 
from  his  rational  creatures  anything  less,  or, 
in  substance,  anything  else,  under  any  dispen- 
sation, in  any  icorld,  at  any  period  throughout 
eternal  duration.  He  cannot  but  claim  this, 
all  this,  alike  in  heaven,  in  earth,  and  in  hell! 
And  this  incomparable  summary  of  the 
divine  law  belonged  to  theJev:iih  Religion! 
As  it  shines  in  its  own  self-evidencing 
splendour,  so  it  reveals  its  own  true  source. 
The  Religion  from  which  the  world  has  re- 
ceived it  could  be  none  other  than  a  God- 
givenReligion.  32,33.  more  than  all  whole  burnt- 
offerings  aud  sacrifices— more  than  all  positive 
institutions;  thereby  showing  his  insight  in- 
to the  essential  difference  between  what  is 
moral  and  in  its  own  nature  unchangeable, 
and  what  is  obligatory  only  because  enjoined 
and  only  so  long  as  enjoined.  34.  discreetly — 
rather,  'sensibly.'  not  far  from  the  kingdom 
of  God— for  he  had  but  to  folloxo  out  a  little 
further  what  he  seemed  sincerely  to  own,  to 
find  his  way  into  the  Kingdom;  learning  to 
say,  with  another  eminent  scribe  afterwards, 
(1.)  *'  For  we  know  that  the  law  is  spiritual, 
but  I  am  carnaf,  sold  under  sin."  (2.)  "O 
wretched  man  that  I  am !  AVho  shall  de- 
liver me  ?"  i3.)  "  I  thank  God  through  Jesus 
Christ!"  (E.  7.  14,  24,  25.)  Perhaps  among 
the  "great  company  of  the  pi-iests"  and 
other  Jewish  ecclesiastics  who  "were  obe- 
dient to  the  faith,"  almost  immediately 
after  the  day  of  Pentecost  (A.  6.  7,  this  up- 
right lawyer  was  one.  But  for  all  his  near- 
ness to  the  Kingdom  of  God,  it  may  be  he 
never  entered  it.  none  after  that  durst  ask 
Mm— all  felt  they  were  no  match  for  Him, 
and  that  it  was  vain  to  enter  the  lists  with 
Him. 
35-37.  Christ  Baffles  the  Phakisees 

BY  A  QUE.STION    ABOUT    DAVID  A_ND  MES- 
SIAH,   bee  on  L.  20.  41-44. 

38-40.  Denunciation  of  ihe  Sckibes. 
See  on  L.  20.  45-47. 

41-44.  The  Widow's  Two  Mites.  See 
on  L.  21. 1-4. 

CHAPTER  Xin. 

Ver.  1-31.  See  on  M.  24.  1-36;  and 
L.  21.  6-36.  32.  neither  the  Son— This  is  a 
very  remarkable  addition  to  the  statement 
a6  given  by  M.  (24,  so.)    Whether  it  means 


that  the  Son  was  no<  at  that  time  in  possession 
oj  the  knov-hd^e  referred  to,  or  that  it  was 
not  among  the  things  which  He  had  received 
to  communicate— has  been  matter  of  much 
controversy  even  amongst  the  firmest  be- 
lievers in  the  proper  divinity  of  Christ.  Be- 
yond all  doubt,  as  the  word  "  know"  in  this 
verse  is  the  well-known  word  for  the  know- 
ledge of  any  fact,  the  former  sense  is  the  one 
we  should  naturally  put  upon  the  statement; 
namely,  that  our  Lord  did  not  at  that  time 
know  the  day  and  hour  oi"  His  ovna.  second 
coming.  But  the  nature  of  the  case— meaning 
by  this  the  speaker,  his  subject,  and  the 
probable  design  of  the  statement  in  question 
—is  always  allowed  to  have  its  weight  in 
determining  the  sense  of  any  doubtful  utter- 
ance. What,  then,  is  the  nature  of  this 
case?  (1.)  The  Speaker  was  One  who,  from  the 
time  when  He  entered  on  His  public  minis- 
try, spoke  ever,  acted  ever,  as  One  from 
whom  nothing  teas  hid;  andtouhom  theichole 
administration  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  was 
committed,  from  first  to  last:  nor  when  Peter 
ascribed  omniscience  to  Him,  J.  21. 17,,  can 
he  be  supposed  to  have  pointed  to  any 
enlargement  of  the  sphere  of  His  Lords 
knowledge  since  His  resurrection,  or  to 
aught  save  what  He  had  witnessed  of  Him 
"in  the  days  of  His  flesh."  (2.)  There  seems 
nothing  so  peculiar  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
precise  time  of  His  second  coming,  much  less 
of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  xfthis  onhjbe 
immediately  in  view,"!  more  than  of  other 
things  which  we  are  certain  that  our  Lord 
knew  at  that  time,  that  it  should  be  kept  from 
Him  while  those  other  things  were  all  full 
before  His  view.  We  are  ill  judges  of  such 
matters,  but  v.  e  are  obliged  to  give  this  con- 
sideration some  weight.  So  far  as  we  may 
presume  to  judge,  there  was  no  benefit  to 
the  disciples  to  be  gained  by  the  concealment 
—as  certainly  there  could  be  no  danger  to 
Himself  from  the  knowledge— of  the  precise 
time  of  His  coming.  But  3.)  when  we  have 
familiarised  ourselves  with  our  Lord's  way 
of  speaking  of  His  communications  to  men. 
we  shall  perhaps  obtain  a  key  to  this  remark- 
able saying  of  His.  Thus:  "And  what  He 
hath  seen  and  heard,  that  He  testifieth-"  "I 
speak  to  the  world  those  things  that  I  have 
heard  of  Him;"  "  The  Father  which  sent  me. 
He  gave  me  a  commandment  what  I  should 
say.  and  what  I  should  speak."  (J.  3.  32;  8.  26; 
12.  49.)  And  in  a  remarkable  prophecy-— 
Is.  60.  4.— in  which  beyond  doubt  He  is  the 
Speaker— He  represents  Himself  as  receiving 
His  instructions  daily,  being  each  morning 
instructed  what  to  communicate  for  that  day. 
In  this  view,  as  the  precise  time  of  His 
coming  was  certainly  not  in  His  instructions; 
as  He  had  not  "seen  and  heard!'  it,  and  so 
could  not  "testify"  it,  as  He  had  no  com- 
munication from  His  Father  on  the  stibjcct— 
might  He  not,  after  saying  that  neither  men 
nor  angels  knew  it,  add  that  Himself  knew  it 
not,  without  the  danger  of  lowering  even  in 
the  minds  of  any  of  his  half-instructed  dis- 
ciples, the  impression  of  His  Omniscience, 
which  every  fresh  communication  to  them 
only  tended  to  deepen?  What  recom- 
mends this  opinion  is  not  any  inconsis- 
tency in  the  opposite  opinion  with  the  sup- 
reme divinity  of  Christ.  That  opinion  might 
quite  well  be  maintained,  if  only  there 
appeared  sufficient  ground  for  it.  But  wliile 
the  one  argument  in  its  favour  is  the  appa- 


fns'itutityii  of  the  Lord's  supper. 


MAKR,  XIV. 


Judas  oeirays  Clirist 


said,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  One  of  you 
which  eateth  with  me  shall  betray  me. 

19  And  they  began  to  be  sonowful,  and 
to  say  unto  him  one  by  one,  /s  it  1?  and 
another  said.  Is  it  1? 

20  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
It  is  one  of  the  twelve,  that  dippeth  with 
me  in  the  dish. 

21  The  i  Son  of  man  indeed  goeth,  as  it  is 
written  of  him:  but  woe  to  that  man  by 
whom  the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed!  good 
were  it  for  that  man  if  he  had  never  been 
boni. 

22  H  And  *  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus  took 
bread,  and  blessed,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
to  them,  and  said.  Take,  eat:  this  -^  is  my 
body. 

23  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  when  he  had 
given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them:  and  they 
all  drank  of  it. 

24  And  he  said  unto  them.  This  is  ^my 
blood  of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed 


for  many. 
25  Verily 


.  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  drink  no 
more  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  that 
day  that  1  drink  it  new  in  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

26  IT  And  »"  when  they  bad  sung  an 
*hymn,  they  went  out  into  the  mount  of 
Olives. 

27  And  "Jesus  saith  unto  them.  All  ye 
shall  be  offended  because  of  me  this  night: 
for  it  is  written,  "  1  will  smite  the  Shepherd, 
and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered. 

28  But  P  after  that  I  am  risen,  I  will  go 
before  you  into  Galilee. 

29  But  9  Peter  said  unto  him.  Although  all 
shall  be  offended,  yet  will  not  I. 

30  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Verily  I  say 
unto  thee.  That  this  day,  even  in  this  night, 
before  the  cock  crow  twice,  thou  shalt  deny 
me  thrice. 

31  But  he  spake  the  more  vehemently.  If 
I  should  die  with  thee,  1  will  not  deny  thee 
in  any  wise.    Likewise  also  said  they  all. 

32  IT  And  ^  they  came  to  a  place  w  hich  was 
named  Gethsemaue:  and  ne  saith  to  his 
disciples.  Sit  ye  here,  while  « I  shall  pray. 

33  And  he  taketh  with  him  Peter  and 
James  and  John,  and  began  to  be  sore 
amazed,  and  to  be  very  heavy; 

34  And  saith  unto  them,  « Aly  soul  is  ex- 
ceeding soiTowful  unto  death:  tarry  ye 
here,  and  watch. 

35  And  he  went  fora'ard  a  little,  and  fell 
on  the  ground,  and  prayed  that,  if  it  were 
possible,  the  horn-  might  pass  from  him. 

3e  And  he  said,  "Abba,  Father,  "all 
things  are  possible  unto  thee ;  take  away 
this  cup  from  me:  "'nevertheless  not  what 
I  will,  but  what  thou  wilt. 

37  And  he  cometh,  and  findeth  them 
Bleeping,  and  saith  unto  Peter,  Simon, 
sleepest  thou?  couldest  not  thou  watch  one 
hour? 

38  Watch  ye  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into 
temptation.  *The  spirit  truly  is  ready, 
but  the  tiesh  is  weak. 

39  And  again  he  went  away,  and  prayed, 
and  spake  the  same  words. 

40  And  when  he  retmued,  he  found  them 
asleep  agam,  (for  thek  eyes  were  heavy,) 
neither  wist  they  what  to  answer  him. 

41  And  he  cometh  the  third  time,  and 
Baith  unto  them.  Sleep  on  now,  and  take 
vour  rest:  it  is  enough,  i'the  hour  is  come; 
behold,  the  Son  of  man  ia  betrayed  into 
the  hands  of  sinners. 

40 


CHAP.  14. 
j  Gen.  'J3.15. 

is».  5a. 

1-12. 

Dan.  9  S6. 
Zech.13.  7. 
NUt.  26.24. 
Lu.  22.  22. 
k  Mat  26.26. 
Lu.22. 19. 
1  Cor.  11. 
23. 

3  Or,  repro- 

1  Cor.  10. 

4,16. 
I  Heb.  9. 14. 
"'  JUt.26..-«. 

4  Or,  pealm. 
1  Mat.  26.31 
0  isB.  53. 

2-10. 

Dan.  9.  26 

Zech.  13.  7. 
P  eh.  16.  7. 
9  AUt.  26. 33, 

34. 

Lu.  22.  33, 


John  13, 
37,38. 
r  Mat.  26. 36. 
Lu.  22.  39. 
John  18.  1. 

8  Heb.  6.  7. 

t  John  12.27. 
"  Rom.  8.15. 

Gal.  4.  6. 
"  Heb.  5.  7. 
w  Johns.  30. 

John  6. 38. 
a:  Rom.  7.  23. 

Ga!  5.  17. 

i/  John  13.  1. 

»  Mat.  26.  46. 

Johnl8.1,2. 

a  Mat.  £6.47. 

Lu.  22  47. 

John  18.  3. 
5  Rabbi, 

Rabbi. 

iMat.  23.10. 

John20.16. 
b  2  Sa.  20.  9. 
«  Mat.  26.  55. 

Lu.  22.  52. 
d  Ps,  22.  6. 

Is.  53.  7. 

Dan.  9.  26. 

Lu.  22.  o7. 

Lu.  24.  44. 
«  P».  88.  8. 
/  Alat.  26.67. 

Lu.  22.  54. 

John  18  13. 
g  Mat.  26.59. 
A  Dan.  6.  4. 

1  Pet.  3.16, 
i  Ps.  35.  11. 

Pro.  6.  19. 

Pro.  IB.  5. 
J  ch.  15.  29. 

John  2.  19. 
k  Mat.  26.62. 
I  Is,  53,  7. 

1  Pet.  2.  23. 
™  Mat.26.03. 
n  Mat.  24.30. 

Mat  2G.64. 

Lu.  22.  69. 

o  Lev.  24. 16. 

Acts  6.  13. 

P  Is.  60.  0. 

Is.  53,  3, 

9  Mat.  26. 


42  Rise  ''up,  let  us  go;  io,  he  that  be- 
trayeth  me  is  at  hand. 

43  H  And  "  immediately,  while  he  yet 
spake,  cometh  Judas,  one  of  the  twelve, 
and  with  him  a gieat  multitude  with sworda 
and  staves,  from  the  chief  priests  and  the 
scribes  and  the  ciders. 

44  And  he  that  betrayed  him  had  given 
them  a  token,  saying.  Whomsoever  I  shall 
kiss,  that  same  is  he ;  take  him,  and  lead 
him  away  safely. 

45  And  as  soon  as  he  was  come,  he  goeth 
straightway  to  him,  and  saith,  6  Master, 
master;  and  f>  kissed  him. 

46  And  they  laid  theii'  hands  on  him,  and 
took  him. 

47  And  one  of  them  that  stood  by  drew  a 
sword,  and  smote  a  secant  of  the  high 
priest,  and  cut  off"  his  ear. 

48  And  *  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
them,  Are  ye  come  out,  as  against  a  thief, 
with  swords  and  with  staves  to  take  me? 

49  I  was  daily  with  you  in  the  temple 
teaching,  and  ye  took  me  not:  but  <*  the 
Scriptm-es  must  be  fulfilled. 

50  And  *  they  all  forsook  him,  and  fled. 

51  And  there  lollowed  him  a  certain  young 
man,  having  a  linen  cloth  cast  about  his 
naked  body;  and  the  young  men  laid  hold 
on  him: 

52  And  he  left  the  linen  cloth,  and  fled 
from  them  naked. 

53  H  And  /  they  led  Jesus  away  to  the  high 
priest:  and  with  him  were  assembled  all 
the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  and  the 
scribes. 

5i  And  Peter  followed  him  afar  off,  even 
into  the  palace  of  the  high  priest:  and  he 
sat  with  the  servants,  and  warmed  himseli 
at  the  fire. 

55  And  ^  the  chief  priests  and  all  the 
council  sought  for  witness  against  Jesus  to 
put  him  to  death;  and  ''found  none: 

56  For  many  bare  » false  witness  against 
him,  but  their  witness  agreed  not  to- 
gether. 

67  And  there  arose  certain,  and  bare  false 
witness  against  him,  saying, 

58  We  heard  him  say,  V I  will  destroy  this 
temple  that  is  made  with  hands,  and  within 
three  days  I  will  build  another  made  with- 
out hands. 

59  But  neither  so  did  their  witness  agree 
together. 

60  And  *  the  high  priest  stood  up  in  the 
midst,  and  asked  Jesus,  saying,  Answerest 
thou  nothing?  what  is  it  which  these  wit- 
ness against  thee? 

61  But '  he  held  his  peace,  and  answered 
nothing.  ""Again  the  high  priest  asked 
him,  and  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed? 

62  And  Jesus  said,  I  am:  "and  ye  shall 
see  the  Son  of  man  silting  on  the  right 
hand  of  power,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven. 

63  Then  the  high  priest  rent  his  clothes, 
and  saith,  What  need  we  any  further  wit^ 
nesses? 

64  Ye  have  heard  "the  blasphemy:  what 
think  ye?  And  they  all  condemned  him  to 
be  guilty  of  death. 

65  And  some  began  to  P  spit  on  him,  and 
to  cover  his  face,  and  to  buffet  him,  and  to 
say  unto  him.  Prophesy:  and  the  servants 
did  strike  him  with  the  palms  of  their 
hands. 

(  V  And  ?  as  Peter  was  beneath  in  the 


Bdraml^fCliTist 


MAEK.  XIV. 


He  isBrmidht  hefore  Caiphns: 


rent  sense  of  the  words— a  strong  argiiment  to  nvxkc  a  case,  found  none— tliat  would  si  't 
however— everytlung  else  which  one  is  accus-  their  purpose,  or  make  a  decent  ground  uf 
tomed  to  take  into  account,  in  weighing  the  charge  before  Pilate.  56.  many  bare  fa'<-e 
sense  of  a  doubtful  saying,  is  in  favour  of  a  j  witness  against  Him— bribed,  we  are  led  to 
modified  sense  of  the  words  in  question.  |  conclude  from  their  debasing  theo'velves  to 
33-37.  These  verses  are  peculiar  to  Jlk.  but ;  ''seek"  them;  though  there  are  never  v,-ant- 
the  substance  of  them  is  in  M.  24  42  -61,  aad  i  ing  sycophants  enough,  ready  to  sell  theni- 


L.  21.  34-30, 


See  on  L.  12.  35-10;  42-46. 
CHAPTEE,  XIV. 


selves  for  naught,  if  they  may  but  get  a 
smile  from  those  above  them:  see  a  similar 


Ver.  1,  2.  Conspiracy  of  the  Jewish  '  scene,  A.  6.  ll.  their  witness  agreed  not  to- 
AuTHORiTiES  TO  PUI  Jesus  TO  Deaxh,  gather— If  even  fu-o  of  them  had  been  agreed 
Spfi  on  T\r  9fi  9-.;;  ,  j^  -would  havc  been  greedily  enough  laid 

hold  of,  as  all  that  the  law  insisted  upon 
even  in  capital  cases,  Deu.  17.  6.  But  even 
in  this  they  failed.  One  cannot  but  admire 
the  providence  which  secured  this  result; 
since,  on  the  one  hand,  it  seems  astonishing 
that  those  unscrupulous  prosecutors,  and 
their  ready  tools,  should  so  bungle  a  business 
in  which  they  felt  their  whole  intere.sts 
bound  up,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  if  they 
had  succeeded  in  making  even  a  plausible 


bee  on  M.  26.  2-5, 

3-9.  The  Anointino  at  BEiHAjnr.  See 
on  M.  26.  6-13,  and  on  J.  12.  1-8. 

10,  11.  Judas  Agrees  with  the  Chief 
Priests  to  Bexray  His  Lord.    See  on 

L.  22.  3-6. 

12-26.  Last  Celebration  of  the  Pass- 
over—Announce>ient  OF  THE  Traitor 
—Institution  of  the  Supper.  See  on 
L.  22.  7-  23  and  on  J.  13.  21-30. 

27~£2.    Desertion  op  the  Disciples, 


AND  Fall  of  Peter  Foretold— Agony  |  case,  the  eftect  on  the  progress  of  the  Gospel 
in  the^GaFvDen.    See  on  M.  26.  31-46,  and  might  for  a  time  have  been  injurious.    But 

ing,  "  God  hath  forsaken  Him;  persecute  and 
take  Him;  for  there  is  none  to  deliver  Him  " 
(Ps.  71.  11  -He  whose  Witness  He  was  and 


on  L.  22.  .'l«46. 

43-52.  Betrayal  and  Apprehension  of 
Jesus— Flight  of  His  Disciples.  43-50. 
See  on  L.  22.  47-54,  and  on  J.  18.  1-12.  51,  52. 
A  singular  incident,  peculiar  to  JNIk.  Tlie 
general  object  of  introducing  it  is  easily  seen. 
The  flight  of  all  the  Apostles,  recorded  in 
the  preceding  verse,  suggested  the  mention 
of  this  other  flight,  as  one  of  the  noticeable 
incidents  of  that  memorable  night,  and  as 
showing  what  terror  the  scene  inspired 
in  aU  wTio  were  attached  to  Jesus.  By  most 
interpreters  .it  is  passed  over  too  slightly, 


whose  work  He  v.as  doing  was  keeping  Him 
as  the  apple  of  his  eye,  and,  while  he  was 
making  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  Him, 
was  restraining  the  remainder  of  that  WTath 
(Ps.  76, 10.  .  57.  And  there  arose  certain- M.  is 
more  precise  here :  ''At  the  last  came  two 
false  witnesses."  As  no  two  hud  before  agi-eed 
m  anything,  they  felt  it  necessary  to  secure 
a  duplicate   testimony  to   something,   and 


One  thing  is  stamped  on  the  face  of  it— it  is  they  were  long  of  succeeding  even  to  this 
the  narrative  of  an  eyewitness  of  what  is  ,  extent.  And  what  was  it?  58.  I  will  destroy 
described  Tlie  mention  of  the  fate  of  one  I  this  temple  that  is  made  with  hands  and 
individual,  and  him     a  certain  young  man."  j  within,  dc— On  this  charge,  observe  d.)  that, 


(expressively  put  m  the  original  1  of  his  single!  eager  as  his  enemies  were  to  find 


piece  of  dress,  and  that  of  "  linen,"  of  the 
precise  parties  who  laid  hold  of  him,  though 
many  ancient  copies  omit  the  parties,)  and 
how  he  managed  to  make  a  hair-breadth 
escape,  even  though  it  obliged  him  to  part 
with  all  that  covered  his  nakedness— this 
singular  minuteness  of  detail  suggests  even 
more  than  the  pen  of  an  eye-witness.  It 
irresistibly  leads  to  a  further  question— Had 
the  writer  of  this  Gospel  himself  nothing  to 
do  with  that  scene  ?— ^  To  me,'  says  Olshau 


matter  against  our  Lord,  they  had  to  go  back 
to  the  outset  of  his  ministry,  his  first  visit 
to  Jerusalem,  more  than  three  years  before 
this.  In  all  that  He  said  and  did  after  that, 
though  ever  increasing  in  boldness,  they 
could  find  nothing;  2.)  that  even  then,  they 
nx  only  on  one  speech  of  two  or  three  words, 
which  they  dared  to  adduce  against  Him.  (3.) 
j-heymost  manifestly  pervert  the  speech  of 
our  Lord.   We  say  not  this  because— in  JMk.  's 

^^  ^    ...  r--  ■  -V  tJ-  -.r —     ^o™^  of  it— it  differs  from  the  report  of  the 

SEN.     it  appears    most   probaUe    that  ?i€re  I  words  given  by  the  Evangelist  John-,  J.  2  18- 
Mark  }rrites  concerning  himself.'     a  linen!  22  ,the  only  one  of  the  Evangeli.sts  who  reports 


cloth-  They  were  wont  to  sleep  in  linen  i  it  at  all,  or  mentions  even  any  visit  paid  by 
clothing^  and  in  this  condition  this  youth  our  Lord  to  Jerusalem  before  liis  last— but 
had  started  up  from  his  bed.  [Grot.]  the  because  the  one  report  bears  evident  truth 
young  men  — the  attendants  of  the  chief  and  the  other  evident  falsehood,  on  its  face' 
priests,  mentioned  J.  18.  3.  52.  fled  naked  '  When  our  Lord  said  on  that  occasion  '  De- 
_     r,  ^^„      „  ,._       ,  gj.j,^y  ^jjjg  temple  and  in  three  days  1  will 

raise  it  up,"  they  might,  for  a  moment,  have 
understood  him  to  refer  to  the  temple  out 
of  whose  courts  He  had  swept  the  buyers 
and  sellers.  But  after  they  expressed  their 
astonishment  at  Ms  saj-ing,  in  this  sense  of  it 
considering  the  time  it  had  taken  to  be  built 
as  it  then  stood,  and  no  answer  to  this  ap- 
pears to  have  been  given  by  our  Lord,  it  is 
hardly  conceivable  that  they  should  con- 
tinue in  the  persuasion  that  this  was  really 
His  meaning.  i4.)  But  even  if  the  more 
Ignorant  among  them  had  done  .so,  it  is  next 
to  certain  that  the  ecclesiastics,  who  were  the 
prosecutors  in  this  case,  did  not  believe  that 
this  teas  His  meaning.  For,  in  less  than 
three  days  after  this,  they  went  to  Pilate, 


— '  In  great  danger,  fear  conquers  shame. 
[Beng.  I 

63-72.  Jesus  before  Caiaphas— Con- 
demned TO  Die  and  Shamefully  En- 
treated—Fall of  Peter.  53.  led  Jesus 
away  to  the  high-criest  —  i.  e.  Caiaphas,  as 
appears  by  comparing  what  follows  ^^■ith  the 
corresponding  passage  of  M.  But  "'they 
led  him  away  to  Annas  first,  his  father-in- 
law,  probably  for  the  reasons  mentioned  on 
M.  26.  57;  and  with  him,  and  not  Caiaphas, 
that  important  scene  recorded  J.  18.  19-23 
appears  to  have  occurred.  54.  See  on  L 
22.  64,  65  65.  sought  witness— "  sought  false 
witness,"  says  M.  (26.  59.)  They  knew  they 
could  find  nothing  vaUd;  but  having  their 
Prisoner  to  bring  before  Pilate,  they  behoved 


Christ  accvised  before  r'iUile. 


MARK.  XV. 


palare.  there  cometh  one  of  the  maitla  of 
t)ie  hi^h  priest: 

67  And  when  she  saw  Peter  warming  him- 
Belf,  she  looked  upon  him,  and  said.  And 
thou  iUso  wast  with  Jesus  ofls'azareth. 

68  But  he  denied,  saying,  1  know  not, 
neither  understand  I  what  thou  sayest. 
And  he  went  out  into  the  porch;  and  the 
cock  crew. 

69  And  ""a  maid  saw  him  again,  and  began 
to  say  to  them  that  stood  by,  This  is  one 
of  tliem. 

70  And  he  denied  it  again.  •  And  a  little 
after,  they  that  stood  by  said  again  to 
Teter.  Surely  thou  art  one  of  them:  '  for 
thou  art  a  Galilean,  and  thy  speech  agreeth 
thevto. 

71  But "  he  began  to  curse  and  to  swear, 
faying,  I  know  not  this  man  of  whom  ye 
speak. 

72  And  the  second  time  the  cock  crew. 
And  Peter  called  to  mind  the  word  that 
Jesus  said  unto  him,  Before  the  cock  crow 
twice,  thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice.  And 
6  when  he  thought  thereon,  he  wept. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
J  Jesus  it  brought  frounrf  and  aeeused  before 
Filate:  6  Fiiate,  prevailed  on  by  the  people, 
giveth  up  Jesus  to  be  crucified i  [7  he  is  crowned 
with  thorns.  '.T  crucified  between  two  thieves:  43 
he  is  hQnuurcU>ly  buried. 

AND  *  straightway  in  the  morning  the 
""■  chief  priests  held  a  consultation  with 
the  elders  and  scribes  and  the  whole  coun- 
cil, and  bound  Jesus,  and  carried  him 
away,  and  delivered  him  to  Pilate. 

'2  And  t>  Pilate  asked  him,  Art  thou  the 
King  of  the  Jews?  And  he  answering  said 
unto  him,  *  Thou  sayest  it. 

3  And  the  chief  priests  accused  him  of 
many  things:  but  <*  ne  answered  nothing. 

4  And  *  Pilate  asked  him  again,  saying, 
Answcrest  thou  nothing?  behold  how  many 
things  they  witness  against  thee. 

5  But  /Jesus  yet  answered  nothing;  so 
that  Pilate  marvelled. 

6  H  Now  0  at  that  feast  he  released  unto 
them  one  prisoner,  whomsoever  they  de- 
sired. 

7  And  there  was  one  named  Barabbas, 
tvhich  laif  bound  with  them  that  had  made 
insurrection  with  him,  who  had  committed 
murder  in  the  insurrection. 

8  And  the  multitude,  crying  aloud,  began 
to  desire  him  to  do  aa  he  had  ever  done 
unto  them. 

9  But  Pilate  answered  them,  sajing,  Will 
ye  that  1  release  unto  you  the  King  of  the 
Jews? 

10  For  he  knew  that  the  chief  priests 
had  delivered  him  for  ^  envy. 

11  But « the  chief  priests  moved  the  peo- 
ple, that  he  should  rather  release  Barabbas 
unto  them. 

L.'  And  Pilate  answered  and  said  again 
unto  them.  What  will  ye  then  that  I  shall 
do  unto  him  whom  ye  call  >  the  King  of  the 
Jews? 

13  And  they  cried  out  again,  Crucify 
him. 

14  Then  Pilate  said  unto  them.  Why, 
what  evil  hath  he  done?  And  theycriedout 
the  more  exceedingly.  Crucify  him. 

15  And  so  Pilate,  *  willing  to  content  the 
people,  released  Barabbas  unto  them,  and 
delivered  Jesus,  when  he  had  scourged 
him,  to  be  crucified. 

16  i[  And  the  soldiers  led  him  away  into 

41 


CHAP.  14. 

r  Mat.  '.i;.71. 

John  \A-£>. 

•  Mat.  MJ-i. 

Lu.  22.  59. 

John  IS.l^. 

e  judg.vj.6. 

Acts  2.  7. 

u  Pro.  20.26. 

.  Cor.  10. 


abundilit- 
ly,  or,  ho 

weep. 

Eze.  7.  16. 

Zcch.  12. 

10. 

2  Cor.7.10. 


CHAP.  15. 
a  P«.  2.  2. 

Mat.  21.38. 
Mat.  27.  1. 


Acts  3.  13. 

Acts  4.  26. 
6  Mat.  2711. 
e\  Ti  6.  13. 
d  1  Pot.  2.23. 
e  Mat.  27.13. 
f  I».  53.  7. 

John  19.  9. 
ff  Mat.  27. 16. 

Lu.  23.  17. 

John  ia.39. 
h  Acts  7.  9, 


1  John  3. 

12. 
i  Mat.  27.20. 
Acts  3.  14. 
j  Jor.  235,6. 

Mic.  6.  2. 

*  Pro.  29.  25. 
I  Mat.  27.  32. 

Lu.  23.  26. 
m  Ro.  16  13. 
n  John  19.17. 

Act.  7.  68. 

Heb.13.12. 

P..  69.  21. 
p  P».  22.  18. 

Lu  23.  34. 
1  ftlat.  27.45. 

Lu.  23.  44. 

John  19.14. 
r  Deu.  23.  5. 

Mat.  27.37. 
«  Is.  53.  12. 

Lu.  JZ  37. 
t  P».  22  7. 
u  ch  14.  58. 

John  2. 19. 
»  Mat  27.44. 

Lu.  23. 39. 

Heb.  12.  3. 

1  Pet.  2.23, 
VJ  Lu.  23.  44, 

*  Ps.  22.  1. 
V  Mat.  27.48. 

John  19.29. 
»  Ps.  09.  21 
o  Lu.  23.  46. 
b  Ex.  26.  31. 

Eph.2.  14. 

Hob.  6.  19. 

Heb.  10.19. 
c  Mat.  27  64 
d  Lu.  23.  49 

*  Ft.  38.  11. 


nis  crncifxion, 

the  hall  called  Pretorium;  and  they  call 
together  the  whole  band. 

17  And  they  clothed  him  with  purple,  and 

E bitted  a  crown  of  thorns,  and  put  it  about 
is  hea/i, 

18  And  began  to  salute  him,  Hail,  King  of 
the  Jews! 

19  And  they  smote  him  on  the  head  with 
a  reed,  and  did  spit  upon  him,  and  bowing 
their  knees  worshipped  him. 

20  And  when  they  had  mocked  him,  they 
took  otl'  the  purple  from  him,  and  put  his 
own  clothes  on  him,  and  led  him  out  to 
crucify  him. 

21  And  '■  they  compel  one  Simon  a  Cyre- 
nian,  who  passed  by,  coming  out  of  the 
country,  the  father  of  Alexander  •"  and 
lliifus,  to  bear  his  cross. 

22  And  ''they  bring  him  unto  the  place 
Golgotha,  which  is,  being  interpreted.  The 
place  of  a  skull. 

23  And  they  gave  him  "to  drink  wine 
mingled  with  myrrh:  but  he  received  it 
not. 

24  And  when  they  had  crucified  him, 
theyP  parted  his  garments,  casting  lots 
upon  them,  what  every  man  should  take. 

25  And  « it  was  the  third  hour,  and  they 
crucified  him. 

26  And  *■  the  superscription  of  his  accusa- 
tion was  written  over,  THE  KING  OF 
THE  JEWS. 

27  And  with  him  they  crucify  two  thieves; 
the  one  on  his  right  hand,  and  the  other  on 
his  left. 

28  And  the  scripture  was  fulfilled,  which 
saith,  'And  he  was  numbered  with  the 
transgressors. 

29  H  And  « they  that  passed  by  railed  on 
him,  wagging  their  heads,  and  saying,  Ah! 
thou  "  that  destroyest  the  temple,  and 
buildest  it  in  three  days, 

30  Save  thyself,  and  come  down  from  the 
cross. 

31  Likewise  also  the  chief  priests  mocking 
said  among  themselves  with  the  scribes. 
He  saved  others ;  himself  he  cannot  save. 

32  Let  Christ  the  King  of  Israel  descend 
now  from  the  cross,  that  we  may  see  and 
believe.  And  "they  that  were  crucified 
with  him  reviled  him. 

33  IT  And  ""  when  the  sixth  hour  was  come, 
there  was  darkness  over  the  whole  land 
until  the  ninth  hour. 

34  And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with 
a  loud  voice,  sajing,  *Eloi!  Eloi!  lama 
sabachthani?  which  is,  being  interpreted. 
My  God!  my  God!  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me? 

35  And  some  of  them  that  stood  by,  when 
they  heard  it,  said,  Behold,  he  calleth 
Elias. 

36  And  ^  one  ran  and  filled  a  sponge  full 
of  vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reed,  and  *  gave 
him  to  drink,  saying,  Let  alone;  let  us  see 
whether  Elias  will  come  to  take  him  down. 

37  And  "Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice, 
and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

38  And  6  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent 
in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom. 

39  TI  And  'when  the  centurion,  which 
stood  over  against  him,  saw  that  he  so 
cried  out,  and  gave  up  the  ghost,  he  said. 
Truly  this  miui  was  the  Son  of  God. 

40  There  ''were  also  women  looking  on 
afar '  oil:  among  whom  was  Alary  Magda- 
lene, and  Mary  the  mother  of  James  the 
less  and  of  Joses,  and  Salome; 

2'i: 


'Jesus  Before  rUate. JMAFvK,  XV. His  Cnwifixkm  and  Deaih. 

Bcaying,  "Sir.  we  remember  that  that  de-  See  A.  3. 14.    is;  He  was  theri^lecukrofa 
ceiver_said,while  he  was  yet^ahve,  after  three  yang,  for  our  verse  speaks  of  those  who  had 


,(le 


ct((Vs  I  ifill  rise  again"  ;M.  27.  C3!.  They;  made  insurrection  ^vith  him."  (4.)  He  was 
ejseak  of  this  not  as  a  casual  speech,  once!  "a  notable"  or  'notorious'  character  M  27 
Uttered,  but  as  what  he  had  given  out  re-  16.    8.  the  multitude,  <tc.— This  is  peculiar  to 

folding  his  fate,  and  what  was  well  enough  JNlk.,  and  enables  us  vi\idly  to  realise  the 
uo-\vn  amongst  themselves.  No  doubt  it  rising  of  the  popular  excitement  before 
was  fuU  in  their  minds  at  the  very  time  which  Pilate,  reluctant  as  he  was,  eventually 
when  it  was  agreed  to  bring  up  against  him  gave  way.  lliis  clamour  for  the  exercise  of 
tlus  old  speech;  and  in  this  view,  one  can  his  usual  clemency  at  tlie  feast  probably 
hardly  have  a  doubt  that  by  tliis  time,  at !  suggested  to  Pilate  the  thought  of  another 
least,  they  were  perfectly  aware  that  our  { way  of  saving  his  conscience.  '  I  find  no 
Ijoi-d  lefeired  to  his  death  by  their  hands  aiLdlf&ultiahim;  but  even  if  guilty,  I  offer  liim 
his  resurrection  by  his  own.  But  this  is  con-  j  to  you  as  the  prisoner  of  my  choice,  for  re- 
fi!  med  by  the  next  verse.  59.  But  neither  so  !  lease  at  the  feast,  in  compliance  with  you  r 
did  their  witness  a^ee  together —"  fc-o,"  'in|  vociferous  demands,    ^yill  ye,  then,  that  1 


asserting  this' 


e.   they  varied  in  the  I  release  imto  you  the  King  of  the  Jews 


terms  in  which  it  was  expressed.     [AxF.JIHe  gave  them  their  choice  ot  "  Barahbas  ov 
But  in  this  ca,se,  everything  depended  on  the  \  Jesus  v,hich  is  called  Christ"  (M.  27.  17),  to 


very  terms  alleged  to  have  been  used.  For 
ev(  ry  one  must  see  that  a  very  slight  turn, 
either  way,  given  to  such  words  would  make 
them  either  something  like  indictable  matter, 
or  a  ridicxdous  ground  for  a  criminal  charge 
—would  give  them  a  colourable  pretext  for 
the  charge  of  impiety  wliich  they  were  bent 
on  nialdng  out,  or  make  tlie  Avhole  saying 
appear,  on  the  worst  view  that  could  be 
taken  of  it,  as  merely  some  mystical  or 
eoipty  boast.  60.  the  high-priest  stood  up  . . . 
Answerest  thou  nothing  ?  .  . .  what  is  it  these 
witness  against  thee?— Clearly,  they  felt  that 
their  case  had  failed,  and  by  this  artful 
ciuestion  the  high-priest  hoped  to  get  from 
his  ou-n  mouth  what  they  had  in  vain  tried 
to  get  from  their  false  and  contradJ.;tory 
•witnesses.  But  in  this,  too,  they  failed; 
for  "He  held  His  peace,  and  an.swered  no- 
thing, V.  61.  Again  the  high-priest  asked  hi-m, 
<fcc.— On  this  question,  and  oni'.  62-  G.i,  see  on 
L.  22.  63-71.  66-72.  !<ee  on  L.  22.  65-62. 
CHAPTEE  XV. 
Ver.  1-5.  Jesus  befoiie  Pilate.  See  on 
J.  18.  28,  &c.  1.  in  the  morning  held  a  council 
— IL  3  M'hole  Sanhedrim.  Having  already  de- 
cided at  their  night-meeting,  on  indicting 
Him  before  Pilate,  they  now  met  again,  to 
prepare  their  plans  and  frame  their  charge. 

2.  Pilate  askea  Him,  dzc.—Hee  on  J.  18.  33-38. 

3.  The  silence  of  Jesus  was  the  most  dii^ni- 
fied  and  speaking  reply  to  such  clia^'ges  as 
they  had  to  bring.  5.  answered  yet  notliiiig— 
rather,  '  nothing  more,'  that  is,  than  He  haa 
answered  to  Pilate,  v.  2.  marvelled  greath'— 
already  persuaded,  probably,  of  his  inno- 
cence, and  surprised  he  did  not  refute  their 
charges. 

6-21.  Jesus  aoaii^  before  Pilate— De- 
livered UP— Mocked  by  the  Soldiers 
—Led  away  to  be  Crucified.  To  relieve 
himself.  Pilate  now  sends  the  Prisoner  to 
Herod,  to  whose  jurisdiction  he  had  learnt, 
from  a  casual  remark  of  his  prosecutors, 
that  he  belonged,  andwho  happened  to  be  at 
Jerusalem  at  that  time.  (See  on  L.  23.  6-12.) 
But  Herod  declined,  in  proud  contempt, 
to  do  more  than  make  merriment  of  Him— 
before  Whom  himself  must  in  turn  one  dav 
stand,  and  who  may  then  "laugh  at  his 
calamity,  and  mock  when  his  fear  cometh." 
On  this,  Pilate  judicially  pronounces  Jesus 
innocent  (L.  23.  13-15).  and  here  comes  in 
the  scene  now  before  us.  7.  Barabhas— This 
man  was  (l.)  a  robber,  J.  18.  40.  (2.)  He  was 
"in  prison  and  bound"  for  ''sedition  made 
in  the  city"  (L.  23.  10),  and  for  "murder 
committed  by  him  in  the  insurrection." 

a 


hame  them  into  releasing  Jesus ;  for  he 
knew  that  tor  envy  they  had  delivered  him, 
V.  10,  jealous  of  His  popularity  and  afraid  for 
their  own.  12.  to  him  whom  ye  call  the  Kin? 
of  the  Jews— Bitter  this,  for  it  was  just  what 
they  could  not  endure,  and  Pilate  was  sharp 
enough  to  see  it.  See  v.  v.  13.  In  L.  123.  21) 
the  shocking  cry  is  redoubled.  14.  His  re- 
monstrances are  waxing  I'ccblcr,  and  soon  he 
will  yield  the  point.  Tliey  sec  it.  and  bury 
his  question  in  a  storm  of  "  Crucify  him!" 
See  L.  23.  23.  What  a  scene!  M.  adds  two 
important  particulars  here  u^I.  27.  24-2G,:  (1.) 
"  When  Pilate  saw  that  lie  could  prevail 
nothing"— his  liumiliating  l.'elplessness  was 
manifest  to  him.self— '*  but  that  rather 
a  tumult  was  made,  ho  took  water  and 
washed  his  hands  befcrc  tJifc  multitude, 
saj-ing,  1  am  innocent  of  tl.'O  Llood  of  this 
just  person;  see  ye  to  it"— 'tis  r.ot  so  easy,  O 
Pilate,  to  wash  out  sin,  much  h.ss  th.e  iimo- 
cent  blood  of  the  Holy  One  of  Cod!  But 
thy  testimony  to  Him,  and  to  the  uneasi- 
ness of  thine  own  conscience  in  condemning 
Him,  we  accept  with  all  thankfulness— to  a 
Higher  than  thou.'  (2.)  "  Then  answered  all 
the  people  and  said.  His  blood  be  on  us  and 
on  our  children."  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem, 
how  heavy  has  that  word  been  to  tliee  I 
And  the  dregs  of  that  cup  of  fury,  volun- 
tarily called  aoym.  upon  thine  own  head,  are 
not  all  di-unken  yet.  "But  thou,  U  Lord, 
how  long?"  15.  willing  to  content  the  people, 
delivered  Jesus  to  be  crucified— against  all  jus- 
tice, against  his  own  conscience,  against  his 
pronounced  judicial  decision  t'lat  Jesus 
was  innocent.  See  the  emphatic  statement  of 
L.  23.  25.  when  he  had  scourged  him— In  otter- 
ing this  less  injustice  before  L.  23.  10.  22  ,  as 
a  substitute  for  a  greater,  J^late  was  tlie 
\'ictLm  of  conflicting  emotiou.s.  But  7iow  that 
he  has  brought  himself  to  perpetrate  the 
greater,  can  we  expect  him  to  stick  at  the 
less  ?  And  so,  amidst  the  conflict  of  human 
passions  and  the  advancing  tide  of  crime, 
the  Scripture  was  fuljillcd  which  said,  da 
Messiah's  name,  many  hundred  years  before 
He  came  into  the  world,  "I  gave  my  back  to 
the  smiters  and  my  cheeks  tc  them  that  plucked 
off  the  hair;  I  hid  not  my  face  from  shame 
and  spitting."  lis.  60.  6.)  16-21.  See  on  J. 
19.  1-16. 

22-37.  Crucifixion  and  Death  of  the 
Lord  Jes  us.  See  on  L.  23.  26.  32-46;  and  ou 
J.  19.  10-30. 

38-41.  SioNS  AND  Circumstances  Fol- 
lowing Hi3  Death.  See  on  M.  a?,  6i.6(j; 
andouL.23.  M-^.i 


CIt  list's  resurrection. 


MARK.  XVI. 


His  ascension  into  heaven. 


41  (Who  also,  when  he  was  in  Galilee, 
followed/ him.  and  ministered  unto  him;) 
anil  many  other  women  which  came  up 
with  him  unto  Jerusalem. 

42  %  And  '^  now  when  the  even  was  come, 
because  it  was  the  preparation,  that  is,  the 
day  before  the  sabbath, 

43  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  an  honourable 
counsellor,  which  also  ''waited  for  the 
kiujjdom  of  God,  came,  and  went  in  boldly 
unto  Pilate,  and  craved  the  body  of  Jesus. 

44  And  Pilate  marvelled  if  he  were  al- 
ready dead:  and,  calling  unto  him  the  cen- 
turion, he  asked  him  whether  he  had  been 
any  while  dead. 

45  And  when  he  knew  it  of  the  centurion, 
he  gave  the  body  to  Joseph. 

46  And  » he  bought  fine  linen,  and  took 
him  down,  and  wrapped  him  in  the  linen, 
and  laid  him  in  a  sepulchre  which  was 
hewn  out  of  a  rock,  and  rolled  a  stone  unto 
the  door  of  the  sepulchre. 

47  And  Mary  Magdalene  and  Mary  the 
mother  of  Joses  beheld  where  he  was' laid. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
J  An  angel  declaretk  the  resurrection  of  Christ  to 
three  women:  9  he  apjaeareth  to  Mary  Magda- 
lene, VI  to  two  of  his  disciples  going  into  the 
eountr;/,  14  and  to  the  eleven,  whom  he  commis- 
siotielh  to  preach  the  Oospel  to  all  the  world;  19 
his  ascension  into  heaven;  the  Gospel  is  preached. 


A  ND  "when  the  sabbath  was  past,  Mary 
•^•*-  Magdalene,  and  Mary  the  mother  of 
James,  and  Salome,  *  had  bought  sweet 
spices,  that  they  might  come  and  anoint 
him. 

2  And  *  very  early  in  the  morning,  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  they  came  unto  the 
sepulchre  at  the  rising  of  the  sun. 

3  And  they  said  among  themselves,  Who 

shall  roll  us  aw        '       

of  the  sepulchr 

4  And  when  they  looked,  they  saw  that 
the  stone  was  rolled  away:  for  it  was  very 
great. 

5  And  <*  entering  into  the  sepulchre,  they 
saw  a  young  man  sitting  on  the  right  side, 
clothed  in  a  long  white  garment;  and  they 
were  artrighted. 

6  And  '  he  saith  auto  them.  Be  not  af- 


CHA)'.  15 
/Luke  8.  2. 
a  John  19. 


CHAP.  16. 
a  Alat.  28.  1. 
6  tu.  2a.  56. 
"John  20.1. 
(/  Lu  24.  3. 
e  Mat.  28.  5. 
/  .)..lni  2.  19. 
y  .Mat.  26.32. 

ch.  14.  28. 
h  .Mat.  2S.  8. 
i  John  20.14. 
j  Lu.  8.  Z 
k  Lu.  24.  11. 
I  Lu.  24  36. 

1  Cor.  15.5. 
1  Or, 

together. 
m  John  15. 

16. 
nCol.  1.23. 
o  John  3.  18, 

30. 

Acts  2.  38 

Acta  16  31). 

Rom.  10.  9. 

1  Pet.  3.21. 
p  John  12.48. 
9  Lu.  10.  17. 

Acts  6.  16. 
r  Act.  2.  4. 

Acts  10  16. 

Acts  19.  6. 

1  Cor.  12. 

10,  28. 
«  Acta  28.5. 
t  Arts  9.  17. 

Jam.  6.  14. 

«  Acta  1.2,3. 

V  Lu.  24.  61. 

wPs.  110.  1. 

Acts  7  55. 

Htb.  1.3. 

Rc».  3.  21. 

«  Alts  14.  3. 

1  Cor.  2. 

4,5. 

Heb.  2.  4. 


frighted:  Ye  seek  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  whit-h 
was  crucified:  he  is  /risen;  he  is  not  here: 
behold  the  place  where  they  laid  him. 

7  But  go  your  way,  tell  his  disciples  and 
Peter  that  he  goeth  before  you  into  Gali- 
lee: there  shall  ye  see  him,  "as  he  said 
unto  you. 

8  And  they  went  out  quickly,  and  fled 
from  the  sepulclire ;  for  they  trembled  and 
were  amazed: ''  neither  said  they  any  thing 
to  any  man;  for  they  were  afraid. 

9  f  Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  »he  appeared  first  to 
Mary  Magdalene,  >out  of  whom  he  had 
cast  seven  devils. 

10  And  she  went  and  told  them  that  had 
been  with  him,  as  they  mourned  and  wept. 

11  And  *  they,  when  they  had  heard  that 
he  was  alive,  and  had  been  seen  of  her, 
believed  not. 

12  IT  After  that  he  appeared  in  another 
form  unto  two  of  them,  as  they  walked, 
and  went  into  the  country. 

13  And  they  went  and  tcld  it  unto  the 
residue:  neither  believed  they  them. 

14  IF  Afterward  *he  appeared  unto  the 
eleven  as  they  sat  i  at  meat,  and  upbraided 
them  with  their  unbelief  and  hardness  of 
heart,  because  they  believed  not  them 
which  had  seen  him  after  he  was  risen. 

15  And  "*  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  ♦*  and  preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature. 

16  He  "  that  belie veth  and  is  baptized  shall 
be  saved ;  P  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall 
be  damned. 

17  And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that 
believe:  «In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out 
devils ; ''  they  shall  speak  with  new  tongues : 

18  They  *  shall  take  up  serpents;  and  if 
they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall  not 
hurt  them;  'they  shall  lay  hands  on  the 
sick,  and  they  shall  recover. 

19  %  So  then,  "  after  the  Lord  had  spoken 
unto  them,  he  was  "received  up  into  hea- 
ven, and  ">  sat  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 

20  And  they  went  forth,  and  preached 
every  where,  the  Lord  workuig  with  them, 
and  '  confirming  the  word  with  signs  fol- 
lowing.   Ameu. 


THE    GOSPEL    ACCORDING    TO 


S.   LUKE 


CHAPTER  I. 
1  Ia^'s  preface.    6  The  conception  of  John  Bap- 
tist, 26  and  of  Christ.    57   The  nativity  and 
circumcision  of  John.  64  The  mouth  of  Zacharias 
opened:  67  Aw  prophecy. 

TfORASMUCH  as  many  have  taken  in 
•*-  hand  to  set  forth  in  order  a  declaration 
of  "  those  things  which  are  most  surely 
believed  among  us, 

2  Kven  6  as  they  delivered  them  unto  us, 
which 'from  the  beginning  were  eye-wit- 
nesses, and  ministers  of  the  word; 

3  It  <*  seemed  good  to  me  also,  having  had 
perfect  understanding  of  all  things  from 
the  very  first,  to  write  unto  thee  •  in  order, 
most/  excellent  Theophilus, 

4  That  «'  thou  mightest  know  the  cer- 
t.iinty  of  those  things,  wherein  thou  hast 
been  instructed. 

12 


CHAP.  J. 

0  1  Ti.  3. 16. 
b  Heb.  2.  3. 

1  Pet.  5.  1. 

2  Pet.  1.16. 

c  John  15.27. 
<i  1  Cor.  7. 40. 
e  Acta  11.  4. 
/Actal.  1. 
g  John  20.31. 
A  Mat.  2.  1. 
i  Neh.  12.  4. 
j  2  Ki.  20.  3. 
ft  2  Chr.  8. 
li. 

1  Ex.  30.  7,8. 

17. 


5  IT  T'lIERE  was,  » in  the  days  of  Herod 

•^  the  king  of  Judea,  a  certain  priest 
named  Zacharias,  •  of  the  course  of  Abia: 
and  his  wife  was  of  the  daughters  of  Aaron, 
and  her  name  was  Elisabeth. 

6  And  they  were  both  /  righteous  be- 
fore God,  walking  in  all  the  command- 
ments and  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blame- 
less. 

7  And  they  had  no  child,  because  that 
Elisabeth  was  barren ;  and  they  both  were 
noiv  well  stricken  in  years. 

8  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  while  he  exe- 
cuted the  priest's  oifice  before  God  *in  the 
order  of  his  course, 

9  According  to  the  custom  of  the  priest's 
office,  his  lot  was '  to  burn  incense  when  he 
went  into  the  temple  of  the  Lord. 

10  And  ""the  whole  multitude  of  tha 


CLrist's  llesui-rectloii. 


J^rARK,  iLVI. 


Bis  Ascension  into  Heaven, 


42-47.    BuKiAL  OF  CHRIST.    See  on  L.  23. 

50-52.  55.  56;  &  J.  19.  31,  39  41. 
CHAPTER  XVI. 
Ver.  1-8.  A-N-GELio  Announcement  to 
THE  "Women  that  Christ  is  Risen.  1. 
sabbath  past— i.e.  at  sunset  of  our  Saturday. 
had  bought— simply  '  bought  ;*  but,  as  ap- 
pears from  L.  23.  56.  immediately  after  the 
Crucifixion  on  Friday  evening,  and  only 
deferring  the  anointing  till  tlae  sabbath- 
rest  should  be  over.  Mary  Magdalene. 
See  on  L.  8.  2.  Mary  the  mother  of  James— 
"James  the  less.  ch.  15,  40,  the  same 
probably  with  "  the  son  of  Alpheus,"  ch. 
3.  18.  Salome— "the  mother  of  Zebedee's 
children."  James  and  John  ;  as  is  next  to 
certain  from  comparing  ch.  15.  40.  with  M. 
27.  56.  auoint— See  on  J.  19. 40.  2.  at  the  ris- 
ing of  the  sun— not  literally,  but  at  earliest 
dawn;  according  to  a  way  of  speaking  not 
uncommon,  and  occurring  sometimes  in  the 
O.  T.  Thus  our  Lord  rose  on  tlie  third  day ; 
having  lain  in  the  grave  part  of  Friday,  the 
whole  of  Saturday,  and  part  of  the  following 
day.  3,  4.  said  among  themselves— on  their 
way  to  the  sepulchre.  Though  the  stone  was 
too  great  for  them  to  remove,  without  which 
their  spices  had  been  useless,  they  come  not- 
withstanding;  discussing  their  difficulty, 
yet  undeterred  by  it.  On  reaching  it  they 
find  their  difficulty  gone— the  stone  already 
rolled  away  by  an  unseen  hand.  And  are 
there  no  others  who,  when  advancinq  to  duty 
in  the  face  of  appalling  difJicaUies,Jind  their 
stone  also  rolled  av:ay  ?  5.  a  young  man — "  the 
angel  of  the  Lord,"  as  M.  (28.  2,  culls  him,  but 
here  described  just  as  he  appeared  to  the 
eye,  in  the  bloom  of  a  life  that  knovjs  no  de- 
cay. In  M.  he  is  represented  as  sitting  on  the 
stone  outside  the  sepulchre;  but  since  even 
there  he  says  *'  Come,  see  the  place  where  the 
Lord  lay,"  M.  28.  6.!  he  seems  to  have  gone  in 
with  them  from  without  [Alf.],  only  awaiting 
their  arrival  to  accompany  them  into  the 
wondrous  spot,  and  instruct  them  about  it. 
on  the  right  side— having  respect  to  the  po- 
sition in  which  His  Lord  had  lain  there. 
This  trait  is  peculiar  to  Mk.  But  cf.  L.  1. 
11;  M.  25.  33.  long— Isa.  6.  2.  white— See 
on  M.  28.  3.  affrighted— a  stronger  word 
than  "  fear"  in  M.  28.  5.  7.  and  Peter— il/fc.'s 
Go-q)el  being  drawn  up  (as  all  the  earliest  tra- 
dition states)  under  the  eye  of  Peter,  or  from 
materials  chiefly  furnished  by  him,  there  is 
something  d.ej:ply  a.tf'ecting  in  the  preservation 
of  this  little  clause  by  Mk.  alone,  as  well  as  in 


the  clause  itself,  which  it  is  impossible  not  to 
connect  with  the  cloiid  under  which  Peter 
lay  in  the  eyes  of  the  eleven,  not  to  say 
in  his  own  also.  Doubtless  the  "  look " 
of  Jesus,  and  the  "bitter  weeping"  which 
followed  upon  it,  fL.  22.  61,  62.)  contain- 
ed all  the  materials  of  a  settlement  and 
reconciliation;  but  s^ich  wounds  are. not 
easily  healed ;  and  this  was  but  the  first  of  a 
series  of  medicinal  touches,  the  rest  of  which 
will  follow  anon. 

9-20.  Appearances  of  Jesus  after  His 
Resurrection — His  Ascension— Trium- 
phant Proclamation  of  His  Gospel.  9. 
first  to  Mary  Magdalene— there  is  some  diffi- 
culty here,  and  different  ways  of  removing 
it  have  been  adopted.  She  had  gone  -w-ith 
the  other  women  to  the  sepulchre  {v.  1.)  ; 
parting  from  them,  perhaps  before  their  in- 
terview with  the  angel,  and  finding  Peter 
and  John,  she  had  come  with  them  back  to 
the  spot ;  and  it  was  at  this  second  visit,  it 
would  seem, that  Jesus  appeared  to  this  Mary 
as  detailed  m  J.  20. 11-18.  To  a  woman  was 
this  honour  given  to  be  the  first  that  saw  the 
risen  Redeemer-  and  that  woman  %vas  not 
his  virgin  mother.  11.  believed  not— this, 
once  and  again  repeated  of  them  all,  is  most 
important  in  its  bearing  on  their  subsequent 
testimony  to  His  resurrection,  even  unto 
death.  12, 13— See  on  L.  24.  13,  &c.  14. 15— 
See  on  J.  20. 19-23,  and  L.  24.  36-49.  16.  be- 
lieveth  and  is  baptized— baptism  is  here  put 
for  the  external  signature  of  the  inner  faith 
of  the  heart,  just  as  "  confessing  with  the 
mouth"  is  in  R.  10.  10 ;  and  there  also  as  here 
this  outward  manifestation.once  mentioned, 
as  the  proper  fruit  of  faith,  is  not  repeated  in 
what  fol  ows,  R.  10.  11.  saved  .  .  .  damned— 
These  awful  issues  of  the  reception  or  rejec- 
tion of  the  Gospel,  though  often  recorded  in 
other  connections,  are  given  in  this  connec- 
tion only  by  Mk.,  as  also  the  "signs"  enume- 
rated in  v.  18.  19.  See  on  L.  24. 50.  (fee.  the  Lord 
—applied  to  Jesus  by  ]\Ik.  himself  in  this  and 
the  following  verses  only,  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God— here  only  related,  but  after- 
wards perpetually  referred  to  as  a  glorious 
fact.  20.  the  Lord— t/^e  Lord  Jesus,  (see  on  v. 
19.)  a  most  important  link  of  connection  with 
the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  where  He  who  di- 
rected all  the  movements  of  the  infant 
Church  is  perpetually  styled  "  the  Lord;" 
thus  illustrating  his  own  promise  for  the 
founding  and  building  up  of  the  Church, 
"  Lo,  I  AM  AViTH  YOU  alway!" 


THE   GOSPEL    ACCOPvDING   TO 


S.  LUKE 


CHAPTER  L 
Ver.  1-4.  It  appears  from  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles  and  the  Apostolic  Epistles, 
that  the  earliest  preaching  of  the  Gos- 
pel consisted  of  a  brief  summary  of  the 
facts  of  our  Lord's  eartlily  history,  with  a 
few  words  of  pointed  application  to  the 
parties  addressed.  Of  these  astonishing 
facts,  notes  would  naturally  be  taken  and 
digests  put  into  circulation.  It  is  to  such 
that  Luke  here  refers;  and  in  terms  of 
studied  respect,  as  narratives  of  what  was 
•*  believed  surely,"  or  "  on  sure  grounds"  I 
42 


among  Cliristians,  and  drawn  up  from  the 
testimony  of  "  eye-witnesses  and  ministerins 
servants  of  the  word."  But  when  he  adds 
that  "it  seemed  good  to  him  also  to  write  in 
order,  having  traced  do^\Ti  all  things  with 
exactness  from  their  first  rise,"  it  is  a 
virtual  claim  for  his  own  Gospel  to  su- 
persede these  "  many"  narratives.  Accord- 
ingly, while  not  one  of  them  has  survived 
the  wreck  of  time,  this  and  the  other  cano- 
nical Gospels  Hve.  and  shall  live,  the  only 
fitting  vehicles  of  those  life-bringing  facts 
which  have  made  all  things  new.  Apocryph  al 
F 


John  the  Baptist's  bb-th  foretold. 


LUKE,  I. 


Mary's  song  of  thanksgiving. 


the 


Eeople  were  praying  without  at  the  time  of 
icense. 

11  And  there  appeared  unto  him  an  angel 
of  the  Lord  stautling  on  the  right  side  of 
the  altar  of  incense. 

12  And  when  Zachariassaw/iim,  "he  was 
tn  lubled,  and  fear  fell  upon  him. 

13  lint  the  angel  said  unto  him.  Fear  not, 
Zacharias:  for  "thy  prayer  is  heard;  and 
thy  wife  Ehsabeth  shall  bear  thee  a  sou, 
and  thou  shalt  call  his  name  John. 

U  And  thou  shalt  have  joy  and  gl 
and  many  siiall  rejoice  at  his  birth. 

15  For  he  shall  be  ^ great  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord,  and  « shall  drink  neither  wine 
nor  strong  diink;  and  he  shall  be  tilled  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  *■  even  from  his  mother's 
womb. 

l(j  And  'many  of  the  children  of  Israel 
filiall  he  turn  to  the  Lord  their  God. 

17  And  « he  shall  go  before  him  in  the 
siiiiit  and  power  of  Elias,  to  turn  the  hearts 
01  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  dis- 
otjedient  ifo  the  wisdom  ot  the  just;  "- 
make  ready  a  people  prepai-ed  for  "■ 
Lord. 

IS  And  Zacharias  said  unto  the  angel, 
Whereby  "shall  1  know  this?  for  I  am  an 
old  man,  and  my  wife  well  stricken  in 
yiars. 

19  And  the  angel  answering  said  unto 
him,  1  am  ^  Gabriel,  that  stand  in  the 
presence  of  God;  and  am  sent  to  speak 
unto  thee,  and  to  show  thee  these  glad 
tidmgs. 

20  And,  behold,  *  thou  shalt  be  dumb,  and 
not  able  to  speak,  until  the  day  that  these 
things  shall  be  performed,  because  thou 
believest  not  my  words,  which  shall  be 
fultilled  in  their  season. 

21  And  the  people  ^  waited  for  Zacharias, 
and  marvelled  that  he  tai'ried  so  long  in 
the  temple. 

22  And  when  he  came  out,  he  could  not 
siieak  unto  them:  and  they  perceived  that 
he  had  seen  a  vision  in  the  temple ;  for  he 
beckoned  unto  them,  and  remained  speech- 
less. 

23  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  soon  as 
the  *  days  of  his  ministration  were  accom- 
plished, he  departed  to  his  own  house. 

24  And  after  those  days  his  wife  Ehsabeth 
conceived,  and  hid  herself  live  months, 
sayiu", 

25  Thus  hath  the  Lord  dealt  with  me  in 
the  days  wherein  he  looked  on  me,  to  "  take 
a>vay  my  reproach  among  men. 

2(>  If  And  in  the  sixth  month  the  angel 
Gabriel  was  sent  from  God  unto  a  city  of 
Galilee,  named  Nazareth, 

27  To  a  *  virgin  espoused  to  a  man  whose 
name  was  Joseph,  of  the  house  of  David 
and  the  virgin's  name  was  ^lary. 

28  And  the  angel  came  in  unto  her,  and 
said.  Hail!  thou  that  art  2  highly  favoured, 
tne  Lord  is  with  thee:  blessed  art  thou 
among  women! 

29  And  when  she  saw  him,  sue  was 
troubled  at  his  saying,  and  cast  in  her 
mind  what  manner  of  salutation  this  should 
be. 

30  And  the  angel  said  unto  her.  Fear  not, 
ilary;  for  thou  hast  found  favour  with 
God. 

31  And,  'behold,  thou  shak  conceive  in 
thy  womb,  and  bring  forth  a  son,  and  shalt 
c»ill  his  name  JESUS. 

a!  lie  shall  be  ^ great,  and  shall  be  called 
i3 


CHAP.  1 
»  Dan.  10. 


Gen.  •^.■n. 

1  Sa  1  19. 
P  Mat.  11.11. 
q  Nu.  6  3. 

JuJ?  13.4. 

ch.  7.  Xi. 
r  Jer.  1.  5. 

Gal.  1.  15. 
«  Mai.  4.  5,li. 
(Mat    11.14. 

Mark  9. 12. 
1  Or,  by. 


•Mat.  IS.IO. 

Heb.  1.  14. 
«  Eze.  3.  26. 

£ie  24.27. 
V  -Nu.  b.  23. 
2  2Ki.  11  5. 
a  Gen.  30.23. 
6  U.  7.  14. 

Mat.  1. 18. 
a  Or, 

graciously 

a-'cepte*!, 

c  Gal.  4  4. 
d  1  Ti.  6. 15. 

Phil  2.  10. 
e  2  Sa.  7.  U. 

Pi.  132. 11. 

1b.  9.  6,  7. 

Is.  16.  5. 

Jer.  23.  5. 

Kev.  3.  7. 
f  Dan   2.  44. 

Dan.  7.  14. 

Oliad.  21. 

Mic.  4.  7. 

Jolm  12.34. 


g  Mat.  14.33. 

Mat.  26.03. 

»lark  1.  1. 

Jolm  1.  34. 

John  20  31. 

Acta  8  37. 

Kom  1.4. 
h  Gen.  ia.l4. 

Jer.  32.17. 

Zech.  8.  6. 

R.mi.  4.21. 
t  Joah   21.  9. 


Acts 


»»  Mai.  3.  12. 

ch  11.27. 
o  Gen.  17.  7. 

El.  20.  6. 

Ps.  103.17, 
P  Ps.  93.  1. 

Pa.  118.15 
9  Ps.  33. 10 

1  Pet  5.  5 
r  1  Sa.  2.  6. 

Pa.  113.  0. 
e  Ps.  34   10. 

t  Ps.  ys.  3. 

Jor.  31.  3, 


the  Son  of  the  Highest:  and  '  the  Loid  God 
shall  give  unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father 
DaA-id: 

33  And /he  shall  reign  over  the  house  of 
Jacob  for  ever;  and  of  his  kingdom  there 
shall  be  no  end. 

31  Then  said  Mary  unto  the  angel.  How 
shall  this  be,  seeing  I  know  not  a  man? 

35  And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto 
her.  The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee, 
ana  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  over- 
shadow thee:  therefore  also  that  holy  thing 
which  shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called 
the  ^  Son  of  God. 

36  And,  behold,  thy  cousin  Elisabeth,  she 
hath  also  conceived  a  son  in  her  old  ai,'e: 
and  this  is  the  sixth  month  with  her,  who 
was  called  barren. 

37  For  ''with  God  nothing  shall  be  im- 
possible. 

38  And  Mary  said.  Behold  the  handmaid 
of  the  Lord ;  he  it  unto  me  according  to  thy 
word.    And  the  angel  departed  from  her. 

39  II  And  Mary  arose  in  those  days,  and 
went  into  the  hiU  country  with  haste, » into 
a  city  of  Juda; 

40  And  entered  into  the  house  of  Zacha- 
rias, and  saluted  Elisabeth. 

41  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Elisa- 
beth heard  the  salutation  of  Mary,  the  babe 
leaped  in  her  womb;  and  Elisabeth  was 
hlled.''  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 

42  And  she  spake  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
and  said,  *  Blessed  artthou  among  women, 
and  blessed  is  the  tiuit  of  thy  womb. 

43  And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that  the 
mother  of  my  Lord  should  come  to  me? 

44  For,  lo,  as  soon  as  the  voice  of  thy 
salutation  sounded  in  mine  ears,  the  babe 
leaped  in  my  womb  for  joy. 

45  And  blessed  is  she  <*that  believed:  for 
there  shall  be  a  performance  of  those  thhiga 
which  were  told  her  from  the  Lord. 

4(5  %  And  Mary  said,  *  My  soul  doth  mag- 
nify the  Lord, 

47  And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my 
Saviour. 

48  For  "  he  hath  regarded  the  low  estate 
of  his  handmaiden :  for,  behold,  from 
henceforth  "  all  generations  shall  call  me 
blessed. 

49  For  he  that  is  mighty  hath  done  to  me 
great  things ;  and  holy  is  his  name. 

50  And  "  his  mercy  is  on  them  that  fear 
him  from  generation  to  generation. 

51  He  ^nath  showed  strength  with  hia 
arm:  'he  hath  scattered  the  proud  in  the 
imagination  of  theur  hearts. 

52  He  ''hath  put  down  the  mighty  from 
Iheir  seats,  and  exalted  them  of  low  degree. 

53  He  *  hath  filled  the  hungry  with  good 
things;  and  the  rich  he  hath  sent  empty 
away. 

54  He  hath  holpen  his  ser^-ant  Israel,  *  iu 
remembianee  of /iis  mercy, 

55  As  "  he  spake  to  om-  lathers,  to  Abra- 
ham, and  to  his  seed  for  ever. 

56  And  Mary  abode  with  her  about  three 
months,  and  returned  to  her  own  house. 

57  U  Now  Elisabeth's  full  time  came  that 
she  should  be  delivered ;  and  she  brought 
forth  a  son. 

58  And  her  neighbours  and  her  cousins 
heard  how  the  Lord  had  showed  gr»at 
mercy  upon  her;  and  they  rejoiced  witn 
her, 

59  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  "on  the 
eiglilh  (lay  thiy  came  to  cutiancise  toe 


John  the  Baptises 


LUKE,  I. 


Lirih  Fo'rdold. 


or  spurious  gospels,  upheld  by  parties  Tin- 
friendly  to  the  truths  exhibited  in  the  cano- 
nical(>ospels  have  noiperished;  but  thosewell- 
meaut  and  substantially  correct  narratives 
here  referred  to,  used  only  while  better  were 
not  to  be  had,  were  by  tacit  consent  allowed 
to  merge  in  the  four  peerless  documents 
which  from  age  to  age,  and  \vith  astonishing 
unanimity,  have  been  accepted  as  the 
■^^Titten  Charter  of  all  Christianity,  to  set 
forth  iu  order— more  simply,  '  to  draw  up  a 
narrative. '  from  the  beginning— that  is, 
of  His  public  ministry,  as  is  plain  from  what 
follows,  from  the  very  first— that  is,  from 
the  very  earliest  events ;  referring  to  those 
precious  details  of  the  birth  and  early  life, 
not  only  of  our  Lord,  but  of  his  forerunner, 
which  we  owe  to  Luke  alone,  iu  order— or 
"  consecutively"— in  contrast,  probably,  with 
the  disjointed  productions  t'  <  wliich  he  had 
referred.  But  this  must  not  be  pressed  too 
far;  for,  on  comparing  it  with  the  other 
Gospels,  we  see  that  in  some  particulars  the 
strict  chronological  order  is  not  observed 
in  this  gospel,  most  excellent — or  '  most 
noble  '—a  title  of  rank  applied  by  this  same 
writer  twice  to  Felix  and  once  to  Festus 
(A.  23.  26;  24.  3:  26.  2.5.).  It  is  likely,  tliere- 
fore,  that  "  Theophilus "  was  chief  magi- 
strate of  some  city  La  (rreece  or  Asia  Minor. 
[w.  &  w.l  that  thou  mightest  know—'  know 
thoroughly.'  hast  been  instructed— *  orally 
instructed '—?if.  'catechized'  or  '  catecheti- 
cally  taujiht,'  at  first  as  a  catechumen  or 
candidate  for  Christian  Baptism. 

Ver.  5-25.  Announceme-nt  of  the  Foke- 
RUNNER.  5.  Heroa— See  on  M.  2.  l.  course 
of  Abia— or  Abijah— the  eighth  of  the  twenty- 
four  orders  or  courses  into  wliich  David 
divided  the  priests.  See  l  Chr.  24.  1,  4,  10. 
Of  these  courses  only  four  returned  after 
the  captivity  Ezra,  2. 36-39.), which  were  again 
subdivided  into  twenty-four— retaining  the 
ancient  name  and  order  of  each.  They  took 
the  whole  Temple-service  for  a  week  each, 
his  wife  was  of  the  daughters  of  Aaron— The 
priests  might  marry  into  any  tribe, but '  it  was 
most  commendable  of  all  to  marry  one  of 
the  priest's  line.'  [Lft.]  6.  commandments 
and  ordinances  —  Tlie  one  expressing  their 
mo )'a?— the  other  their  ceremonial  obedience. 
FCal.  Beng.]  cf.  Ez.  11.20;  He.  9.  1.  It  has 
been  denied  that  any  such  distinction  was 
known  to  the  Jews  and  N.  T.  writers.  But 
Mk.  12. 33,  and  other  passages,  put  this  beyond 
aU  reasonable  doubt.  7.  So  with  Abraham 
and  Sarah,  Isaac  and  Rebekah,  Elkanah  and 
Hannah,  Manoah  and  his  wife.  9.  his  lot  to 
burn  incense  — The  part  assigned  to  each 
priest  in  his  week  of  service  was  decided  by 
lot.  Three  were  employed  at  the  offering  of 
incense— to  remove  the  ashes  of  the  former 
service;  to  brinw  in  and  place  on  the  golden 
altar  the  pan  lilled  with  hot  burning  coals 
taken  from  the  altar  of  burnt-offering;  and 
to  sprinkle  the  incense  on  the  hot  coals; 
and,  while  the  smoke  of  it  ascended,  to  make 
intercession  for  the  people.  This  was  the 
most  distinguished  part  of  the  service  (Eev. 
8.  3,)  and  this  was  what  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Zachaiias  at  this  time.  [Lft.]  10.  praying 
without— outside  the  court  in  front  of  the 
temple,  where  stood  the  altar  of  burnt- 
otlering;  the  men  and  women  in  separate 
courts,  but  the  altar  visible  to  all.  the  time 
of  incense- which  was  offered  along  with  tlie 
morning  and  evening  sacrifice  of  everyday: 
43 


a  beautiful  symbol  of  the  acceptableness  of 
the  sacrijice  offered  on  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering,  with  coals  from  whose  altar  the 
incense  was  burnt  (Le.  16. 12, 13.).  This  again 
was  a  symbol  of  the  "living  sacrifice"  ol 
themselves  and  their  services  offered  daily  to 
God  by  the  worshippers.  Hence  the  language 
of  Ps.  141.  2;  Re.  8.  3.  But  that  the  accept- 
ance of  this  daily  offering  depended  on  the 
expiatory  virtue  presupposed  in  the  burnt- 
otfering,  and  pointing  to  the  one  "  sacrifice 
of  a  sweet-smelling  savour,"  (Eph.  5.  2  i  is 
evident  from  Is.  6.  6,  7.  11.  right  side— the 
south  side,  between  the  altar  and  the  candle- 
stick, Zacharias  being  on  the  north  side,  in 
front  of  the  altar,  while  offering  incense, 
[w.  &  w.]  But  why  there?  The  right  was 
the  favourable  side,  M.  25.  33.  [Sch.  & 
AVetst.  in  Mey.i,  cf.  JVIk.  16.  5.  13.  thy 
prayer  is  heard- doubtless  for  offspring,  which 
by  some  presentiment  he  even  yet  had  not 
despaired  of.  John— the  .same  as  "  Johanan," 
so  frequent  in  the  O.  T.,  meaning  '  Jehovah  s 
gracious  gift.  14.  shall  rejoice— so  they  did  [v. 
58,  66.)  ;  but  the  meaning  rather  is.  '  shall 
have  cause  to  rejoice  '—it  would  prove  to 
many  a  joyful  event.  15.  ffreat  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord— nearer  to  Him  in  offi- 
cial standing  than  all  the  prophets. 
See  on  M.  11.  10,  11.  drink  neither  wine, 
&c.— i.e.,  shall  be  a  Nazarite,  or  '  a  separated 
one,'  Num.  6. 2,  (fcc.  As  the  leper  was  the  living 
symbol  of  mn,  so  was  the  Nazarite  of  holiness: 
nothing  inflaming  was  to  cross  his  lips;  nc 
rizor  to  come  on  his  head ;  no  ceremonial 
defilement  to  be  contracted.  Thus  was  he 
to  be  "  holy  to  the  Lord  ceremonially  all 
the  days  of  his  separation."  Tliis  separation 
was  in  ordinary  cases  temporary  and  volun- 
tary: only  Samson  (Ju.  13.  7.),  Samuel  (1  Sa. 
1.  11.),  and  John  Bai  tist,  were  Nazarites 
from  the  womb.  It  was  fitting  that  the 
utmost  severity  of  legal  consecration 
should  be  seen  in  Christ's  forerunner.  He 
was  the  Reality  and  PerfectioxV  of  the 
Nazarite  without  the  symbol,  which  perish- 
ed in  that  living  realization  of  it:—"  Such 
an  High  Priest  became  us,  who  was  sepa- 
rate from  sinners"  (He.  7.  26.).  filled  with 
Holy  Ghost  from  womb— a  holy  vessel  for  future 
service.  16,17.  A  religious  and  moral  refoom- 
er,  Elijah-like,  he  should  be  (Mai.  4.  6.  where 
the  "  turning  of  the  people's  heart  to  the 
Lord"  is  borrowed  from  l  Ki.  18.  37.)  In 
both  cases  their  success,  though  great  was 
partial— the  nation  was  not  gained,  before 
Him— before  "  the  Lord  their  God,"  v.  16. 
By  comparing  this  with  Mai.  3. 1,  and  Is.  40. 
3,  it  is  plainly  "  Jehovah  "  in  the  flesh  ol 
Messiah  [Cal.;  Olsh.1  before  whom  John 
was  to  go,  as  a  herald  to  announce  his  ap- 
proach, and  a  pioneer  to  prepare  his  way. 
in  the  spirit— after  the  model,  and  power  of 
Elias— not  his  miraculous  power,  for  "  John 
did  no  miracle"  iJ.  10.  41.)  but  his  power  in 
•'  turning  the  heart."  or  with  like  success  in 
his  ministry.  Both  fell  on  degenerate  times; 
both  witnessed  fearlessly  for  God;  neither 
appeared  much  save  in  the  direct  exercise  of 
their  ministry :  both  were  at  the  head  of 
schools  of  disciples;  the  success  of  both  was 
similar,  fathers  to  the  children— taken  lUe- 
rady,  this  denotes  the  restoration  of  parental 
fidelity  [Mey.  &c.],  the  decay  of  which  is  the 
beginning  of  religious  and  social  corruption- 
one  prominent  feature  of  the  coming  revival 
beiug  put  for  the  whole.    But  what  follows. 


Zaeharias's  prophecy  of  John. 


LUKE,  11. 


The  birth  of  Jems  Christ, 


ctiild ;  and  they  called  him  Zacharias,  after 
the  name  of  his  father. 

60  And  his  mother  answered  and  said, 
Not  so;  but  he  shall  be  called  John. 

61  And  they  said  unto  her.  There  is 
none  of  thy  kindred  that  is  called  by  this 
name. 

62  And  they  made  signs  to  his  father,  how 
he  would  have  him  called. 

63  And  he  asked  for  a  writing  table,  and 
wrote,  sajiiig.  His  name  is  John.  And  they 
mar\'elled  all. 

64  And  hia  mouth  was  opened  imme- 
diately, and  his  tongue  loosed,  and  he 
Bpake,  and  praised  God. 

65  And  fear  came  on  all  that  dwelt  round 
about  them:  and  all  these  *  sayings  were 
noised  abroad  throughout  all  the  hill 
country  of  J  udea. 

66  And  all  they  that  heard  them  ^  laid 
them  up  in  their  hearts,  saying.  What 
manner  of  child  shall  t  his  be!  And  *  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  was  with  him. 

67  1[  And  his  father  Zacharias  ^  was  filled 
with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  prophesied,  say- 

68  lilessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel;  for 
he  hath  visited  and  redeemed  his  people, 

69  And  hath  raised  up  an  horn  of  salva- 
tion for  us  in  the  house  of  his  servant 
l;a\'id: 

70  As  *  he  epake  by  the  mouth  of  his  holy 
prophets,  which  have  been  since  the  world 
began; 

71  That  we  should  be  saved  from  our 
enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of  all  that 
hate  us; 

72  To  "  perform  the  mercy  promised  to 
GUI'  fathers,  and  to  remember  his  holy 
covenant. 

73  The  A  oath  which  he  sware  to  our  father 
Abraham, 

74  That  he  would  grant  unto  us,  that  we, 
being  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  our  ene- 
mies, might "  serve  him  without  fear, 

75  In  "^holiness  and  ritrhteousness  before 
him,  all  the  days  of  our  life. 

76  And  thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the 
Prophet  of  the  Highest:  for  *  thou  shalt  go 
before  the  face  of  the  Lord  to  prepare  his 
wais: 

77  To  give  knowledge  of  salvation  unto 
his  people,  &  by  the  remission  of  their 
sins, 

78  Through  the  6  tender  mercy  of  our  God, 
whereby  the  7  dayspring  from  on  high  hath 
visited  us, 

79  To /give  light  to  them  that  sit  in  dark- 
ness and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to  guide 
our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace. 

_  80  And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong 
in  spirit,  and  was  in  the  deserts  till  the  day 
of  his  showing  unto  IsiaeL 

CHAPTER  IL 
1  Augtistus  taxeth  the  Roman  empire.   6  Christ's 

nativity:  i!l  Ms  circumcision:  Hi  he  questioneth 

tfte  doctors,  etc. 

A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that 
•^^  there  went  out  a  decree  from  Cesar 
Augustus,  that  all  the  world  should  be 
1  taxed. 

2  [And  this  taxing  was  first  made  when 
Cyrenius  was  governor  of  Syria.) 

3  And  all  went  to  be  taxed,  every  one  into 
his  own  city. 

4  And  Joseph  also  went  up  from  Galilee, 
out  of  the  city  of  Nazareth,  into  J  udea, 
UJito  *  the  city  of  David,  which  is  called 

44 


CHAP.  1. 
4  Or,  things. 
f  cli.  2.  19. 
«  Gen.  39.  2. 
Ps.  80.  17. 
Ps.  89.  21. 
Act.  11. 
21. 
V  2  Chr.  20. 
14. 

Joel  2.  28. 

«  Jer.  23.  6. 

Jer.  30.  10. 

Dan.  9.  24. 

Acts  3.  21. 

Rom.  1.  2. 

1  Lev.  26.42. 

b  Gen.  12.  3. 

Heb.  6.  13. 

c  Rom.  6.  18. 

Heb.  9.  14. 


d  Je 


.32. 


Bl'h.  4.  24. 

2  Thess.  2. 

13. 

2  Ti.  1.  9. 

Tit   2.  12. 

1  Pet.  1.15. 

2  Pet.  I.  4. 
«  Is.  40.  3. 

Mai.  3.  1. 

JVIat.  11.10. 
6  Or,  tor. 
6  Or,  boweU 


Nu.  24.  17. 
l9.  11.  1. 
Zech.  3.  8. 
Zoch.  B.12. 
Mai.  4.  2. 
fla.9.2. 


CHAP.  2. 

1  Or, 
enrolled  in 
order  to  be 
Uxed. 
Acts  &.  37. 

a  1  Sa.  16.  1. 

Mic.  5.  2. 
6  M.it.  1.  10. 
«  Gal.  4.  4. 
d  Is.  53.  2. 

2  Cor.  4.  4. 

2  Or,  the 
night 

e  Gen.  12.  3. 

Col.  1.  23. 
f  Is.  9.  0. 
g  Phil.  2. 11. 
A  Gen.  28  12. 

Pa.  103.20. 

Dan.  7. 10. 


He 


1  John  4.9. 
3  the  men 
the  shep- 


l  Mat.  1.  21. 
•»  Lev.  12.  2. 
n  £i.  13.  2. 
o  Is.  *).  1. 

Mar.  15.  43. 
P  Ps.  89. 48. 

Beb.  11.  5. 


Bethlehem,  (*  because  he  was  of  the  house 
and  lineage  of  David,) 

5  To  be  taxed  with  Mary  his  espoused 
wife,  being  great  with  child. 

6  And  so  it  was,  that,  while  they  were 
there,  the  days  were  accomplished  that  she 
should  be  delivered. 

7  And  '^she  brought  forth  her  first-bom 
son,  and  wrapped  him  in  swaddliiis<  clothes, 
and  laid  him  in  "'a  manger;  because  there 
was  no  room  for  them  in  the  inn. 

8  IT  And  there  were  in  the  same  country 
shepherds  abiding  in  the  field,  keeping 
2  watch  over  their  flock  by  night. 

9  And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came 
upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone 
round  about  them;  and  they  were  sore 
afraid. 

10  And  the  angel  said  unto  them,  Fear 
not;  for,  behold,  I  bring  you  good  tid- 
ings of  great  joy,  '  which  snail  be  to  all 
people. 

11  For  /unto  you  is  bom  this  day,  in  the 
city  of  David,  a  Saviour, «'  which  is  Chiist 
the  Lord. 

12  And  this  sMll  be  a  sign  unto  you;  Ye 
shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling 
clothes,  lying  in  a  manger. 

13  And '» suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel 
a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  praising 
God,  and  saying, 

14  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
earth  » peace, }  good  will  toward  men. 

15  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the  angels  were 
gone  away  from  them  into  heaven,  3  the 
shepherds  said  one  to  another.  Let  us  now 
go  even  unto  Dethlehem.  and  see  this  thing 
which  is  come  to  pass,  which  the  Lord  hath 
made  known  unto  us. 

16  And  they  came  with  haste,  and  found 
Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  babe  lying  in  a 
manger. 

17  And  when  they  had  seen  it,  they  made 
known  abroad  the  saying  which  was  told 
them  concerning  this  child. 

18  And  all  they  tliat  heard  it  wondered  at 
those  things  which  were  told  them  by  the 
shepherds. 

19  But  Mary  kept  all  these  things,  and 
pondered  them  in  her  heart. 

20  And  the  shepherds  returned,  glorifying 
and  praising  God  for  all  the  things  that 
they  had  heard  and  seen,  as  it  was  told 
unto  them. 

21  ir  And  *  when  eight  days  were  accom- 

Elished  for  the  circumcising  of  the  child, 
is  name  was  called  '  JLSDS.  which  was 
so  named  of  the  angel  before  he  was  con- 
ceived  in  the  womb. 

22  And  when  "•  the  days  of  her  purifica- 
tion according  to  the  law  of  Aloses  were 
accomplished,  they  brought  him  to  Jeru- 
salem, to  present  him  to  the  Lord; 

23  (As  it  13  written  in  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
Every  "  male  thatopeneth  the  womb  shall 
be  called  holy  to  the  Lord;) 

24  And  to  ofl'er  a  sacrifice  according  to 
that  which  is  said  in  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
A  pair  of  turtle  doves,  or  two  young 
pigeons. 

25  And,  behold,  there  was  a  man  in  Jera- 
salem,  whose  name  was  Simeon;  and  the 
same  man  was  just  and  devout,  "  waiting 
for  the  consolation  of  Israel:  ana  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  upon  him. 

26  And  it  was  revealed  unto  him  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  he  should  not^  see  death, 
before  he  had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ. 


Anvvrrinffon  of  Christ. 


LTTKE,  I. 


Visit  of  Mary  to  Elizahcfh. 


explanatory  of  this,  rather  sut'J,'ests  afig^ira- 1  of  a  double  Sonship,  as  some  do,  harshly  atul 
tire  sense.  If  "the  disobedient"  be  "thai  without  all  ground,  nor  deny  what  is  here 
children,"  and  to  "the  fathers  "belongs  "the  plainly  expressed,  the  connection  between 
wisdom  of  the  just"  [Beng.],  the  meaning  His  human  birth  and  His  proper  personal 
will  be,  'he  shall  bring  back  the  ancient  Sonship.  36.  thy  cousin— *  relative,' but  how 
spirit  of  the  nation  into  their  degenerate  near  the  word  says  not.  conceived,  <fcc.— this 
„T,;i.i — .     rr-.,      i.„  i     t;-  t^'""*-  '—i--'   was  to  MaiT  an  toisottff/ti  sign,  in  reward  of 

her  faith.  37.  for,  (fcc— referring  to  what  was 
said  by  the  angel  to  Abraham  in  like  case, 
Ge.  18.  14,  to  strengthen  her  faith.  38.  Mar- 
vellous faith  in  such  circimistances  ! 

39--56.  Visit  of  JLvry  to  Elizabeth. 
39.  hill  country— the  mountainous  tract  run- 
ing  along  the  middle  of  Judea,  from  N.  to  S. 
[^Y.  &.  ^Y.]  with  haste  —  transported  with 
the  announcement  to  herself  and  with  the 
tidings,  now  first  made  known  to  her,  of 
Elizabeth's  condition,  a  city  of  Juda— pro- 
bably Hebron  (see  Jos.  20.  7;  21.  11.)  40. 
saluted  Elizabeth— now  returned  from  her 
seclusion,  v.  24.  41.  babe  leaped  — From  v. 
44,  it  is  plain  that  this  maternal  sensation 
was  something  extraordinary— a  sympathetic 
emotion  of  the  unconscious  babe,  at  the 
presence  of  the  mother  of  his  Lord.  42-44. 
\Vliat  beautiful  superiority  to  envy  have  we 
here  !  High  as  was  the  distinction  conferred 
upon   herself,  Elizabeth  loses   sight  of  it 


children.'  [Cal.,  Szc]  So  Elijah  invoked 
'"the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Israel," 
when  seeking  to  "  turn  their  heart  back 
agam"  (1  Ki.  18.  36,  37.  .  to  m^ke  ready, 
&:c.— more  clearly,  '  to  make  ready  for  the 
Lord  a  prepared  people,'  to  have  in  readiness 
a  people  prepared  to  welcome  Him.  Such 
preparation  requires,  in  every  age  and  every 
soul,  an  operation  corresponding  to  the  Bap- 
tist's ministry.  18.  whereby,  <tc.— Mary  be- 
lieved what  was  far  harder  without  a  sign. 
Abraham,  though  older,  and  doubtless  Sarah 
too,  when  the  same  promise  was  made  to 
him,  "staggered  not  at  the  promise  of  God 
through  unlielief,  but  was  strong  in  faith, 
giving  glory  to  God. "  This  was  what  Zach- 
arias  failed  in.  19.  Gabriel— signifying  '  man 
of  God,'  the  same  who  appeared  to  Daniel  at 
the  time  of  incense  (Da.  9.  21.).  and  to  Mary, 
V.  26.  stand,  fcc— as  his  attendant,  cf.  1  Ki. 
17. 1.  20.  dumb—'  speechless.'  not  able— de- 
prived of  the  power  of  speech,  v.  64.     He  :  ^^ ^.,„,  ^„„ ^^^^^   „^„ „.   ^v 

asked  a  sign,  and  now  he  got  it.  until  the  altogether,  in  presence  of  one  more  honoured 
day,  (tc— see  on  v.  64.  21.  waited— to  receive  \  stiU;  upon  whom,  with  her  unborn  Babe,  in 
from  him  the  usual  benediction,  Nu.  6.  23-27.  an  ecstasy  of  inspiration,  she  pronounces  a 
tarried  so  long— it  was  not  usual  to  tarry  long,  benediction,  feeling  it  to  be  a  wonder  unac- 
lest  it  should  be  thought  vengeance  had  countable  that  "  the  mother  of  her  Lord 
stricken  the  people's  representative  for  j  should  come  to  her."  '  Turn  this  as  we  will, 
something  wrong.     [Lft.]     22.  speechless 


,,  „      ,        ^  ^  .shaUnever  be  able  to  see  the  propriety  of 

dumb,'  and  deaf  also,  see  v.  62.     24.  hid  calling   an   unborn   child  "Lord,"  but   by 


five  months— till  the  event  was  put  beyond 
doubt  and  became  apparent. 

20-38.  Anxu>-ciatiox  of  Christ.  See 
on  M.  1.  IS- 21.  26.  sixth  month  — of  Eliza- 
beth's time.  Joseph,  of  the  house  of  David- 
see  on  M.  1. 16.  28.  highly  favoured— a  word 
only  once  used  elsewhere  (Eph.  1.  6  "  made 
accepted") :  cf.  v.  30.  "Thou  hast  found  fa- 
vour with  God."  The  mistake  of  the  Vul- 
gate's rendering,'  full  of  grace,'  has  been  taken 
abundant  advantage  by  the  Romish  Church. 
As  the  mother  of  our  Lord,  she  was  the  most 
"blessed  among  women"  in  external  dis- 
tinction ;  but  let  them  hear  to  the  Lord's 
own  words,  "  Nay  rather  blessed  are  they 


supposing  Elizabeth,  like  the  prophets  of 
old,  enlightened  to  perceive  the  Alessiah's 
Divine  nahire.'  [Olsh.I  "  llie  mother  of  my 
Lord"— but  not  "My  Lady"  icf  20.  42;  Jo. 
20.  28./.  [Beng.]  45.  An  additional  bene- 
diction on  the  Virgin  for  her  implicit  faith, 
in  tacit  and  delicate  contrast  with  her  own 
husband,  for,  &c.— rather,  as  in  the  margin, 
'that.'  46-55.  A  magnificent  canticle,  in 
which  the  strain  of  Hannah's  ancient  song, 
in  like  circumstances,  is  caught  up,  and  just 
slightly  modified  and  sublimed.  Is  it  imna- 
turalto  suppose  that  the  spirit  of  the  blessed 
Virgin  had  been  dra^vn  beforehand  into 
mysterious  sjnnpathy  with  the  ideas  and  the 


that  hear  the  word  of  God  and  keep  it."  See  |  tone  of  this  hymn,  so  that  when  the  life  and 
on  L.  11.  27.  31.  The  angel  purposely  con- 1  fire  of  inspiration  penetrated  her  whole 
forms  his  language  to  Isaiah's  famous  pro-  soul  it  spontaneously  swept  the  chords  of 
phecy,  ch.  7.  14.  [Cal.]  32,  33.  This  is  but  this  song,  enriching  the  Hymnal  of  the 
an  echo  of  the  sublime  prediction.  Is.  9.  6,  7.  Church  with  that  spirit-stirring  canticle 
34.  How,  &c. — not  the  unbelief  of  Zacharias,  which  has  resounded  ever  since  from  its 
" Whereby  shall  I  know  this?"  but,  taking  temple  walls?  In  both  songs,  those  holy 
the  fact  for  granted,  '  How  is  it  to  be,  so  con- 1  women,  filled  with  wonder  to  behold  "the 
trary  to  the  unbroken  law  of  human  birth  ?'  j  proud,  the  mighty,  the  rich,"  passed  by.  and. 
Instead  of  reproof,  therefore,  her  question  is  i  m  their  persons,  the  lowliest  chosen  to 
answered  La  mysterious  detail.  35.  Holy  ;  usher  in  the  greatest  events,  sing  of  this  as 
Ghost— see  on  M.  l.  18.  power  of  the  highest—  ;  no  capricious  movement,  but  a  great  law  oj 
the  immediate  energy  of  the  Godhead  con-  [  the  kingdom  of  God,  by  which  he  delights  to 


rgy  ' 

r    Gl 


veyed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,      overshadow— a   "  put  doion  the  mighty  from  their  seats  and 

word  suggesting  how  gentle,  while  yet  effica- 1  exalt  them  of  loiu  degree.  "     In  both  son'4S 

cious,  would  be  this  Power  P5eng.}-,  and  its  the  strain  dies  away  on  Christ-  in  Hah- 

mysterious  secrecy,  withdrawn,  as  if  by  a  nah's,  under  the  name  of  "Jehovah's  King"' 

to  whom,  through  all  his  line,  from  David 
...        .-„  ^^„ 

exalt 


cloud,  from  human  scrutiny.    [Cal.]    that 

holy  thing  bom  of  thee—'  that  holy  Offspring  onwards  to  himself.  He  will  "give  strengi 
of  thine.'    therefore.  Son  of  God— That  Clirist  j  His  "Anointed,"  whose  horn  He  wiU  e 
the  Son  of  God  in  his  divine  and  eternal   (1  Sam.  2.10);  in  the  Virgin's  song,  it  is  as  the 
.ture  is  clear  from  j,ll  the  N.  T.;  yet  here   *'Help"  jjromised  to  Israel  by  all  the  pro- 

my  spirit  — "all  that  is 


nature        

we  see  that  Sonship  efflorescing  into  human  phets.    My  soul    .       ,    ^ 

and  palpable   manil'estation  by   his   being  ;  within  me  "  ,Ps.  103.  l.\    my  Saviour— Mary, 


born,  through  "  the  power 


n   oy 
of  th 


e  Highest, '  |  poor  heart,  never  dreamt,  we  see,  of  her 


an  Infant  oi  days.    W  e  must  neither°tliink !  own  '  immaculate  conception '—in  the  offen- 

41 


B'rfh  avrl  Circnmnsnnn  of  John.  LUKE,  11. 

five  language  of  the  Koinanists— any  more 
than  ot  her  own  immaculate  life,  holpen—  cf. 
Ps.  80. 19.i  *'  I  liave  laid  help  on  One  that  is 
mighty."  As  He  spake  to  our  fathers  — 27*  c 
scu  e  reQuircs  this  clause  to  be  read  as  a 
Vaiaithesis.  \Ci.  Mi.  7.  20 ;  Ps.  98.  3.)  for 
ever— the  i  erpetuity  of  Messiah's  Idngdom, 
as  expre;:sly  promised  by  the  angel,  v.  33. 
66.  abode  with  her  about  three  months— What 
an  honoured  roof  was  that  which,  for  such  a 
period,  overarched  these  cousins!  and  j'et 
not  a  trace  of  it  is  now  to  be  seen,  while  the 
progeny  of  those  two  women— the  one  b\it 
the  honoured  pioneer  of  tlie  other — have 
made  the  world  new.  returned  to  her  own 
house— at  Nazareth,  after  vlikh  took  place 
what  is  recorded  in  M.  l.  18-25. 

57-80.  BtRXH  AJSD  ClRCUMClSlOX  OF  JOHN 
—  bONG     OF     ZACH  ARIAS,     AND     PROGRESS 

OF  THE  Child.  69.  eighth  day— The  law 
iGe.  17.  12,;  was  observed,  even  thou.uh  the 
eighth  day  after  birth  should  be  a  Sabbath 
J.  7.  23.,  and  see  Ph.  3.  5.;.  called  him— /*(. 
"were calling"— i.e.,  laswe  should  say)  'were 
for  calling.'  The  naming  of  children  at 
baptism  has  its  origin  in  the  Jewish  custom 
at  circumcision  (Ge.  21.  3,  4,)  and  the  names 
of  Abram  and  Sarai  were  changed  at  its  first 
performance  ^Ge.  17.  5,  15.).  62.  made  signs 
— showmy:  he  was  deaf,  as  well  as  dimib. 
63.  v/ondered  all  — at  his  giving  the  same 
name,  not  knowing  of  any  communication 
between  them  on  the  subject,  mouth  opened 
immediately— on  thus  palpably  showing  his 
full  faith  in  the  vision,  for  disbelieving 
which  he  had  been  struck  dumb  (v.  13.  20.;. 
65.  fear— religious  awe;  under  the  impres- 
sion that  God's  hand  was  specially  in  these 
events  icf.  ch.  5.  26;  7.  16;  8.  37.).  66.  hand  of 
the  Lord  with  him— by  special  tokens  marking 
him  out  as  one  destined  to  some  great  work 
(1  Ki.  18.  40;  2  Ki.  3.  15;  A.  11.  21.).  68-79. 
There  is  not  a  word  in  this  noble  burst  of 
divine  song  about  his  own  child  ;  like 
Elizabeth  losing  sight  entirely  of  self,  in  the 
glory  of  a  Greater  than  both.  Lord  God  of 
Israel— the  ancient  covenant -God  of  the 
peculiar  people,  visited  and  redeemed— t.  e., 
in  order  to  redeem:  returned  after  long 
absence,  and  broken  his  long  silence  see  on 
M.  15.  31.;.  In  the  O.  T.,  God  is  said  to 
'■  visit"  chiefly  for  judgment,  in  the  N.  T. 
for  mercy.  Zacharias  would,  as  yet,  have 
but  imperfect  views  of  such  "  visiting  and 
redeeming,"  "  saving  from  and  delivering 
out  of  the  hand  of  enemies"  (I\,  74.!.  But 
this  O.  T.  phraseology,  used  at  first  with  a 
lower  reference,  is,  when  viewed  in  the  light 
of  a  loftier  and  more  comprehensive  king- 
dom of  God,  equally  adapted  to  express  the 
most  spiritual  conceptions  of  the  redemp- 
tion that  is  in  Christ  J  esus.  horn  of  salva- 
tion—i.  e., '  strength  of  salvation,'  or  'mighty 
Salvation,'  meaning  the  iSaviour  Himself, 
whom  iSimeon  calls  "Thy  Salvation"  ch. 
2.  30.).  ITie  metaphor  is  taken  from  those 
animals  whose  strength  is  in  their  horns 
(Ps.  132.  17;  75. 10;  18.  2.  .     69.  house  of  David 


Song  of  Znrharins.  efr. 


on  oath  to  Abraham  and  his  seed,  to  be 
realised  at  an  appointed  period;  and  at 
length,  in  "  the  fulness  of  the  time,"  glori- 
ously made  good.  Hence,  not  only  grace," 
or  the  thing  promised;  but  "  tndh,"  or 
JidelUy  to  the  promise,  are  said  to  "  come  by 
Jesus  Christ"  iJ.  1. 17. j.  that  He  woidd  grant 
us,  &c.— How  comprehensive  is  the  view  here 
given !  (l.i  The  piirpose  of  all  redemption — 
"that  we  should  serve  Him"— i.  e.,  "the 
Lord  God  of  Israel"  v.  68.).  The  word 
signifies  religious  service  distinctively—'  the 
priesthood  of  the  N.  T.'  [Beng.J  i2.)  Tlie 
nature  of  this  service  — "in  holiness  and 
righteousness  before  Him'— or,  as  in  His 
presence  icf.  Ps.  56.  13.).  (3.)  Its  freedom— 
"being  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  our 
enemie.s."  (4.)  Its  Jearlessness —"  might 
serve  Him  without  fear."  i5.)  Its  duration 
— "aU  the  days  of  our  life."  76-79.  Here 
are  the  dying  echoes  of  this  song;  and  very 
beautiful  are  these  closing  notes— like  the 
setting  sun,  shorn  indeed  of  its  noon  tide 
ratUance,  but  skirting  the  liorizon  Avith  a 
■wavy  and  quivering  l:ght— asof  molten  gold 
—on  which  the  eye  delights  to  gaze,  till  it 
disappears  from  the  view.  Tlie  song  passes 
not  here  from  Christ  to  John,  but  only  from 
Christ  direct,  to  Christ  as  heralded  by  his 
forerunner,  thou  child— not  "  my  son  "—this 
child's  relation  to  himself  being  lost  in  his 
relation  to  a  Greater  thun  either.  Prophet  of 
the  Highest,  for  thou  shalt  go  before  him  — 
i.  e.,  "the  Highest."  As  "the  Most  High" 
is  an  epithet  in  Scripture,  only  of  tlie 
supreme  God,  it  is  inconceivable  that  inspira- 
tion should  apply  this  term,  as  here  undeni- 
ably, to  Christ,  unless  he  were  "  God  over 
all  blessed  lor  ever"  lEo.  9. 5.).  to  give  know- 
ledge of  salvation— to  sound  the  note  of  a 
needed  and  provided  "  salvation,"  was  the 
noble  office  of  John,  above  all  that  pre- 
ceded him;  as  it  is  that  of  aU  subsequent 
ministers  of  Christ;  but  infinitely  loftier  was 
it  to  be  the  "Salvation"  itself  ^v.  CO,  and  ch, 
2.  oO.  .  by  the  remission  of  sins— ITiis  stamps 
at  once  the  spiritual  nature  of  the  salva- 
tion here  intended,  and  explains  v.  71,  74. 
Through  the  tender  mercy,  A:c.  —  the  sole 
spring,  necessarily,  of  all  salvation  for  sin- 
ners, day-spring  from  on  high,  <fcc.— either 
Ch  rist  Himself,  as  the  "  Sun  of  righteousness  " 
(Mai.  4.  2.)  arising  on  a  dark  world  [Bez., 
Grot.,  Calv.,  De  W.^lsh.,  &c.1,  or  the 
light  which  He  sheds.  Tlie  sense,  of  course, 
is  one.  79.  (cf.  Is.  9.  2;  M.  4.  13-17.)  'That 
St.  Luke,  of  all  the  Evangelists,  should  ha^  e 
obtained  and  recorded  these  inspired  utter- 
ances of  Zacharias  and  Mary— is  in  accord- 
ance with  his  character  and  habits  as 
indicated  in  v.  1-4.'  hv.  &  w.]  80.  And  the 
child,  (Kc— '  a  concluding  paragraph,  indicat- 
ing, in  strokes  luU  of  grandeur,  the  bodily 
and  mental  development  of  the  Baptist;  and 
bringing  his  life  up  to  the  period  of  his 
public  appearance.'  IOlsh.]  in  the  deserts 
—probably  "the  wilderness  of  Judea"   jNI. 

„. „  ^^,  ^  .     „„. „ 3.  1.1,  whither  he  had  retired  early  in  life. 

This  shows  tluit  'Mary  must  have  been  known  in  the  Nazarite  spirit,  and  where,  free  from 
<o  fee  o/(/iero(/«//ine,  independent  of  Jo.seph;[  rabbinical  influences  and  alone  with  God, 
of  whom  Zacharias,  if  he  knew  anything,  ]  his  spirit  would  be  educated,  Like  Moses  in 
could  not  know  tliat  after  this  he  would  j  the    desert,   for  his  future   high  vocation 


recogni.se  Slary.  since  the  world  began 
'  from  the  earlie.st  period.'  the  mercy  pro- 
mised ...  his  holy  covenant .  .  .  the  oath  to 
Abraham- The  whole  work  and  kingdom  of 
Messiah  is  represented  as  a  mercy  pledged 


his  showing  unto  Israel— the  presentation  of 
himself    before   his    nation,  as   Messiah's 

forerunner.  ,^ 

CHAPTER  n. 
Ver.  1-7.     Birth  of  Christ.     1.  Cesar 


Birth  of  Christ 


LUKE,  n. 


Anodic  AnnunciaHon, 


Augustas— the  first  of  the  Roman  Emperors.  •  8-20.  Angelic  An->;uxciation  to  thg 
all  the  world— so  the  vast  Eoman  Empire  was  Shepherds  — their  Visit  to  the  Nkw- 
termed.'  taxed— 'enrolled,' or  "register  them-  born  Babe.  8  Abiding  in  the  fields— stay- 
selves.'  2.  first.. when  Cyrenius,  <fcc.— a  very  ing  there,  probably  in  huts  or  tents,  watch 
perplexing  verse,  inasmuch  as  Cj'renius,  or  by  night— or,  '  night-watches,'  taking  their 
Quirinus,  appears  not  to  have  been  governor  turn  of  watching.  From  about  Passover 
of  Syria  for  about  ten  years  after  the  birth  of  time  in  April  until  autumn,  the  flocks  pas- 
Christ,  and  the  "  taxing"  under  his  admini-  tured  constantly  in  the  open  fields,  the  shep- 
stration  was  what  led  to  the  insurrection  herds  lodging  there  all  that  time.  (From 
mentioned  in  A.  5.  37.  That  there  icas  a  this  it  seems  plain  that  the  period  of  the 
taxing,  however,  of  the  whole  Roman  Em-  year  usually  assigned  to  our  Lord's  birth  is 
pire  under  Augustus,  is  now  admitted  by  too  late,  i  Were  these  shepherds  chosen  to 
all ;  and  candid  critics,  even  of  sceptical  have  the  first  sight  of  the  blessed  Babe  with- 
tendency,  are  ready  to  allow  that  there  is  not  out  any  respect  to  their  own  state  of  mind? 
likely  to  be  any  real  inaccuracy  in  the  state-  That,  at  least,  is  not  God's  way.  '  No  doubt, 
ment  of  our  evangelist.  Many  superior  like  Simeon  iv.  25,  they  were  among  the 
scholars  would  render  the  words  thu.s,  'This  waiters  for  the  Consolation  of  Israel'  [Ol.sh.J; 
registration  was  previous  to  CjTenius  being  and,  if  the  simplicity  of  their  rustic  minds, 
governor  or  Syria'— as  the  word  'first"  is  their  quiet  occupation,  the  stillness  of  the 
rendered  in  J.  1.  15 ;  15.  18.  In  this  case,  of  midnight  hours,  and  the  amplitude  of  the 
course,  the  difllculty  vanishes.  But  it  is  deep  blue  vaidt  above  them  for  the  heavenly 
perhaps  better  to  suppose,  with  others,  that  music  which  was  to  fill  their  ear,  pointed 
the  registration  may  nave  been  ordered  with  them  out  as  fit  recipients  for  the  first  tidings 
a  view  to  the  taxation,  about  the  time  of  our  of  an  Infant  Saviour,  the  congenial  medita- 
Lord's  birth,  though  the  taxing  itself— an  tions  and  conversations  by  which,  we  may 
obnoxious  measure  in  Palestine— was  not  suppose,  they   would   beguile   the   tedious 


carried  out  till  the  time  of  Quirinus.     3 
went... to  his  own  city— the  city  of  his  extrac 


hours  would  perfect  their  preparation  for 
the  unexpected  \isit.    Thus  was  Nathanael 


tion,  according  to  the  Jewish  custom,  not  engaged,  all  alone  but  not  unseen,  under  the 
of  his  abode,  which  was  the  usual  Roman  fig-tree,  in  unconscious  preparation  for  his 


method.    4,  5.  Not  only  does  Joseph,  who  first  interview  with  Jesus.    <See  on  J.  1.  48.). 

royal  line,  go  to  Eetlilehem  1  Sam.  i  So  was  the  rapt  seer  on  his  lonely  rock  "  in 

but  IVIriry  too— not  from  choice  surely  '  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,"  little  thinking 


was  of  the  royal  line,  go  to  Eetlilehem  1  Sam.  i  So  was  the  rapt  seer  on  his  lonely  rock 
16  1,1  but  IVIriry  too— not  from  choice  surely  '  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,"  little  think..,o 
in  her  condition,  but,  probably,  for  personal  that  this  was  his  preparation  for  hearing  be- 
s  herself  an  heiress,    espoused  hind  him  the  trumpet-voice  of  the  Son  of 


enrolment,  as 

wife— now.  without  doubt,  taken  honie  to  Man  Re.  1. 10,  .tc.  .  *  But  if  the  shepherds  in 

_._.,_.. 6.    while. .1' 

&c.— Mary  had  up  to  this  time  been  livin^ 
at  the  wrong  place  for  :Messiah's  birth.  A 
little  longer  .stay  at  Nazareth,  and  the  pro- 
phecy would  have  failed.  But  lo !  with  no 
intention  certainly  on  her  part  much  less 
of  Cesar  Augustus,  to  fulfil  the  prophecy, 
she  is  brought  from  Nazareth  to  Bethlehem, 
and  at  that  nick  of  time  her  period  arrives, 
and  her  Babe  is  born   Ps.  118.  2.J.).    'Every 


him,  as  related  M.  1.  18. ;  25.  6.    while,  .there, !  his  immediate  neighbourhood  haathe  iirsi, 
j„.     Ti,r„„..  v..  J  .._  ._  .i_.-_  x..__-  ,,   .     ,.„■       the  sages  from  afar  had  the  wj:<  sight  of  the 

new-bora  King.  Even  so  still,  simplicity 
first,  science  next,  finds  its  way  to  Christ. 
AVliom 

In  quiet  ever  and  in  shade 
Shepherd  and  Sage  may  find 
They,  who  have  bowed  untaught  to  Nature's  sway. 
And  they,  who  follow  Truth  along  her  etar-pav'd 
way.— A'e'jZe. 
creature  walks  lilindiold;  only  He  that  dweUs  9.  glory  of  the  Lord—'  the  brightness  or  glory 
in  light  knows  whether  they  go.'  [Bp.  Hall.]  which  is  represented  as  encompassing  all 
7.  first  born— So  M.  1.  25,26,  yet  the  law,  in  [heavenly  visions.'  [OlshJ  sore  afraid— .so 
speaking  of  the  first  born,  regardeth  not  |  it  ever  was  (Da.  10.  7,  8  ;  L.  i.  12 ;  Re.  1. 17.) 
whether  any  were  bom  after  or  no,  but  only  2Men  have  never  felt  easy  with  the  invisible 
that  none  were  bora  before.  [Lft.]  wrapt ;  world  laid  suddenly  open  to  their  gaze.  It 
him.,  laid  him— the  mother  herself  did  so.  Had  was  ne^*er  meant  to  be  permanent;  a  mo- 
.she  then  none  to  help  her?  It  would  seem  so.  mentary  purpose  was  all  it  was  intended  to 
(2C0.8  9.).  araanger— 'thenianger,'thebench  serre.  10  to  all  people— '  to  the  whole  people  ' 
towards  which  the  horses'  heads  were  tied  '"        '^    '    ,     ..  -. 

on  which  their  food  could  rest.'     [w.  &  w. 


t.e.,of  Israel;  to  be  by  them  afterwards  opened 

^    .         -,   up  to  the  whole  world.     (See  on  v.  14.!    n 

no  room  in  the  inn— a  square  erection,  open  unto  you  is  born,  <tc.— you  shepherds,  Israel 
inside,  where  travellers  put  up,  and  whose  mankind.  [Be.ng.]  cf.  Is.  9.  6,  "Unto  us  a 
back  parts  were  used  as  stables.  The  ancient  Child  is  bom."  It  is  a  Birth—"  Tlie  Word  is 
tradition,  that  our  Lord  was  bom  in  a  grotto ;  made  .rfes/i,."  'Wlien?  "This  day."  Where' 
or  cave,  is  quite  consistent  with  this,  the  "  1 7i  the  dty  of  David"— in  the  right  K?tfi  and 
country  being  rocky.  In  Mar^s  condition  at  the  right  spot:  where  prophecy  bade  us 
the  joumey  would  be  a  slow  one.  and  ere  they  look  for  Him.  and  faith  accordingly  expected 


arrived  the  inn  would  be  pre-occupied— aft'ec 
ting  anticipation  of  the  reception  He  was 
throughout  to  meet  with  {J.  1.  11.). 

Wrapt  in  His  swaddling  bands. 

And  in  His  manger  laid. 
The  hope  and  glory  of  all  lands 
Is  come  to  the  world's  aid. 
No  peaceful  home  upon  His  cradle  smiled, 
Guests  rudely  went  and  came  where  slept  the  royal 

Child.— A-«6?«. 
But  some  'guests  went  and  came.'no^  'rudely,' 
but  reverently.    God  sent  visitors  of  his  own 
to  pay  court  to  the  new-born  King. 
at 


Him.  How  dear  to  us  should  be  these  histo- 
ric moorings  of  our  faith!  With  the  loss  of 
tliem  aU  substantial  Christianity  is  lost.  By 
means  of  them  how  many  have  been  kept 
from  making  shipwreck,  and  attained  to  a 
certain  external  admiration  of  Him.  ere  yet 
they  have  fully  "  beheld  his  glory."  a  Savi- 
our—not One  who  shall  be  a  Saviour,  but 
•  bom  a  Saviour."  Christ  the  Lord—'  magni- 
ficent appellation  !'  [Beng.]  'This  is  the 
only  place  where  these  words  come  together; 
and  I  see  no  way  of  understanding  this 
Lord   but  as  corresponding  to  the  Hebrew 


F^melm  mid  Amm  prnphpfi/  of  Cht-ist.    LUKE,  ITT, 


Prcachivg  of  John  the  nn<  list. 


'27  And  he  came  by  «the  Spirit  iuto  the 
tt-mple:  and  when  the  parents  brontrlit  in 
the  child  Jesns.  to  do  for  him  aiitr  the 
custom  of  the  law, 

'2S  Then  took  he  him  up  in  his  arms,  and 
blessed  God,  and  said, 

•jy  Lord,  *■  now  lettest  thou  thy  sen-ant 
depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word: 

•H)  For  mine  eyes  ■  have  seen  thy  salva- 
tion^^ 

31  Which  thou  hast  prepared  before  the 
face  of  all  people ; 

32  A « light  to  lighten  the  GentUes,  and 
the  glory  of  thy  people  Israel. 

33  And  Joseph  and  his  mother  marvelled 
Ht  those  things  which  were  spoken  of 
him. 

34  And  Simeon  blessed  them,  and  said 
unto  Mary  his  mother.  Behold,  this  chUd 
is  set  for  the  "fall  and  risini?  again  of  many 
in  Israel:  and  for  "a  sign  which  shall  be 
spoken  against; 

3-5  (Yea,  **  a  sword  shall  pierce  through  thy 
owTi  soul  also,)  that  *  the  thoughts  of  many 
hearts  may  be  revealed. 

M  And  there  was  one  Anna,  ^  a  pro- 
phetess, the  daughter  of  Phanuel,  of  the 
t!  ibe  of  Aser:  she  was  of  a  great  age,  and 
had  lived  with  an  husband  seven  years 
fiom  hermginity; 

37  And  she  teas  a  widow  of  about  four- 
score and  four  years,  which  departed  not 
from  the  temple,  but  8er%'ed  God  with 
fastings  and  prayers  '  night  and  day. 

38  And  she  coming  in  that  instant  gave 
thanks  likewise  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake 
of  him  to  all  them  that  "  looked  for  re- 
demption in  <  Jerusalem. 

33  And  when  they  had  performed  all 
things  according  to  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
they  returned  into  Galilee,  to  their  own 
city  Nazareth. 

40  And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong 
in  spirit,  filled  with  wisdom ;  and  the  grace 
of  God  was  upon  him. 

41  IT  Now  his  parents  went  to  Jerusalem 
every  6  year  at  the  feast  of  the  passover. 

42  And  when  he  was  twelve  years  old, 
they  went  up  to  Jerusalem  after  tne  custom 
of  tbe  feast. 

43  And  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  days, 
as  they  returned,  the  child  Jesus  tarried 
behind  in  Jerusalem;  and  Joseph  and  iiis 
mother  knew  not  of  it. 

44  But  they,  supposing  him  to  have  been 
in  the  company,  went  a  day's  journey;  and 
they  sought  him  among  their  kinsfolk  and 
acquaintance. 

45  And  when  they  found  him  not,  they 
turned  back  again  to  Jerusalem,  seeking 
him. 

46  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  after  three 
days  they  found  him  in  the  temple,  sitting 
in  the  midst  of  the  doctors,  *  both  hearing 
them,  and  asking  them  questions. 

47  And  "'all  that  heard  him  were  aston- 
ished at  his  understanding  and  answers. 

48  And  when  they  saw  him,  they  were 
amazed:  and  his  mother  said  unto  him. 
Son,  why  hast  thou  thus  dealt  with  us? 
behold,  tny  father  and  I  have  sought  thee 
Borrowmg. 

49  And  he  said  unto  them,  How  is  it  that 
ye  sought  me?  wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be 
about  *  my  Father's  Dusiness? 

50  And  /they  understood  not  the  saying 
which  he  spake  unto  them. 

51  And  he  went  down  with  them,  and 


CHAP.  2- 
q  K«v.  1.  10. 


Phil.  1.  23. 

Rev.  14.13. 

»  l3.  52.  10. 

ActB  4.  12. 

t  Is.  9.  2. 

Acts  13.47. 
«  Is.  8.  14. 
Has.  14.  9. 
Rom.  9.32. 

1  Cor  .1.23. 

2  Cor.2  16. 
I  Pet  2.7.8. 

V  Acts  28.22. 
»«-  Ps.  42.  10. 

John  19. 
25. 
»  1  Cor.  11. 
19. 

V  Ex.  15.  20. 
2  Acta  25.  7. 

1  Tim.  5.5. 
a  Mar.  16  43. 

ch.  24.  21. 
4  Or,  Israel. 
6  Deu.  16.  1. 
c  la  11.  1-4. 
d  M»t.  7.  28. 

M.r.  1.  22. 

John  7.  15. 
«  John  2  16. 

John  4   34. 

John  8.  29. 
/ch.  9.  45. 

ch.  18.  34. 
a  Dan.  7.  28. 


CHAP.   3. 
«  John  n. 49. 

John  18.13. 

Acta  4.  6. 
6  Mai.  4  6. 

Mat.  3.  1. 

Mark  1.  4. 

Acta  13.24. 

Acta  19.  4. 
Cch.  1.  77. 
d  la.  40.  3. 

Mat.  3.  3. 

Mark  1.3. 

John  1.23. 
«  Ps.  98.  2. 

Is.  62.  10. 
f  Mat.  3.  7. 


k  Mat.  7.  19. 
t  Acts  2.  37. 
;■  2  Cor.  8.14. 

Jam.  2.  15. 

I  John  3. 

17. 
*  Mat.  21.32. 
J  Mic.  6.  8. 

ch.  19.  8. 

2  Or,  Put  no 

fear. 
"»  Ex.  23.  1. 
L6v.19.ll. 

3  Or, 
allowance. 

4  Or.  in 


5  Or,  rea- 

debatod. 
n  Mat.  3.  11. 
o  1  C«r.  12. 

13. 
P  Mic.  4. 18. 


came  to  Nazareth,  and  was  subject  uuto 
them:  but  his  mother  "kept  all  these  say- 
ings in  her  heart. 

52  And  Jesus  A  increased  in  wisdom  and 
6  stature,  and  in  favour  with  God  and  man. 

CIIAPTEK  III. 
1  John'/  preaching  atui  baptism:  16  his  testimony 
0/  Chrxft.  19  Herod  imprisoneth  John.  'liChrist 
IS  b'lptized;  23  his  genealogy. 

"M  O  \V^  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of 
-'^  Tiberius  Cesar,  Pontius  Pilate  being 
governor  of  Judea,  and  Herod  being 
tetrarch  of  Galilee,  and  his  brother  Philip 
jtetrarch  of  Iturea  and  of  the  region  of 
Trachonitis,  and  Lysanias  the  tetraich  of 
Abilene, 

2  Annas  "  and  Caiaphas  being  the  high 
priests,  the  word  of  God  came  unto  John 
the  son  of  Zachari;\s  in  the  wilderness. 

3  And  *  he  came  into  all  the  country  about 
Jordan,  preaching  the  baptism  of  repent- 
ance  '  for  the  remission  of  sins; 

4  As  it  is  WTitteu  in  the  book  of  the  words 
of  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  <*  The  voice 
of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare 
ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his  paths 
straight. 

5  Every  valley  shall  be  filled,  and  every 
mountain  and  hill  shall  be  brought  low; 
and  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight, 
and  the  rough  ways  shall  be  made  smooth: 

6  And  *  all  flesh  shall  see  the  salvation  of 
God. 

7  Then  said  he  to  the  multitude  that  came 
forth  to  be  baptized  of  him,  /  O  generation 
of  vipers,  who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  tiom 
the  wrath  to  come? 

8  Bring  ''forth  therefore  fruits  l worthy 
of  repentance,  and  lit-gin  not  to  say  with- 
in yourselves,  We  have  Abraham  to  our 
father:  tor  1  say  unto  you,  That  God  is  able 
of  these  stones  to  raise  up  cliildren  unto 
Abraham. 

9  And  now  also  the  ax  is  laid  unto  the 
root  of  the  trees:  ''  every  tree  tliereforc 
which  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewu 
down,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 

10  And  the  people  asked  him,  saying, 
What  'shall  we  do  then? 

11  He  answereth  and  saith  unto  them. 
He  }  that  hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart 
to  him  that  hath  none;  and  he  that  hath 
meat,  let  him  do  likewise. 

12  Then  *  came  also  publicans  to  be  bap- 
tized, and  said  onto  him.  Master,  what 
shall  we  do? 

13  And  he  said  unto  them,  'Exact  no 
more  than  that  which  is  appointed  you. 

14  And  the  soldiers  likewise  demanded  of 
him,  saying.  And  what  shall  we  do?  And 
he  said  unto  them,  -Do  violence  to  no 
man, '"  neither  accuse  any  falsely;  and  be 
content  with  your  3  wages. 

15  %  And  as  the  people  were  *  in  expecta- 
tion, and  all  men  »  mused  in  their  heaits  of 
John,  whether  he  were  the  Christ,  or  not; 

16  J  olm  answered,  saying  unto  them  all, 
I "  indeed  baptize  you  with  water;  but  one 
mightier  than  I  cometh,  the  latchet  of 
whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose: 
he  shall  baptize  you  with  "  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  with  tire: 

17  Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he 
will  thi-oughly  purge  his  floor,  and  p  will 
gather  the  wlieat  iiito  his  garner;  but  the 
chad"  he  will  burn  with  fire  uuouonchable. 

18  And  manv  other  things  in  nis  exhorta- 
tion preached  h«  uuto  the  people. 


The  Visit  oftlie  ShepJierds. 


LUICE,  n. 


Purification  oj  the  Virghl. ' 


Jehovah.'  [Alf.]  12.  a  sign— 'the  sign.'i  21.  Circumcision  of  Christ— Here  only 
the  babe— 'aEal  e.'  a  manger— '  the  man,^'er.i  recorded,  and  even  here  merely  alluded 
Tlie  sign  was  to  consist,  it  seems,  solely  in  to,  for  the  sake  of  the  name  then  given  to 
the  overpowering-cort^rosi  between  the  thing's  the  holy  Babe,  "  Jesus,"  or  Saviour.  'M. 
just  said  of  Hiui  and  the  lowly  condition  in  1.  21;  A.  13.  23.)  Yet  in  this  naming  of  Him 
which  they  would  find  Him:—'  Him  whose  "  Saviour,"  in  the  act  of  circumcising  Him, 
goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  |  which  was  a  symbolical  and  bloody  removal 
everlasting,  *'  ye  shall  find  a  Babe;"  Whom  of  the  body  of  sin,  we  have  a  tacit  intimation 
the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain,  I  that  they  "  had  need  "—as  John  said  of  His 
"  wrapt  in  swaddling  bands;"  the  "  Saviour,  I  Baptism— rather  to  be  circumcised  by  Him 
Christ  the  Lord,"  lying  in  a  manger!'  Thus  I  "  with  the  circumcision  made  without  hands, 
early  were  these  amazing  contrasts,  which  [  in  the  putting  oft'  of  the  body  [of  the  sins]  of 
are  His  chosen  style,  held  forth.  See  2  Cor.  8.  |  the  flesn  by  the  circumcision  of  Christ,"  ;Co. 
9.)  13.  suddenly- as  if  only  waiting  till  their  2.  11,)  and  that  He  only  "  suff"ered  it  to  be  so, 
fellow  had  done,  with  the  angel— who  retires  j  because  thus  it  became  Him  to  fulfil  all  right- 
not,  but  is  joined  by  others,  come  to  seal  j  eousness."  iM.  3. 1.5.)  StiU  the  circumcision 
and  to  celebrate  the  tidings  he  has  brought,  of  Christ  had  a  profound  bearing  on  His  own 
heavenly  host— or  '  army,'  an  army  celebrating  work  —  by  few  rightly  apprehended.  For 
jcace!  [Besg.],  '  transferring  the  occupation  since  "  he  that  is  circumcised  is  a  debtor  to 
of  their  exalted  station  to  this  poor  earth  do  tJle^chole  lav:,"  (Ga.  5.  3,  Je-siis  thus  bore 
which  so  seldom  resounds  with  the  pure  j  about  with  Him  in  his  very  flesh  tlie  seal  of 
praise  of  God '  [Olsh.]  ;  to  let  it  be  known  i  a  voluntary  obligation  to  do  the  whole  law — 
now  this  event  is  regarded  in  heaven  and  I  byHim  only  possible  in  the  flesh  since  the  fall, 
should  be  regarded  on  eaiih.  gloiy,  (fcc— I  And  as  He  was  "  made  under  the  la.w  "  for  no 
brief  but  transporting  hymn— not  only  in  ar- 1  ends  of  His  own,  but  only  "  to  red^'em  them 
ticulate  hmnan  speech,  for  our  behoof,  hutlthatverennderthelawAha.t-n-emightTeceive 
in  tunable  measure,  in  the  form  of  a  Hebrew  the  adoption  of  sons,"  (Ga.  4.  4,  6,,  the  obe- 
parallelism  of  two  complete  clauses,  and  a  dience  to  which  His  circumci.sion  pledi^ed 
third  one  only  amplifying  the  second,  and  so  Him  was  a  redeeming  obedience— that  of  a 
without  a  connecting  "  and."  The  "  glor-y  to  j  "  Saviour."  And,  finally,  as  "  Christ  hath 
God,"  which  the  new-bom  "  Saviour"  was  to  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law  "  by 
brin^,  is  the  first  note  of  this  sublime  hymn:  "  being  made  a  curse  for  us,"  (Ga.  3.  13.)  we 
to  this  answers,  in  the  second  clause,  "  the  must  regard  Him,  in  His  circumcision,  as 
veace  on  earth,"  of  which  He  was  to  be  "  the  brought  under  a  palpable  pledge  to  be  "  ohe- 
trince,"  Is.  9. 6)— probably  sung  responsively  dient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross." 
by  the  celestial  choir  ;  while  quick  follows  |  iPh.  2. 8.) 

the  glad  echo  of  this  note,  probably  by  a  22-40.  Purification  of  the  Virgin. 
third  detachment  of  the  angelic  choristers—  —Presentation  of  the  Babe  in  the 
"  Good-will  to  men."  '  TTiey  say  not,  glory  to  \  Temple.— Scene  there  with  Simeon  and 
God  in  heaven,  where  angels  are,  but,  usin;^  Anna.  22,  24.  her  purification— Though  the 
a  rare  expression,  "  t?i  the  highest  (heavens  , '  most  and  best  copies  read  "  their,"  it  was  the 
whither  angels  aspire  not.  He.  1.3,4.'  [Beng.I  mother  only  who  needed  purifying  from  the 
"  Peace"  with  Gk)d  is  the  grand  necessity  of  legal  uncleanness  ol  child-bearing.  '"Tlie 
a  fallen  world.  To  bring  in  this,  and  all  days"  of  this  purification  for  a  male  child 
otherpeaceinitstrain,  was  the  prime  errand  were  40  in  all  Le.  12.  2,  4.),  on  the  expiry  of 
of  the  S;iviour  to  this  earth,  and,  along  with  which  the  mother  was  required  to  otter  a 
it.  Heaven's  whole  "  good-wiU  to  men  '—the  lamb  for  a  burnt  ofiering,  and  a  turtle-dove  or 
Divine  complacency  on  a  new  footing— de-  ayoun2i)igeonfora  sin-ofiering.  If  she  could 
scends  to  rest  upon  men,  as  upon  the  Son  not  afibrd  a  lamb,  the  mother  had  to  bring 
Himself,  in  whom  God  is  "  well-pleased."  another  turtle-dove  or  young  pigeon ;  and, 
(M.  3. 17,  the  .same  word  as  here.)  15.  let  us  if  even  this  was  beyond  her  means,  then  a 
go,  etc.- lovely  simplicity  of  devoutness  and  portion  of  fine  flour,  but  without  the  usual 
faith  this!  They  are  not  taken  up  with  the  fragrant  accompaniments  of  oil  and  frankin- 
angels,  the  glory  that  invested  them,  and  cense,  as  it  represented  a  sin-ofiering.  Le. 
the  lofty  strains  with  which  they  filled  the  12.  6-8  ;  5.  7-11.).  From  the  intermediate 
air.  Nor  do  they  say.  Let  us  go  and  see  i/  offering  of  "a  pair  of  turtle-doves  or  two 
this  be  true— they  have  no  misgivings.  But  young  pigeons,'  we  gather  that  Joseph  and 
"  let  us  fco  and  see  this  thing  tchich  is  come  the  Virgin  were  in  poor  circumstances  2  Co. 
to  pass,  which  the  Lord  hath  made  k7iov:n  8.  9. \  though  not  in  abject  poverty.  Beinga 
unto  us."  Does  not  this  confirm  the  view  first-born  male,  they  " bring  him  to  Jeru.sa- 
given  on  v.  8,  of  the  spirit  of  these  humble  lem,  to  present  hiin  to  the  Lord."  All  such 
men?  16.  with  haste— cf.  ch.  1.  30;  M.  28.  8.  had  been  claimed  as  "holy  to  the  Lord,"  or 
("  did  run" I ;  J.  4.  28  ("  left  her  water-pot,"  set  apart  to  sacred  uses,  in  memory  of  the 
as  they  do  their  flocks,  in  a  tran.sport!.  loimd  deliverance  of  the  first-born  of  Israel  from 
Mary,  <S:c.  — '  mysteriously  guided  by  the  destruction  in  Egypt,  through  the  sprinkling 
Spirit  to  the  right  place  through  the  obscu-  of  blood.  lEx.  13.  2.  .  In  lieu  of  these,  how- 
nty  of  the  night.'  [Olsh.]  a  manger—'  the  ever,  one  whole  tribe,  that  of  Levi,  was 
manger,'  as  before.  17.  made  known  abroad—  accepted,  and  set  apart  to  occupations  ex- 
before  their  return  {v.  20  ,  and  thus  were  the  clusively  sacred  (Nu.  3.  11-38.  ;  and  whereas 
first  evangelists.  [Beng.J  20.  glorifying  and  there  were  273  fewer  Levites  than  first-bom  of 
praising  God,  <fcc.— the  latter  word,  used  of  all  Israel  on  the  first  reckoning,  each  of  these 
the  .song  of  the  angels  [v.  13\  andch.  19.  37,  first-born  was  to  be  redeemed  by  the  pa jTuent 
and  24.  53,  leads  us  to  suppose  that  theirs  of  5  shekels,  yet  not  without  being  "presented 
was  a  song  too,  probably  some  canticle  from  (or  broughti  unto  the  Lord,"  in  token  of  His 
the  P.salter— meet  vehicle  for  the  swelling  rightful  claim  to  them  and  their  service, 
emotions  of  their  simple  hearts  at  what  (Is u.  3.  44-47;  18.  15-16.  It  was  in  obedienco 
*•  they  had  heard  and  .wen."  <  to  this  "  law  of  Moses,"  that  the  Virgin  pre- 

45 


&7WP9ri.  and  Anna. 


LUKE.  11. 


Prophesy  of  Christ, 


sented  her  babe  unto  the  Lord,  'in  the  east  *  Blessed  as  thou  art  among  women,  thou 
pat^of  the  court  called  Nicanoi-'s  Gate,  ■where:  shalt  have  thine  owti  deep  share  of  the 
herself  would  be  sprinkled  by  the  priest  with  i  struggles  and  sufferings  whicn  this  Babe  is  to 
the  blood  of  her  sacrifice.'  [Lft.J  By  that  j  occasion'— pointing  not  only  to  the  continued 
Babe,  in  due  time,  we  were  to  be  redeemed,  obloquy  and  rejection  of  this  Child  of  hers, 
"not  with  corruptible  things  as  silver  and  those  agonies  of  His  which  she  was  to  witness 


gold,  but  wth  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.' 
(I  Pe.  1. 18,  19),  and  the  consuming  of  the 
mother's  burnt-offering,  and  the  sprinkling 
of  her  with  the  blood  of  her  sin-offering  were 
to  find  there  abiding  realisation  in  the  "living 
sacrifice"  of  the  Christian  mother  herself,  in 
the  fulness  of  a  "heart  sprinkled  from  an 
evil  conscience,"  bv  "  the  blood  which  clean- 
seth  from  all  sin.'  25.  just— upright  in  his 
moral  character,  devout—of  a  religious  frame 
of  spirit,  waiting  for  the  Consolation  of  Israel 
—a  beautiful  title  of  the  coming  Messiah,  here 
intended,  the  Holy  Gliost  was,  supernaturally. 
upon  Mm.  Thus  was  the  Spirit,  after  a  dreary 
absence  of  nearly  400  years,  returning  to  the 
Church^  to  quicken  expectation,  and  prepare 
for  coming  events,  revealed  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
—implying,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  perso- 
nality of  the  Spirit,  should  see  death  till  he 
had  seen— 'sweet  antithesis  f  [Be.vg.]  How 
would  the  one  sight  gild  the  gloom  of  the 
other !  He  was,  probably,  by  this  time, 
advanced  in  years.  27.  28.  The  Spirit 
guided  him  to  the  temple  at  the  very  mo- 
ment when  the  Virgin  was  about  to  pre- 
sent Him  to  the  Lord.  29.  took  him  up  in  his 
arms— immediately  recognising  in  the  child, 
with  unliesitating  certainty  the  promised 
Messiah,  without  needing  Mary  to  inform 
him  of  what  had  happened  to  her.  [Olsh.] 
The  remarkable  act  of  taking  the  babe  in  his 
arms  must  not  be  overlooked.  It  was  as  if  he 
had  said. '  This  is  all  my  salvation  and  all  my 
desire  (2Sa.  23.  5.).  29.Lord— 'master,' a  word 
rarely  used  in  the  N.  T.,  and  selected  here 
with  peculiar  propriety,  when  the  aged  samt, 
feeling  that  his  last  object  in  wi.shing  to  live 
had  now  been  attained,  only  awaited  his 
Master's  word  of  command  to  "  depart."  now 
lettest.  &c.— more  clearly,  '  now  thou  art  re- 
leasing thy  servant;'  a  patient  yet  reverential 
mode  of  expressing  a  desire  to  depart.  30. 
seen  thy  Salvation— many  saw  this  chUd.  nay. 
the  full-grown  "man,  Christ  Jesus,"  who 
never  saw  in  him  "God's  Salvation.'  This 
estimate  of  an  object  of  sight,  an  unconsci  ous, 
helpless  babe,  was  pure  faith.  He  "  beheld 
his  glory."  (J.  1. 14.)  In  another  view,  it  was 
j»rior/ai</(.  rewarded  by  present  sight.  31.  32. 
all  people—'  all  the  peoples,  mankind  at  large, 
alight  to  the  Gentiles— then  in  thick  darkness, 
gloryofthy  Israel— already  thine,  and  now,  in 
the  believing  portion  of  it.  to  be  so  more  glori- 
ously than  ever.  It  will  be  observed  that  this 
'  swan-like  song,  bidding  an  eternal  farewell 
to  this  terrestrial  life,'  [Olsh.]  takes  a  more 
comprehensive  view  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
than  that  of  Zacharias.  though  the  kingdom 
they  sing  of  is  one.  34,  35.  set— appointed, 
fall  and  rising  again  of  many  in  Israel,  and  for 
a  sign  spoken  against— perhaps  the  former  of 
these  Clauses  expresses  the  two  stages  of 
temporary  "  fall  of  many  in  Israel "  through 
unbelief,  during  our  Lord's  earthly  career, 
and  the  subsequent  "  rising  again  "  of  the 


at  the  cross,  and  her  desolate  condition  there- 
af  ter,but  to  dreadful  alternations  of  faith  and 
unbelief,  of  hope  and  fear  regarding  Him. 
which  she  would  have  to  i^ass  through,  thai 
the  thoughts,  &c.— men's  views  and  decisions 
regarding  Clirist  are  a  mirror  in  which 
the  very  "thoughts  of  their  hearts"  are 
seen.  36.  37.  Anna  — or,  Hannah,  a  pro- 
phetess —  another  evidence  that  "  the 
last  times"  in  which  God  was  to  "  pour  out 
his  Spirit  upon  all  flesh"  were  at  hand,  of 
the  tribe  of  Aser— one  of  the  ten  tribes,  of 
whom  many  were  not  carried  captive,  and 
not  a  few  re-united  themselves  to  Judah 
after  the  return  from  Babylon.  The  distinc- 
tion of  tribes,  though  practically  destroyed 
by  the  captivity,  was  well  enough  known  uo 
to  their  final  dispersion  (Ro.  li.  1;  He.  7. 14.1; 
nor  is  it  now  entirely  lost,  lived,  &c.— .she 
had  lived  seven  years  with  her  husband,  and 
been  a  widow  84  years;  so  that  if  she  married 
at  the  earliest  marriageable  age,  12  years, 
she  could  not  at  this  time  be  less  than  103 
years  old.  departed  not  from  the  temple— was 
found  there  at  all  stated  hours  of  the  day, 
and  even  during  the  night-services  of  the 
temple  watchmen.  (Ps.  134.  l,  2.  "  serving 
God  with  fastings  and  prayer."  (See  1  Ti.  5. 
5.  suggested  by  this.)  coming  in—'  presenting 
herself.'  She  had  been  there  already,  but 
now  is  found  '  standing  by,'  as  Simeon's  tes- 
timony to  the  blessed  Babe  died  away,  ready 
to  take  it  up  '  in  turn '  (as  the  word  rendered 
"  likewise'  here  means),  to  all  them,  &c.— 
the  sense  is,  *  to  all  them  in  Jerusa- 
lem that  were  looking  for  redemption  '—say- 
ing in  effect.  In  that  Babe  are  wrapt  up  all 
your  expectations.  If  this  was  at  the  hour 
of  prayer,  when  numl)ers  flocked  to  the 
temple,  it  would  account  for  her  having  such 
an  audience  as  the  words  imply.  [Alf.]  39. 
Nothing  is  more  difficult  than  to  fix  the  pre- 
cise order  in  which  the  -visit  of  the  Magi, 
with  the  flight  into  and  return  from  Egypt, 
(M.  2,1  are  to  be  taken,  in  relation  to  the  cir- 
cumcision and  presentation  of  Christ  in  the 
temple,  here  recorded.  It  is  perhaps  best  to 
leave  this  in  the  obscurity  in  which  we  find 
it,  as  the  result  of  two  independent,  though, 
if  we  knew  all,  easily  reconcileable  narra- 
tives. 40.  His  mental  development  kept 
pace  with  his  bodily,  and  "  the  grace  of  God," 
the  Divine  favour,  rested  manifestl}'  and  in- 
creasingly upon  Him.    See  v.  62. 

41-52.  First  Conscious  Visit  to  Jeru- 
salem.—' Solitary  floweret  out  of  the  won- 
derful enclosed  garden  of  the  30  years,  plucked 
precisely  there  where  the  swollen  bud.  at  a 
distinctive  crisis,  (at  12  years  of  age,)  bursts 
into  flower.  To  mark  that  is  assuredly  the 
design  and  the  meaning  of  this  record' 
pjTiER.]  went  up— '  were  wont  to  go.'  Though 
males  only  were  required  to  go  up  to  Jerusa- 
lem at  the  three  annual  festivals,  (Ex.  23.  14- 
17.)  devout  women,  when  family  duties  per- 


savie  persons  after  the  effusion  of  the  Spirit  j  mitted,  went  also,  as  did  Hannah,  (1  Sa.  1.  7.) 
at  Pentecost  threw  a  new  light  to  them  on  and,  as  we  here  see,  the  mother  of  Jesus, 
the  whole  subject ;  wh.ile  the  latter  clause  '  42.  when  twelve  years  old— At  this  age  every 
describes  the  determined  enemies  of  the  Jewish  boy  was  styled  '  a  son  of  tne  law,' 
Lord  Jesus.  SulIi  opposite  views  of  j  being  put  under  a  course  of  instruction  and 
Christ  are  taken  from  age  to  age.  yea,  &c.—  i  trained  to  fasting  and  attendance  on  public 
46t 


First  Conscious  Fm/  to  Jenimhm, 


v.orship,  besides  being  set  to  learn  a  trade. 
At  this  age  accordingly  our  Lord  is  taken  up 
for  the  first  time  to  Jerusalem,  at  the  Pass- 
over season,  the  chief  of  the  three  annual  fes 
tivals.  But,  O,  with  what  thouL^hts  and 
feelings  must  this  Youth  have  gone  up!  Long 
ere  He  beheld  it,  He  had  doubtless  '*  loved 
the  habitation  of  God's  house  and  the  place 
where  his  honour  dwelt,"  Ps.  26.  8,)  a  love 
nourished,  we  may  be  sure,  by  that  "  word  hid 
in  His  heart,"  with  whirh  in  after  life  He 
showed  so  perfect  a  familiarity.  As  the  time 
for  his  first  visit  approached,  could  one's  ear 
have  caught  the  breathings  of  his  young  soul, 
he  might  have  heard  Him  whispering,  "As  the 
hart  panteth  after  the  water-brooks,  so 
panteth  my  soul  after  Thee,  O  God.  The 
Lord  loveth  the  gates  of  2:aon  more  than  all 
the  dwellings  of  Jacob.  I  was  glad  when 
they  said  unto  me.  Let  us  go  unto  the  house 
of  the  Lord.  Our  feet  shall  stand  within 
thy  gates,  O  Jerusalem  ! "  (Ps.  42. 1 ;  87.  2  ; 
122.  1,  2.  On  catching  the  first  view  of  "the 
city  of  their  solemnities,"  and  high  above 
all  in  it,  "  the  place  of  God's  rest, "  we 
hear  Him  saying  to  Himself,  "  Beauti- 
ful for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole 
earth  is  Mount  Zion,  on  the  sides  of  the 
north,  the  city  of  the  great  King  :  Out  of 
Zion,  the  perfection  of  beauty,  God  doth 
shine."  'Ps.  4S.  2;  50.  2.i  Of  his  feelings  or 
actions  during  all  the  eight  days  of  the  feast 
not  a  word  is  said.  As  a  devout  child,  in 
company  with  its  parents.  He  would  go 
through  the  sendees,  keeping  his  thoughts  to 
himself.  But  methinks  I  hear  Him,  after 
the  sublime  services  of  that  feast,  saying  to 
Himself,  "He  brought  me  to  thebamiuet- 
ing  house,  and  his  banner  over  me  was  love. 
I  sat  down  under  his  shadow  with  great  de- 
light, and  his  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste." 
(Cant.  2. 3, 4. )  43.  as  they  returned— if  the  duties 
of  life  must  give  place  to  worship,  worship, 
in  its  turn,  must  give  place  to  them.  Jerusa- 
lem is  good,  but  Nazareth  is  good  too ;  let 
him  who  neglects  the  one,  on  pretext  of 
attending  to  the  other,  ponder  this  scene. 
43.  tarried  behind.  .Joseph  and  his  mother  knew 
not— accustomed  to  the  discretion  and  obedi- 
ence of  the  lad  [OL.SH.],  they  might  be  thrown 
off  their  guard.  44.  sought  him  among  their 
kinsfolk  and  acquaintances— On  these  sacred 
ioumeys,  whole  villages  and  districts  travel- 
led in  groups  together,  partly  for  protection, 
partly  for  company;  and  as  the  well-disposed 
would  beguile  the  tediousness  of  the  way  by 
good  discourse,  to  which  the  child  Jesus 
would  be  no  silent  listener,  they  expect  to  find 
him  in  such  a  group.  45,  46.  After  three  sor- 
romng  days,  they  find  him  stiU  in  Jerusalem, 
not  gazing  on  its  architecture,  or  surveying  its 
forms  of  busy  life,  but  in  the  temple— not  the 
"  sanctuary"  as  in  ch.  1. 9.  ,  to  which  only  the 
priests  had  access,  biit  in  some  one  of  the 
enclosures  around  it,  where  the  rabbins,  or 
"doctors'*  taught  their  scholars,  hearing,  .ask- 
ing—the  method  of  question  and  answer  was 


LUKE,  n. Christ  Quedions  the  Doctors. 

[v.  62.),  Infact.  the  beautyof  Christ's  example 
lies  very  much  in  His  never  at  one  stage  ot  His 
life  anticipating  the  xluties  of  another.  All 
would  be  in  the  style  and  manner  of  a  learner, 
"  oppiiinp  his  mouth  and  panting."  "  His  soul 
breaking  forthe  longing  that  it  had  unto  (iod'a 
judgii,entsat  all  times  Ps.  119.  20.).  and  now 
more  than  ever  before,  when  finding  Himself, 
for  the  first  time  in  his  Fathei-'s  house.  Still 
there  would  be  in  His  questions  far  more 
than  in  their  ans^vers;  and  if  we  may  take  the 
frivolous  interrogatories  with  which  they 
afterwards  plied  Him,  about  the  woman  that 
had  seven  husbands  and  such  Uke,  as  a  spe- 
cimen of  their  present  drivelling'  questions, 
perhaps  we  shall  not  greatly  err,  it  we  suppose 
that  the  questions, '  which  He  now  "  asked 
them"  in  return,  were  just  the  germs  of  those 
pregnant  questions  with  which  he  astonished 
and  silenced  them  in  alter  years :— "  What 
think  ye  of  Christ  ?  Whose  Son  is  He  ?  If 
David  call  him  Lord,  hoto  is  he  then  his  son  ?" 
"Which  is  the  first  and  great  commandment  ?* 
"  Who  is  my  neighbour  f"  about  my  Father's 
business— tt<.  'in'  or  'af  my  Father's'  i.e.  either 
'about  my  Father's  a.fairs'  or  '  in  my  Father's 
rottr^s'- where  He  dwells  and  is  to  be  found— 
ahout  His  hand,  so  to  .speak.  This  latter  shade 
of  meaning,  which  includes  the  foniier,  is. 
perhaps,  the  true  one.  Here  He  felt  Himself 
at  home,  breathing  His  own  proper  air.  His 
words  convey  a  gentle  rebuke  of  their  ob- 
tuseness  in  requiring  Him  to  explain  this. 
'  Once  here,  thought  ye,  I  should  so  readily 
hasten  away?  Let  ordinary  worshippers  be 
content  to  keep  the  fea.st  and  be  gone  ;  but  is 
this  all  ye  have  learnt  of  me  f  Methinks 
we  are  here  let  into  the  holy  privacies  of 
Nazareth;  for  sure  what  He  says  they  should 
have  kno\^'n.  He  must  have  given  them 
ground  to  know.  She  tells  him  of  the  sorrow 
with  which  His  father  and  she  had  sought 
Him.  He  speaks  of  no  father  hut  one. 
saying,  in  effect,  '  My  Father  has  not 
been  seeking  me;  I  have  been  with  Him  aU 
this  time;  the  King  hath  brought  me  into  His 
chambers  His  left  hand  is  under  my  head, 
and  His  right  hand  doth  embrace  me  Cant.  1, 
4;  2. 6.).  How  is  it  that  ye  do  not  understand 
'Mk.  8, 21.'?'  50,51.  understood  not— probably 
He  had  never  expressly  said  as  mucn,  and  so 
confounded  them,  though  it  was  but  the  true 
interpretation  of  many  things  which  they 
had  seen  and  heard  from  nim  at  home. 
See  on  J.  14.  4,5.  i  But  lest  it  should  be 
thought  that  now  He  threw  off  the  filial  yoke, 
and  became  his  own  Master  henceforth,  ana 
theirs'  too,  it  is  puriKsely  added,  "And  He 
went  down  with  than,  and  was  sidject  unto 
them."  The  marvel  of  this  condescension 
lies  in  its  coming  after  such  a  scene,  and 
such  an  assertion  of  His  higher  Sonship  ; 
and  the  words  are  evidently  meant  to 
convey  this.  *  From  this  time  we  have 
no  more  mention  of  Joseph.  The  next 
we  hear  is  of  his  "mother  and  brethren" 
(J.  2.  12) ;  whence  it  is  inferred,  that  between 


the  customary  form  of  rabbinical  teaching;  j  tliis  time  and  the  commencement  of  our 
teacher  and  learner  becoming  by  turns  ques- 1  Lord's  public  life,  Joseph  died,'  [Alf.]  hav- 
tioner  and  answerer,  as  may  be  seen  from ,  ing  now  served  the  double  end  of  being  the 
their  extant  works.  Tliis  would  give  full  protector  of  our  Lord's  Virgin-mother,  and 
scope  for  all  that  "astonished  them  in  His  affordingHimself  the  opportunity  of  present- 
understanding  and  answers."  Not  that  He  ing  a  matchless  pattern  of  subjection  to  both 
assumed  the  office  of  teaching— "His  hour"  parents.  52.  Seeonv.  40j  stature— or  better, 
for  that  "was  not  yet  come,"  and  his  furniture  perhaps,  as  in  the  margin,  'age,'  which  im- 
for  that  was  not  complete  ;  for  He  had  yet  to ,  plies  the  other.  This  is  all  the  record  we  have 


'increase  in  wisdom"  as  well  as 
45; 


"stature."  j  of  the  next  18  years  of  that  wondrous  life. 


Thf  fjpnealofjy  of  tVn-ist. 


LUKE,  IV. 


17.  is  kmytol  of  Ike  devil. 


19  H  Hut  1  Herod  the  tctiarch,  bein?  re- 
proved by  him  for  Herodias  his  brother 
Vhilip's  wife,  and  lor  all  the  e\ils  which 
Herod  had  done, 

'JO  Added  yet  this  above  all,  that  he  shut 
up  John  in  prison. 

21  H  Now  when  all  the  people  were 
baptized,  ♦■  it  came  to  pass,  that  ,1  esus  also 
being  baptized,  and  praying,  the  heavtn 
was  opened, 

22  And  the  Holy  Ghost  descended  in  a 
bodily  shape  like  a  dove  upon  him,  and  a 
voice  came  *froni  heaven,  w  hich  said.  Thou 
art  my  beloved  Son;  iu  thee  I  am  well 
pleased. 

20  1[  And  Jesus  himself  began  to  be  'about 
thirty  years  oi  age,  being  (as  was  supposed) 
the  "  sou  of  Joseph,  which  was  the  ^son  of 
Heli. 

24  Which  was  the  son  of  Matthat,  which 
was  ttie  son  of  Le\i,  which  was  the  son  of 
Melchi,  which  was  the  son  of  Janna,  which 
was  tlw  son  of  Joseph, 

25  Wliich  was  the  son  of  Mattathias,  which 
was  the  son  of  Amos,  which  was  the  soti  of 
Naum,  which  was  the  son  of  Esli,  which 
was  the  son  of  Nagge, 

2C  Which  was  the  son  of  Maath,  which 
was  the  son  of  Mattathias,  which  was  the 
son  of  Semei,  which  was  the  son  of  Joseph, 
which  was  tlie  son  of  Juda, 

27  Which  was  the  S07i  of  Joanna,  which 
was  tlie  son  of  Khesa,  which  was  the  son  of 
1  Zorobabel,  which  was  the  son  of  Salathiel, 
which  was  tlie  son  of  Neri, 

28  Which  was  the  son  of  Melchi,  which 
was  tlie  son  of  Addi,  which  was  the  son  of 
Cosam,  which  was  the  son  of  Elmodam, 
which  was  ths  son  of  Er, 

29  Which  was  the  son  of  Jose,  which  was 
the  son  of  Eliczer,  which  was  the  son  of 
Jiirim,  which  was  the  son  of  Matthat,  which 
was  the  son  of  Le\i, 

30  Which  was  tlie  s&n  of  Simeon,  which 
was  the  son  of  J  uda,  which  was  the  son  of 
Joseph,  which  was  the  son  of  Jonan,  which 
was  the  son  of  Elialcim, 

31  Which  was  the  son  of  Melea,  which  was 
tJie  son  of  Menan,  which  was  the  son  of 
Mattatha,  which  was  the  son  of  "Nathan, 
which  ""  was  the  son  of  David, 

32  Which  *  was  the  son  of  J  esse,  which 
was  the  son  of  Obed,  which  was  the  son  of 
Booz,  which  was  the  son  of  Salmon,  which 
was  the  son  of  Naasson, 

33  Which  was  the  son  of  Aminadab,  which 
was  the  son  of  Aram,  which  was  the  son  of 
Esrom,  which  was  the  son  of  Thaa-es,  which 
was  the  son  of  Juda, 

34  Which  was  the  son  of  Jacob,  which 
was  the  son  of  Isaac,  which  was  the  son 
of  Abraham,  ^  which  was  tlie  son  of  Thara, 
wiiich  was  the  S07i  of  Nachor, 

35  Which  was  the  son  of  Sanich,  which 
was  the  S07i  of  Kagau,  which  was  the  son  of 
Fhalec,  which  was  tlie  son  of  lleber,  wliich 
was  the  son  of  Sala, 

36  Which* was  the  son  of  Cainan,  which 
was  the  son  of  Arphaxad,  "  whicli  was  the 
son  of  Sem.  whicli  was  the  son  of  Noe, 
which  was  the  son  of  Lamech, 

87  Which  was  the  son  of  Mathusala,  which 
was  the  son  of  Enoch,  which  was  the  son  of 
Jared,  which  was  tht  son  of  Maleleel,  which 
was  the  son  of  Cainan, 

as  Which  W!us  the  son  of  Euos,  which  was 
tite  son  of  Seth,  which  was  the  son  of 
Adaui,  I'  which  was  the  son  oi  Go<L 


those  lucn- 

Alat.  1.  12, 

13.  and 

1  Chr.  3. 

17,  19. 
f  Zech.l2.l2. 
K-aSa.  .S.  H. 

1  Clir.  3.5. 
*Kuth  4.18. 

1  Chr.a.llJ. 
V  Gen.  11.24, 

28. 
»  Gen.  11. 12. 
«  Gen.  5.  6 

Gen.  ll.llj. 
6  Gen.  1.  26, 

27. 

Gen.  2.  7. 

Gen.  5.1,2. 

Is.  64.  8. 


CHAP.  4. 

ois.  11.2. 

18.61.1. 

Mat.  4.  1. 
Mark  1.12. 
John  1.33. 
John  3.  34. 
6  ch.  2.  -J?. 
c  Gen.  3.  15. 
Heb.  2.  18. 
Heb.  4.  15 
d  Ex.  34.  -28. 
1  Ki.  10.  8. 
e  Deu.  8.  3. 
Eph.  6.  17. 
/John  12.31. 
John  14.30. 
Kev.13.2,7. 
1  Or,  taU 
down 
before  ine. 
g  Deu.  6.  13. 
Deu.  10.20. 
ft  Mat.  4.  5. 
i  1  Pet.  5  8 
i  P».  91. 11. 
*  Deu.  6.  le, 
I  James  4.  7. 
»»  Jolin  14. 
30. 

Heb.  4.15 

n  Mat.  4  12 

John  4.  43 

0  Acts  10.37. 

p  Is.  52.  13. 

</  Mat    2.  23. 

Mat.  13.54. 

Mark  6.  1. 

r  Acts  13.14. 

«  U.  42.  1. 

Dan.  S.  24. 

1 1*».  26.  8- 

Cor.  tj.  ii. 


CHArTEH  IV. 
1   Christ's  temptation  ami  fasting:  13  he,  over- 
coming the  devil,  M  beqinneth  to  preach:  \Qlhe 
people  at  Nazareth  admire  Mm;  33  he  curelh 
one  possessed  of  a  devil,  etc, 
A  ND  "Jesus,  being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
•'•^  returned  irom  Jordan, and  *was  led  by 
the  Spirit  uito  the  wilderness, 

2  Being  forty  days  "tempted  of  the  devil. 
And  "^in  those  days  he  did  eat  nothing: 
and  when  they  were  ended,  he  afterward 
hungered. 

3  And  the  de\11  said  unto  him.  If  thou  be 
the  Son  of  God,  command  this  stone  that 
it  be  made  bread. 

4  And  J  esus  answered  him,  saying, '  It  is 
wiitten.  That  man  shall  not  live  by  bread 
alone,  but  by  every  word  of  God. 

0  And  the  devil,  taking  him  up  into  an 
high  mountain,  showed  vmto  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world  in  a  moment  of 
time. 

6  And  the  ^evil  said  unto  him,  All  this 
power  will  I  give  thee,  and  the  glory  of 
them:  for  /that  is  delivered  unto  me;  and 
to  whomsoever  1  will  I  give  it. 

7  If  thou  therefore  wilt  i  worship  me,  all 
shall  be  thine. 

8  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him.  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan :  "  for 
it  is  written.  Thou  shalt  worship  the 
Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou 
serve. 

9  And ''  he  brought  him  to  Jerusalem,  and 
set  him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  and 
said  unto  him.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God, 
cast  'thyself  down  from  hence: 

10  For  J  it  is  written,  He  shall  give  his 
angels  charge  over  thee,  to  keen  thee; 

11  And  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee 
up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot 
against  a  stone. 

12  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him. 
It  *  is  said.  Thou  shalt  uot  tempt  the  Lord 
thy  God. 

13  And  when  the  devil  had  ended  all  the 
temptation,  he  '  departed  from  him  "'  lor 
a  season. 

14  H  And  "Jesus  returned  in  the  power  of 
the  Spirit  into  "  Galilee :  and  there  went 
out  a  fame  of  him  through  all  the  rcgiou 
round  about. 

15  And  he  taught  in  their  SiTiagogues, 
being  P  glorified  of  all. 

16  il  And  he  came  to  «  Nazareth,  where 
he  had  been  brought  up:  and,  as  his  cus- 
tom was,  •■  he  went  into  the  synagogue 
on  the  sibbath  day,  and  stood  up  lor  to 
read. 

17  And  there  was  delivered  unto  him  the 
book  of  the  prophet  Esaias.  And  v.heu 
he  had  opened  the  book,  he  found  the  place 
where  it  was  wnitten, 

18  The  •  Spu-it  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, 
because  he  hath  anointed  me  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  the  poor;  he  hath  sent  me  to 
heal  the  broken-hearted,  to  preach  deli\  cr- 
ance  to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of  si- ht 
to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are 
bruised, 

19  To -preach  the  <  acceptable  year  of  the 
Lord. 

20  And  he  closed  the  book,  and  he  gave  it 
again  to  the  minister,  and  sat  down.  And 
the  eyes  of  all  them  that  were  in  the  syna- 
go^ue  were  fastened  on  him. 

21  And  he  began  to  say  mito  tbem.  This 
day  is  this  (u-aipiure  fulfilled  in  joui  eais. 


Preaching  and  Bayti-m  of  John,  Ltl  KE.  HL JBaptirmof  Ch  rid. 

^Vllat  seasons  of  tranquil  meditation  over  the,  that  extortion  which  made  the  publicans  a 
lively  oracles,  and  holy  fellowship  with  His  bye-word.  See  on  ch.  19.  2.  8.  soldiers  ...  do 
Father;  what  inlettings.  on  the  one  hand,  of,  violence  to  none— the  word  signifies  to  '  shalce 
light,  and  love,  and  power  from  on  high,  and ;  thoroughly,'  and  so  to  '  intimidate,' probably 


outgoings  of  filial  supplication,  freedom,  lov 
and  joy  on  the  other,  would  these  : " 
contain  !  And  would  they  not  seem 
few  days,"  if  thev  were  so  passed,  however 
ardently  he  might  long  to  be  more  directly 
"about  His  Father's  business?' 
CHAPTER  Ul. 
Ver.  1-20.  Preaching,  BaptIsM,  Aud 
Imprisoxment  of  John.  See  on  I\L  3. 1-12; 
Mk.  6.  17,  &a  1.  2.  Here  the  curtain  of  the 
N.  T.  is,  as  it  were,  drawn  up,  and  the 
gi-eatest  of  all  epochs  of  the  Church  com- 
mences. Even  our  Lord's  own  age  iv.  23.), 
is  deter^nined  by  it.  [Beng.]  No  such  ela- 
borate chronological  precision  is  to  be  found 
elsewhere  in  the  N.  T.,  and  it  comes  fitly 
from  him  who  claims  it  as  the  pecuUar  re- 
commendation of  his  gospel,  that  he  had 
'  accurately  traced  down  all  tilings  from  the 
first'  ich.  1.  3.).  Here,  evidently,  commences 
his  proper  narrative,  the  15th  year  of  Tioerius 
—reckoning  from  the  period  when  he  was  ad- 
mitted, three  5'ears  before  Augustus*  death, 
to  a  share  of  the  empire  [w.  <fe  w. ),  about  the 
end  of  the  year  of  Rome  "79,, or  al'out  4  years 
before  the  usual  reckoning.  Pilate  governor 
of  Judea— his  proper  title  was  Procurator,  but 
with  more  than  the  usual  powers  of  that 
office.  After  holding  it  about  ten  years  he 
was  ordered  to  Rome,  to  answer  to  charges 
brought  against  him,  but  ere  he  arrived 
riberiusdied  (A.  D.  35.),  and  soon  after  Pilate 
committed  suicide.  Herod— see  on  Mk.  6. 14. 
Philip — adiflerent  and  very  superior  Philip  to 
the  one  whose  wife  Herodias  went  to  live 
with  Herod  Antipas.  See  Mk.  6.  17.  Iturea 
—to  the  N.  E.  of  Palestine ;  so  called  from 
Ishmael's  son  Itur  or  Jetur  (iChr.  l.  31.),  and 
anciently  belonging  to  the  half  tribe  of  Ma- 
nasseh.  Trachonitis— farther  to  the  N.  E., 
between  Iturea  and  Damascus;  a  rocky  dis- 
trict, infested  by  robbers,  and  committed  by 
Augustus  to  Herod  the  Great  to  keep  in 
order.  Abilene— still  more  to  the  N.  E.,  so 
called  from  Abila,  18  miles  from  Damascus. 
[Robinson.]  Annas  and  Ciiiaphas  high  priests 
—the  former,  though  depo.secf,  retained  much 
of  his  influence,  and.  probably,  as  Sagan  or 
deputy,  exercised  mucli  of  the  power  of  the 
high  priesthood  along  with  Caiaphas.  (J.  18. 
13;  A.  4  6.).  Both  Zadok  and  Abiathar  acted 
as  high  priests  in  David's  time  (2.  Sa.  15.  ;;.5.), 
and  it  seems  to  have  become  the  fixed  practice 
to  have  two.  (2  Ki.  25. 18.  i  word  of  God  came 
unto  John— st^A  fonnufas,  of  course,  arenever 
used  when  spcakitm  of  Jesus,  because  the 
Divine  nature  manifested  itself  in  Him  not  at 
certain  isolated  moments  of  his  life.  He  was 
the  one  everlasting  iruini/estation  of  the  Gori- 
/icaci— The  Word.'  [Olsh.].  5.  every  valley, 
&c. — levelling  and  smoothing,  obvious  figures, 
the  sense  of  which  is  in  the  fir.st  w  ords  oi  the 
proclamation,  "Preimre  ve  the  way  of  the 
Lord."  all  flesli.&c.— (quoted  literally  from  the 
Septuagint  of  Is.  40.  s.-  The  idea  is  that  every 
obstruction  shall  be  so  removed  as  to  reveal 
to  the  whole  world  the  Salvation  of  God  in 
Him  whose  name  is  the  "  Saviour."  icf.  Ps. 
98.  3;  Is.  11.  10;  49.  6;  52.  10;  L.  2.  31,  32;  A.  13. 
47.)  10-14.  what  shall  we  do  then  1— to  show 
the  sincerity  of  our  rerientance.  two  coats, 
(fee- directed  against  the  reigning  avarice. 
publicans. .  exact  nomore.cbc.- directedagainst, 
=.0 


in  oriler  to  extort  money  or  other  property, 
years  I  accuse  ialsely— acting  as  informersvexatious- 
but  a  I  ly.  on  frivolous  or  false  grounds,  contcul 
vith  your  wages— *  rations. '  We  may  take 
this  as  a  warning  against  mutiny,  which  the 
ofhcers  attempted  to  suppress  by  largesses 
and  donations,  [w.  &  w.J  And  thus  the 
"  iruits"  which  woidd  evidence  their  re- 
pentance were  .just  resistance  to  the  reign- 
ing sins,  particularly  of  the  class  to 
which  the  penitent  belonged,  and  the  ma- 
nifestation of  an  opj.osite  spirit.  15-17. 
whether  he  were  the  Christ  —  showing  both 
how  successful  he  had  been  in  awakening 
the  expectation  of  Messiah's  immediate  ap- 
pearing, and  the  high  estimation,  and  even  re- 
verence, which  his  own  character  commanded. 
John  answered,  &c.— either  to  the  deputation 
from  Jerusalem  (.see  J.  1.  19,  ifcc.) ;  or  on 
some  other  occasion,  simply  to  remove  im- 
pre.ssions  derogatory  to  his  blessed  Master 
which  he  knew  to  be  taking  hold  of  the 
popular  mind,  sajring  unto  them  all,  &:c.— 
in  solemn  protestation ;  So  far  from  enter- 
taininci  such  a  thou.yhtas  laying  claim  to  the 
honours  of  Lfessiahship,  the  meanest  ser- 
vices I  can  render  to  that  "  Mightier  than 
me  that  is  coming  after  me,"  are  too  high 
an  honour  for  me.  Beautiful  spirit,  distin- 
guishing this  servant  of  Christ  throughout! 
one  migiitier  than  I—*  the  Miirhtier  than-I.' 
IS.  many  other  thhigs,  &c.— such  as  we  read 
in  J.  1.  29.  33,  34;  3.  ^7-36.  19,  20.  but  Herod, 
(tc— See  on  Mk.  6.  14,  &c.  and  for  all  the 
evils  which  Herod  had  done  — important  fact 
here  only  mentioned,  showing  how //(orot<ff/i- 
guing  was  the  fidelity  of  the  Baptist  to  his 
royal  hearer,  and  how  strong  must  have 
been  the  workings  of  conscience  in  that  slave 
of  pas.-ion  when,  notwithstanding  such  plain- 
ness, he  '■  did  many  tilings  and  heard  John 
gladly."     Tdk.  6.  20,  20.) 

21,  22.  Baptism  of  and  Descent  of  the 
Spirit  upon  Je.-tt3.  See  on  M.  3.  13-17. 
when  all  the  people  were  baptized— that  He 
might  not  seem  to  be  merely  one  of  the 
crowd.  Thus,  as  He  rode  into  Jerusalem 
upon  an  ass,  *  ichercon  yet  never  man  sat," 
cli.  19.  30,)  and  lay  in  a  sepulchre  "  tchcrein 
v:as  never  man  yet  laid,"  (J.  19.  41,)  so  in  His 
1  laptism  He  would  be  "  separate  from  si7i- 
)iers." 

23-38.  GE>rr:.\.LOGY  of  Jestts.  23.  he  be- 
gr,n  to  be  about  thirty  — i.e.,  'was  about  en- 
tering on  his  ;-;Oth  year.'  So  our  translators 
have  taken  the  word;  [and  so  Cal.,  Bez  , 
Bloomf..  w.  &  w.  fcc]  but  '  was  about  30 
years  of  age  when  he  began  (liis  ministry),' 
makes  better  Greek,  and  is  probably  the 
true  sense.  [Beng.,  Oi.sn.,  De  W.,  Mey  , 
Alf.,  &c.)  At  this  age  the  priests  entered 
on  their  olhce.  (Nu.  4.  3.)  being,  as  was  sup- 
posed, the  sen  of  Joseph.  <tc.— Have  we  in  this 
genealogy,  as  well  as  IM.'s,  the  line  of  Jo.  eph? 
or  is  this  the  line  olMar\i?—a.  point  on  which 
there  has  been  great  difference  of  opinion 
and  much  acute  discussion.  Those  who 
take  the  former  opinion  contend  that  it  is  the 
natural  sense  of  this  verse,  and  that  no  other 
would  have  been  thought  of  but  for  its  sup- 
posed improbability  and  the  uncertainty 
which  it  seem.s  to  throw  over  our  Lord's  real 
descent.  But  it  is  liable  to  anotkerditiicuity 


fThrift  preacJies  at  Kaznrefh. 


LUKE,  V. 


The  miranLlous  drant/M  offi  hes. 


22  And  all  bare  him  witness,  and  "  woii- 
dtred  at  the  gracious  words  which  pro- 
ceeded out  of  his  mouth.  And  they  said, 
Is "  not  this  Joseph's  son? 

'23  And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  will  surely 
Bay  unto  nie  this  proverb,  Physician,  heal 
thyself:  whatsoever  we  have  heard  done 
in  "'  Capernaum,  do  also  here  in  *  thy 
country. 

24  And  he  said.  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Ko  prophet  "  is  accepted  in  his  own 
country. 

2-5  But  I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  *many 
widows  were  in  Israel  in  the  days  of 
Klias,  when  the  heaven  was  shut  up  three 
years  and  six  months,  when  great  tiimine 
was  throughout  all  the  land ; 

26  But  unto  none  of  them  was  Elias  sent, 
save  unto  Sarepta,  a  city  of  Sidon,  unto  a 
woman  that  was  a  widow. 

27  And  "many  lepers  were  in  Israel  in  the 
time  of  Eliseus  the  prophet;  and  none  <  f 
them  was  cleansed,  saving  Naaman  the 
Syrian. 

28  And  all  they  in  the  synagogue,  when 
they  ijeard  these  things,  were  filied  with 
wrath, 

29  And  rose  up,  and  thnist  him  out  of  the 
city,  and  led  him  unto  the  2  brow  of  the 
hill  whereon  their  city  was  built,  that  they 
might  cast  him  down  headlong. 

30  But  he  *  passing  through  the  midst  of 
them  went  his  way, 

31  And  *  came  down  to  Capeniaum,  a  city 
of  Galilee,  and  taught  them  on  the  sabbath 
days. 

32  And  they  were  astonished  at  his  doc- 
trine: <*  for  his  word  was  with  power. 

33  II  And  'in  the  synagogue  there  was  a 
man  which  had  a  spirit  of  an  unclean  devil, 
and  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice, 

34  Saying,  3  Let  vs  alone ;  what  have  we 
to  do  w-ith  thee,  Ihou  Jesus  of  Nazareth? 
art  thou  come  to  destroy  us?  I  know  thee 
who  thou  art;  /the  Holy  One  of  God. 

35  And  Jesus  rebuked  him,  saying.  Hold 
thy  peace,  and  come  out  of  him.  And  when 
the  devil  had  thrown  him  in  the  midst,  he 
came  out  of  him,  and  hurt  him  not. 

36  And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  spake 
among  themselves,  saying,  AVhat  a  word 
is  this!  for  with  authority  and  power  he 
commandeth  the  unclean  spirits,  and  they 
come  out. 

37  And  "  the  fame  of  him  went  out  into 
every  place  of  the  country  round  about. 

;^  ii  And  '■*  he  arose  out  of  the  synagogue, 
and  entered  hito  Simon's  house.  And 
Simon's  wife's  mother  was  taken  with  a 
great  fever;  and  they  besought  him  for  her. 

'.'Q  And  he  stood  over  her,  and  « rebuked 
the  fever;  and  it  left  her.  And  immediately 
she  arose  and  ministered  unto  them. 

40  H  Isow>  when  the  sun  was  setting,  all 
they  that  had  any  sick  with  divers  diseases 
biought  them  unto  him;  and  he  laid  his 
hands  on  every  one  of  them,  and  healed 
them. 

41  And  *de\'ils  also  came  out  of  many, 
crying  out,  and  sajing.  Thou  art  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God.  And  '  he,  rebuking  them. 
Buttered  them  not  *  to  speak:  for  they  knew 
that  he  was  Christ. 

42  And  •"  when  it  was  day,  he  departed 
and  went  into  a  desert  place;  and  the 
people  sought  him,  and  came  unto  him, 
and  stayed  him,  that  he  should  not  depart 
irom  tai;iii. 

47 


CHAP   4. 

'  P«  45.  2. 
MBt.  13.54. 
Slarke.a. 


'Ma 


*  Mat.  10.64 

Mark  G.  1. 
V  Mat.  13.67. 

Mark  6.  4. 

John  4.  44. 
»1  K[.  17.9. 

1  Ki.  18.  1. 

Jam.  5.  17. 
0.2  Ki.  5  14. 

2  Or,  edge. 

6  John  8  59. 

John  U).:a 
e  Mat    4    13 

Mark  1.21. 
'/  Mat.  7.  23, 

•.'9. 

Tit.  2.  1.^. 
«  Mark  1.  23. 

3  Or.  Away. 
f  P».  16.  lU. 

Is.  49.  7. 

Dan.  9.  24. 

ch.  1.  35. 

Acts  2.  31. 

Art.  4.  37. 
g  Mic.  5.  4. 
A  Mat.  8   14 


k  Maikl  34 
ALirk3.  11. 

I  JNLirk  1.  25, 
34. 

4  Or,  to  say 
th.1t  they 

to  be 

Thrist. 
TOM.,rkl.35. 
n  .Mark  1.14, 


6  Joiin  21.  ti. 

c  2  Sa  6.  9. 

IKi.  17.18 


«  Mat.  4.  20 
Mai.  19.27. 
Murk  1  18 


/  Mat.  8.  2. 


i  Lev.  13.  1. 
Lev.  14.4. 

10,21.22 
;■  Mat.  4  25. 

Ma  k  3.  ; 

John  6.  2. 
k  Mar.  U.-.3. 

Mar.  6.  46. 
{  Mat.  9.  2. 

Mark  2.  a. 


43  And  he  s.aid  unto  them, "  I  must  preach 
the  kingdom  of  God  to  other  cities  also: 
for  therefore  am  I  sent. 

44  And  "he  preached  in  the  synagogues  of 
Galilee. 

CHAPTER  V, 

1  Christ  tfacheth  out  of  Feter's  ship.    4  A  mi- 

racu!ou3  draught  of  fishes.   \'i  A  lepfr  deaiised. 

18  The  palsy  healed.    27  Levi  called  from  the 

receipt  of  custom. 

A  ND  "  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  the  people 
pressed  upon  him  to  hear  the  word  of 
God.  he  stood  by  the  lake  of  Gennes.iret, 

2  And  saw  two  ships  standing  by  the  lake: 
but  the  fishermen  were  gone  out  of  them, 
and  were  washing  their  nets. 

3  And  he  entered  into  one  of  the  ships, 
which  was  Simon's,  and  prayed  him  tliat 
he  would  thrust  out  a  little  from  the  land. 
And  he  sat  do^vn,  and  taught  the  people 
out  of  the  ship. 

4  Now  when  he  had  left  speaking,  he  said 
unto  Simon,  *  Launch  out  into  the  deep, 
and  let  down  your  nets  for  a  draught. 

5  And  Simon  answering  said  unto  him. 
Master,  we  have  toiled  all  the  night,  and 
have  taken  nothing:  nevertheless  at  thy 
word  I  will  let  down  the  net. 

6  And  when  they  had  this  done,  they  in- 
closed a  great  multitude  of  fishes;  and  their 
net  brake. 

7  And  they  beckoned  unto  their  partners, 
which  were  in  the  other  ship,  tnat  they 
should  come  and  help  them.  And  they 
came,  and  filled  both  the  ships,  so  that 
they  began  to  sink. 

8  When  Simon  Peter  saw  it,  he  fell  down 
at  Jesus'  knees,  saying,  "Depart  from  me; 
for  I  am  a  sinful  man.  O  Lord. 

9  For  he  was  astonished,  and  all  that  were 
with  him,  at  the  draught  of  the  fishes  which 
they  had  taken: 

10  And  so  was  also  James  and  John,  the 
sons  of  Zebedee,  which  were  partners  with 
Simon.  And  Jesus  said  unto  Simon,  Fear 
not;  "^from  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch 
men. 

U  And  when  they  had  brought  their  ships 
to  laud,  *they  forsook  all,  and  followed 
liim. 

12  H  And /it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  in 
a  certain  city,  behold  a  man  lull  of  leprosy; 
who,  seeing  Jesus,  fell  on  his  lace,  and  be- 
sout,'ht  him,  saying.  Lord,  it  thou  wilt,  thou 
canst  "make  nie  clean. 

13  And  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  touched 
him,  saying,  I  will:  be  thi  u  clean.  And 
immediately  the  leprosy  departed  from 
him. 

14  And  '» he  charged  him  to  tell  no  man: 
but  go,  and  show  thyself  to  the  priest,  and 
offer  for  thy  cleansing, « according  as  Aloses 
commanded,  for  a  testimony  unto  them. 

15  But  so  much  the  more  went  there  a 
fame  abroad  of  him:  and>  great  multituiiea 
came  together  to  hear,  and  to  be  healed  by 
him  of  their  infirmities. 

16  And  *  he  withdrew  himself  into  the 
wilderness,  and  prayed. 

17  1)  And  it  came  to  pass  on  a  certain  day, 
as  he  was  teaching,  that  there  were  I'hari- 
sees  and  doctors  of  the  law  sitting  by, 
which  were  come  out  of  every  town  of 
Galilee,  and  Judea.  and  Jerusalem:  and 
the  power  of  the  Lord  w&s  present  to  heal 
.hem. 

18 II  And, '  behold,  men  brought  in  a  bed 
a  man  which  was  taken  with  a  palsy:  and 


Genealogv  of  Christ, 


friz.,  that  in  this  case  M.  makes  "  Jacob,  "  , 
ihile  L.  makes  "iMi,"  to  be  Josei;h's  fa- 


LTJKE,  IV. HehcGinsMs Minidry. 

that  event.    ITie  visit  to  Nazareth  recorded 
Ln  M.  13.  54-58,  (and  JWk.  6.  1  6J  we  take  to  be 


Iher;  and  though  the  same  man  had  often  ;  not  a  later  visit,  but  the  same  with  this  first 
more  than  one  name,  we  ought  not  to  resort  j  one;  becaiise  we  cannot  think  that  thelS'aza- 
to  that  suiiposition,  in  such  a  case  as  this,  I  renes,  after  being  so  enraged  at  His  Jirst  dis- 
without  necessity.  And  then,  though  the  play  of  wisdom  as  to  attempt  his  destruction, 
descent  of  Mary  from  David  would  be  liable  |  should,  on  a  second  display  of  the  same,  won- 
to  no  real  doubt,  even  though  we  had  no  { der  at  it  and  ask  how  he  came  by  it,'  as  if 
table  of  her  line  preserved  to  us,  (see,  for  ex- !  they  had  never  witnessed  it  before,  as  his 
ample,  ch.  l.  2-32,  and  on  ch.  2.  5,i  still  it  does  I  custcm  was— cf.  A.  17.  2.  17.  stocd  up  to  read- 
seem  unlikely— we  say  not  incredilile— that  ■  others  besides  rabbins  were  allowed  to  ad- 
two  genealogies  of  onr  Lord  should  be  pre- '  dress  the  congregation.  See  A.  13.  15.  18,  19. 
served  to  us  neither  of  which  gives  his  real  \  To  have  fixed  on  any  passage  announcing 
descent.  These  who  take  the  latter  opinion.  His  sufferings,  (as  Is.  63,)  would  have  been 
that  we  have  here  the  line  of  Mary,  as  in  '  unsuitable  at  that  early  stage  of  His  minis- 
M.  that  of  Jo6fi)/t— here  his  real,  there  his  ;  try.  But  He  selects  a  passage  announcing 
reputed  line— explain  the  statement  about  the  sublime  object  of  His  whole  mission,  its 
Joseph,  that  he  was  "  Uie  sou  of  Heli,"  to  Liivine  character,  and  His  special  endow- 
mean  that  he  was  his  son-in-laiv,  as  the  hus-  ments  for  it;  expressed  in  the  first  person, 
band  of  his  daughter  Mary,  asin  Eutb  1.  11,   and  so  singiUarly  adapted  to  tliejirst  opening 


12,  and  believe  that  Joseph's  name  is  only  |  oj  the  mouth  in  his  prophetic  capacity,  that 
i,r.t,.^A„..r.A  ;„„+«o.i  ^e-\\„„^^  ,-^  ^^„f„ — ,;»„  ^j  seems  OS  if  made  expressly  for  this  occa- 
sion. It  is  from  the  weU-known  section  of 
Isaiah's  prophecies  whose  burden  is  that 
mysterious  "bEEVAKT  or  the  Loed,"  de- 
spised of  man,  abhorred  of  the  nation,  but 
before  AVliom  kings  on  seeing  Him  are  to 
arise,  and  princes  to  worship;  m  visage  more 
marred  than  any  man  and  his  form  than  the 


introduced  instead  of  Maiys,  in  conformity 
with  the  Jewish  custom  in  such  tables.  Per- 
haps this  view  is  attended  with  fewest  diffi- 
culties, as  it  certainly  is  the  best  supported. 
However  we  decide,  it  is  a  satisfaction  to 
know  that  not  a  doubt  was  tlirowTi  out  by 
the  bitterest  of  the  early  enemies  of  Christi- 
anity as  to  our  LorcVs  real  descent  from 

David.    On  comparing  the  two  genealogies,  I  sons  of  men,  yet  sprinkling  many  nations- 
it  wid  be  found  that  M.,wTitiug  more  imme- 1  labouring  seemingly  in  vain,  and  spending 


diately  for  Jews,  deemed  it  enough  to  show 
that  the  Saviour  was  sprung  trcm  Abraham 
and  David;  whereas  L.,  wTittng  more  im- 
mediately for  Gentiles,  traces  the  descent 
back  to  Adam,  the  parent  stock  of  the  whole 
human  family,  thus  showing  him  to  be  the 
prondsed  "  Seed  of  the  woman."  *  The  pos- 
sibility of  constructing  such  a  table,  com- 
prising a  period  of  thousands  of  years,  in  an 


his  strength  for  nought  and  in  vain,  yet  Je- 
hovah's Servant  to  raise  up  the  triles  of 
Jacob  and  be  His  Salvation  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth.  (Is.  49,  Arc.)  The  quotation  is 
chiefly  from  the  Septuagint  version,  used  in 
the  synagogues,  acceptableyear— an  allusion 
to  the  Jubilee  year.  iLe.  25.  iO,i  a  year  of  uni- 
versal release  for  person  and  property.  See 
also  Is.  49.  8;  2  Co.  G.  2.    As  the  maladies  un- 


uninterrupted  line  from  father  to  son,  of  a  j  der  which   humanity  groans  are   here  set 


family  that  dwelt  for  a  long  time  in  the 
utmost  retirement  would  be  inexplicable, 
had  not  the  members  of  this  line  been 
endowed  with  a  thread  by  which  they 
could  extricate  themselves  from  the  many 
families  into  which  every  tribe  and  branch 
was  again  subdivided,  and  thus  hold  fast  and 
know  tlie  member  that  was  destined  to  con- 
tinue the  hneage.  This  thread  was  the  hope 
that  Messiah  would  be  bom  of  the  race  of 
Abraham  and  David.  Tlie  ardent  desire  to 
behold  Htm  and  be  partakers  of  his  mercy 
and  glory  suffered  not  the  attention  to  be 
exhausted  through  a  period  embracing  thou- 
sands of  years.  Thus  the  member  destined 
to  continue  the  lineage,  whenever  doubtful, 
became  easily  distinguishable,  awakening 
the  hope  of  a  final  fulfilment,  and  keeping  it 
alive  untd  it  was  consummated.'  [Ul^h.] 
24-30.  son  of  Matthat,  drc— See  on  M.  1. 13-15. 
In  V.  27,  Salathiel  Ls  called  the  son,  while  in 
M.  1. 12,  he  is  called  the  fatherot  Zerubbabel. 
i>ut  they  are  probably  difl'erent  persons.  38. 
son  of  God— cf.  A.  17.  28. 

CHAPTEE  IV. 

Ver.  1-13.  Temptation  of  Chkist.— See 
on  M.  4.  ML 

14-32.  Je.stjs,  E^r^EKING  ox  his  Public 
Ministry,  makes  a  Circuit  of  Galilee 
— Rejection  at  Nazareth,    n.b.  A  large 


forth  under  the  names  of  povcrtij,  broken- 
ficarteclness,  bondage,  hlindnefs,  bridsedncss, 
(or  crushedness,'^  so,  as  the  glorious  Healer 
of  all  these  maladies  Christ  announces  Him- 
self in  the  act  of  reading  it,  stopping  the  quo- 
tation just  before  it  comes  to  "'  the  day  of 
vengeance,"  which  was  only  to  come  on  the 
rejecters  of  His  message.  (J.  3. 17.)  The  first 
words,  *'  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon 
]Me,"  have  been  noticed  since  the  days  of  the 
Church  fathers,  as  an  Illustrious  example  of 
Father,  Son,  and,  Holy  Ghost,  being  exhibited 
as  in  distinct  yet  haimonious  action  in 
the  scheme  of  salvation.  20.  the  minister— 
the  Chazan  ox  synago-ue  ctticer.  all  eyes 
fastened  on  Him— astoimded  at  his  putting  in 
such  claims.  21.  began  to  say,  &c.  — His 
whole  address  was  just  a  detailed  appli- 
cation to  Himself  of  this  and  perhaps  other 
like  prf)phecies.  22.  gracious  words—'  the 
words  ol  grace,'  referring  both  to  the  rich- 
ness of  his  matter  and  the  sweetness  of  his 
manner.  iPs.  45.  2.)  is  not  this  <tc.— See  on 
M.  13.  54-66.  They  knew  he  had  received  no 
rabbinical  education,  and  anything  supema- 
tural  they  seemed  incapable  of  conceiving. 
23.  this  proverb— hke  our  '  Charity  begins  at 
home.'  whatsoever,  &c.— '  Strange  rumours 
have  reached  our  ears  of  thy  doings 
at  Capernaimi;  but  if  such  power  resides  in 


gap  here  occurs,  embracing  the  important  thee  to  cure  the  ids  of  humanity,  why  has 
tran.-iactions  in  Galilee  and  Jerusalem  which  |  none  of  it  yet  come  nearer  home,  and  why  is 
are  recorded  in  J  1.  29,  to  4.  54,  and  which  |  all  this  alleged  power  reserved  for  strangers? 
occurred  before  John's  imprisonment  (J.  3.  His  choice  of  Capernaum  as  a  place  of  lesi- 
24);  whereas  the  transactions  here  recorded  dence  since  entering  on  i  itblic  hfe  was,  it 
occurred  (as  appears  from  M.  4. 12, 13j,  after  i  seems,  already  well-known  at  Nazareth;  and 
4r 


The  caU  of  Maf*hpw. 


LUKE,  VI. 


TJte  twefve  npo?tles  chosen. 


they  sought  meavs  to  biing  him  in,  and  to  j 
lay  him  before  him. 

IS  And  when  they  could  rot  find  bv  what 
way  they  might  bring  him  in  because  of 
the  multitude,  they  went  upon  the  house- 
top, and  let  him  down  through  the  tihng 
with  his  couch  into  the  midst  before  Jesus. 

2C  And  when  he  saw  their  ""faith,  he  said 
nnto  him,  Man,  •*  thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee. 

21  And  "the  scribes  and  the  Pharisees 
began  to  reason,  saying,  Who  is  this  which 
speaketh  blasphemies?  P  Who  can  forgive 
Bins  but  God  alone? 

22  But  when  Jesus  perceived  their 
thoughts,  he  answering  said  mito  them, 
What  reason  ye  in  yom-  hearts? 

23  Whether  is  easier  to  say,  Thy  sins  be 
forgiven  thee  ;  or  to  say.  Rise  up  and 
walk? 

24  lint  that  ye  may  know  that  '  the  Son 
of  man  hath  power  upon  earth  to  forgive 
sins,  (he  said  unto  the  sick  of  the  palsy.)  I 
say  unto  thee,  Arise,  and  take  up  thy 
couch,  and  go  unto  thine  house. 

25  And  immediately  he  rose  up  before 
them,  and  took  up  that  whereon  he  lay, 
and  departed  to  his  own  house,  '■glorifying 
God. 

26  And  tbey  were  all  amazed,  and  they 
gloritied  God,  and  were  lilkd  with  fear, 
saying,  We  have  seen  strange  things  to- 
day. 

27  H  And  '  after  these  things  he  went 
firth,  and  saw  a  publican,  named  Levi, 
Bitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom:  and  he 
said  unto  him.  Follow  me. 

28  And  he  left  all,  rose  up,  and  followed 
him. 

29  And  '  Levi  made  him  a  great  feast  in 
his  own  house :  and  "  there  was  a  great 
company  of  publicans  and  of  others  that 
sat  down  with  them. 

30  But  their  scribes  and  Pharisees  mur- 
mured against  his  disciples,  saying,  Why 
do  ye  eat  and  drink  with  publicans  and 
sinners? 

31  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them, 
They  that  are  whole  need  not  a  physician ; 
but  they  that  are  sick. 

32  I  "  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but 
sinners  to  repentance. 

33  H  And  they  said  imto  him,  •"  Why  do 
the  disciples  of  John  fast  often,  and  make 
prayers,  and  likewise  the  disciples  of  the 
Pharisees;  but  thine  eat  and  dnnk? 

34  And  he  «aid  unto  them.  Can  ye  make 
the  children  oiihe  bride-chamber  fast  while 
the  *  bridegroom  is  with  themi 

35  But  the  days  will  come,  when  the 
bridegroom  shall  ^  be  taken  away  from 
them,  and  then  shall  they  *  fast  in  those 
days. 

36  fl  And  »  he  spake  also  a  parable  unto 
them;  No  man  putteth  a  piece  of  a  new 
gai-ment  upon  an  old:  if  otherwise,  then 
both  the  new  maketh  a  rent,  and  the  piece 
that  was  taken  out  of  the  new  agreeth  not 
with  the  old. 

37  And  no  man  putteth  new  wine  into  old 
bottles;  else  the  new  wine  will  burst  the 
bottles,  and  be  spilled,  and  the  bottles  shall 
perish. 

38  But  new  wine  must  be  put  into  new 
bottles;  and  both  are  presei-ved. 

39  No  man  also  havmg  drunk  old  whie 
Straightway  desireth  new ;  for  he  saith.  The 
old  is  better. 


CHAP.  5. 
n  Rev.  2.  23. 
'  Acts.  5.B1. 

0  Mat.  9.  3. 
ir.  2.6,7. 

P  Ex  34.  7. 

¥».  32  6. 

P».  103.  3. 

Is.  1.  18. 

I«.  43.  25. 

Dan.  9.  9. 
9  Acts  6.  31. 

Col.  3.  13. 
r  P».  103.  1. 
«  Mat.  9.  9. 

Mark  2.  13, 

14. 
t  Mat.  9. 10. 

Mark  2.  16. 
«  ch.  15.  1. 

V  Mat.  9.  13. 

1  Ti.  1.  16. 
«■  Mat.  9. 14. 

Mark  2.18. 

1  Mat.  22.  a. 
ch.  14. 
lt>-23. 

2  Cor.  11.2. 
Kev.  19.  7. 
Eer.  21.  2. 

V  Dan.  9.  26. 
Zech.  13. 7. 
John  7.  33. 

«  Wat.  6.  16, 
17. 
Ac.  13. 2,3. 

1  Cor.  7.6. 

2  Cor.  6. 


Mat.  9.  16, 

17. 

Mark  2.21, 


CHAP.  6. 
a  M.it.  12.  1. 

Mark  2. 23. 
b  Ex.  2U.  10. 

Mark  7.  2. 
Cl  Sa.  21.6. 
d  Kx.  29.  23, 

33. 

Lev.  24.  9. 
e  Mat.  12.9. 

Mark  3.  1. 

ch.  13.  14. 

ch.  14.  3. 

John  9.  16. 
fl  Sa.  16.  7. 

ch.  5.  22. 

John  2.  24, 

25. 

John  6.  64. 

John  21.17. 

Acts  1.  24. 

EoT.  2.  23. 
g  John  7.  23. 

*  Mat.l4Ji3. 
t  Mat.  10.  1. 
j  John  1.  42. 

*  John  14.22. 
Acts  1.  13. 
Jude  1. 

J  Mat.  4.  25. 

Mark  3.  7. 
»»  Mat.14.36. 
n  Mark  5.30. 

ch.  8.  46. 
0  Mat.  5.  3. 

Mat.  11.6. 

p  Is.  65.  1. 

1  Cor.4.11. 
g  la.  61.  3. 

Kev.  7. 

14-17. 


CHAPTER  VL 

1  ToucMng  the  ears  of  corn  that  were  vlueked  bo 
the  disciples  on  the  sabbath.  13  Christ  chooseih 
the  tiuelve,  M  healelh  divers  diseases,  20  pro- 
nounceth  blessings,  etc. 

A  ND  "it  came  to  pass,  on  the  second 
''•■*■  sabbath  after  the  first,  that  he  went 
through  the  corn  fields;  and  his  discipks 

E lucked  the  ears  of  com,  and  did  eat,  rub- 
iug  them  in  their  hands. 

2  And  certain  of  the  Pharisees  said  unto 
them,  6  Why  do  ye  that  which  is  not  lawl"ul 
to  do  on  the  sabbath  days? 

3  And  Jesus  answering  them  said.  Have 
ye  not  read  so  much  as  this, '  what  David 
dill,  when  himself  was  an  hmigered,  and 
they  which  were  with  him; 

4  How  he  went  into  the  house  of  God,  and 
did  take  and  eat  the  showbread,  and  gave 
also  to  them  that  were  with  him ;  <*  which 
it  is  not  lawful  to  eat  but  for  the  priests 
alone? 

5  And  he  said  unto  them,  That  the  Son 
of  man  is  Lord  also  of  the  sabbath. 

'  %  And  *  it  came  to  pass  also  on  another 
sbath,  that  he  entered  into  the  syna- 
gogue  and  taught:  and  there  was  a  man 
whose  right  hand  was  withtred. 

7  And  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  watched 
him,  whether  he  would  heal  on  the  sabbath 
day;  that  they  might  find  an  accusation 
against  him. 

8  But  he /knew  their  thoughts,  and  said 
to  the  man  which  had  the  withered  haiia, 
Rise  up,  and  stand  forth  in  the  midst.  And 
he  arose  and  stood  forth. 

9  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  I  will  ask 
you  one  thing;  ^  Is  it  lawful  on  the  sabbath 
days  to  do  good,  or  to  do  evil?  to  save  life, 
or  to  destroy  it? 

10  And  looking  round  about  upon  them 
aU,  he  said  unto  the  man,  Stretch  forth  tliy 
hand.  And  he  did  so:  and  his  hand  was 
restored  whole  as  the  other. 

11  And  they  were  filled  with  madness; 
and  communed  one  with  another  what  they 
might  do  to  Jesus. 

12  H  And  "i  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days, 
that  he  went  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray, 
and  continued  all  night  in  prayer  to  God. 

13  And  when  it  was  day.  he  called  xaito 
him  his  disciples:  <  and  of  them  he  chose 
twelve,  whom  also  he  named  Apostles; 

14  Simon,  (whom  he  also  named  Peter,) 
and  Andrew  his  brother,  James  and  John, 
I'hilip  and  Bartholomew, 

15  Matthew  and  Thomas,  James  the  son 
of  Alpheus,  and  Simon  called  Zelotes, 

16  And  Judas  ''tlie  brother  of  James,  and 
Judas  Iscariot,  which  also  was  the  traitor. 

17  And  he  came  down  with  them,  and 
stood  in  the  plam,  and  the  company  of  his 
disciples, '  and  a  great  multitude  of  people 
out  of  all  Judea  and  Jerusalem,  and  from 
the  sea  coast  of  Tyre  and  Sidou.wliich  came 
to  hear  him,  and  to  be  healed  of  their 


18  And  they  that  were  vexed  with  unclean 
spirits:  and  they  were  healed. 

19  And  the  whole  multitude  '"sought  to 
touch  him:  for  "  there  went  virtue  out  of 
him,  and  healed  them  all. 

20  H  And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  on  his  dis- 
ciples,  and  said,  •  Blessed  be  ye  poor:  for 
yoms  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 

21  Blessed  Pare  ye  that  hunger  now:  for 
ye  shall  be  filled.  'Blessed  are  ye  that 
weep  now:  for  ye  shall  laugh. 


Peter's  Mother-in-law  Healed. 


LUKE,  V. 


Call  of  Peter,  James,  and  JoTiiu 


when  he  did  come  thither,  to  give  no  displays  as  His  enemies  actually  alle'^ed    (See  on  M. 

-'''  ' '■—  J------^  -' -:"  -    12.  24,  &C.1.    See  also  A.  It;.  iG-18. 

42-44.  Jesus,  iSouGnr  Out  at  Mobxino 
De- 
His 
we 


of  his  power  when  distant  places  were  rinj 

ing  with  his  fame,  wounded  their  pride.    He 

had  indeed  "  Liid  his  hands  on  a  few  sick  Prayer,  and  Extueated  to  Stay, 

folk  and  healed  them,"  Mk.  6.  5  ;  but  this  clines    from    the    Urgency 


seems  to  have  been  done  quite  privately,  the  Work.— See    on    Mk.  1.  35-39,  where    ..„ 

general  iinbelief  precluding  anything  more  |  learn  how   early  He  retired,  and  how  He 

and  he  said,  &c.— He  replies  to  the  i  was  engaged  in  solitude  when  they  came 


open.    24 

one  proverb  by  another, 

which  we  express  in  a  rougher 

much  familiarity  breeds  contempt 


equally  familiar, 
form—'  Too 


king  Him.  stayed  him  — '  were  staying 
^..v.  him,'  or  sought  to  do  it.  What  a  con- 
Our  trast  to  the   Gadarenes !     The  nature   of 


Lord's  long  residence  in  Nazareth  merely  as  His  mission  reqiiired  Him  to  keep  moving, 
a  townsman  had  made  him  too  common,  in- ,  that  all  might  hear  the  glad  tidings.  (M. 
capacitating  them  for  appreciating  Him  as  8.  :j4.)  I  must,  (fee— but  duty  only  could 
others  did  who  were  lees  familiar  with  his  move  Him  to  deny  entreaties  so  grateful  to 
tivery-day  demeanour  in  private  life.   A  most  His  spirit 


important  principle,  to  which  the  wise  will 
pay  due  regard.  _  .See  also  M.  7.  6,  on  which 


Ver.  1-11. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Miraculous  Draught  op 


our  Lord  Himself  ever  acted.)  25-27.  But  I  {  Fishes  —  Call  of  Peter,  James,  and 
tell  you,  &c.— falling  back  for  support  on  the  j  John.  —  Not  their  firhi  call,  however,  re- 
well-known  examples  of  Elijah  and  Elishal  corded  J.  1.  35-42;  nor  their  second,  recorded 
(Eliseus),  whose  miraculous  power,  passing  |M.  4. 18-22;  but  their  third  and  last  before 
by  those  who  were  near,  expended  itself  on  i  their  appointment  to  the  apostleship.  That 
those  at  a  distant,  yea  on  heatliens,  '  the  these  calls  were  all  distinct  and  progressive. 


two  great  prophets  who  stand  at  the  com- 
mencement of  prophetic  antiquity.and  whose 
miracles  strikingly  prefigured  those  of  our 
Lord.    As  he  intended  like  them  to  feed  the 


poor  and  cleanse  the  lepers,  He  joints  to 
these  miracles  of  mercy,  and  not  to  the  fire 
from  heaven  and  the  bears  that  tore  the  mock- 
ers.' [Stier.].  three  years  and  six  mouths— 
So  Ja.  5. 17,  including  perhaps  the  six  months 
after  the  last  fall  of  rai7i,  when  there  would 
be  little  or  none  at  any  rate ;  whereas  in  1 
Ki.  18.  1,  which  says  the  rain  returned  "  in 
the  third  year,"  that  period  is  probably  not 
reckoned,  save  . . .  saving—*  but  only. '  cf . 
Mk.  13.  32,  Gr.)  Sarepta  —  "  Zarephath,  " 
I  Kl.  17.  9,  a  heathen  village  between 
Tyre  and  Sidon.  (See  Mk.  7.  24.)  28,  29. 
when  they  heard  these  things— these  allusions 
to  the  heathen,  just  as  afterwards  with  Paul 
(A.  22.  21-22.).  rose  np— broke  up  the  .service 
irreverently  and  rushed  forth,  thrust  him— 
with  violence,  as  a  prisoner  in  their  hands, 
brow,  &c.— Nazareth,  though  not  built  on  the 
ridge  of  a  hiU,  is  in  part  surrounded  by  one 
to  the  west,  having  several  such  precipices. 
(See  2  Chr.  25. 12:  2  Ki.  9.  33.  It  was  a  mode 
of  capital  punishment  not  unusual  among 
the  Eomans  and  others).  This  was  the  first 
insult  which  the  Son  of  God  received,  and  it 
came  from  "them  of  his  own  household  !" 
(M.  10. 36.).  30.  passing  through  the  midst.  &c. 
—  evidently  in  a  miraculous  way,  though 
perhaps  quite  noiselessly,  leading  them  to 
wonder  afterwards  what  spell  could  have 
come  over  them,  that  they  allowed  him  to 
escape.  [Similar  escapes,  however,  in  times 
of  persecution  are  not  unexampled).  31. 
dov/u  to  Capernaum— it  lay  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee 
(M.  4.  13.),  whereas  Nazareth  lay  high. 

33-37.  Demoniac  Healed,  unclean— 
the  frequency  with  which  tliis  character  of 
imptiritii  is  applied  to  evil  spirits  is  worthy 
of  notice,  cried  out,  (fee.— see  on  M.  8. 29-,  I\Ik. 
3. 11.  rebuked  them,  (fee— see  on  v.  41.  thrown 
him,  (fee— see  on  JMk.  9.  20.  what  a  word— a 
word  from  tJw  Lord  of  spirits ! 

38-41.  Peter's  Mother-in-Law,  and 
Many  Others,  Healed.  See  on  M.  8. 14-17. 
41.  suffered  them  not  to  speak— the  marginal 
reading  here  is. wrong.  Our  Lord  ever  refused 
testimony  from  devils,  for  the  very  reason 
tvhy  they  vjere  eager  to  give  it,  because  He 
and  they  would  thus  seem  to  be  one  interest, 
48 


seems  quite  plain.  Similar  stages  are  ob- 
servable in  other  eminent  servants  of  Christ.) 
3.  taught  out  of  the  ship— see  on  M.  13.  2.  4. 
for  a  draught— munificent  recompense  for  the 
use  of  his  boat.  5.  Master— betokening  not 
surely  a  first  acquaintance,  but  a  relation- 
ship already  formed.  aU  night— the  usual 
time  of  fisiiing  then  (J.  21.  3.i,  and  even  now 
Peter,  as  a  fisherman,  knew  how  hopeless  it 
was  to"  let  down  his  net"  again,  save  as  a  mere 
act  of  faith,  "at  His  word"  of  command,  which 
carried  in  it,  as  it  ever  does,  assurance  of  suc- 
cess. (Tills  shows  he  must  have  been  already 
and  for  some  time  a  follower  of  Christ.)  6. 
net  brake— rather  '  was  breaking,'  or  ▼begin- 
ning to  break,'  as  v.  7,  "  beginning  to  sink." 
8.  depart,  (fee- Did  Peter  then  wish  Christ  to 
leave  him?  Verily  no.  His  all  was  wrapt 
up  in  Him.  (J.  6.  68.)  'Twas  rather,  'Woe 
is  me.  Lord!  How  shall  I  abide  this  blaze  of 
glory?  A  sinner  such  as  I  am  is  not  fit  com- 
pany for  Thee.'  (cf.  Is.  6.  5.)  10.  fear  not, 
Simon— this  shows  how  the  Lord  read  Peter's 
speech.  Themore  hinhly  they  deemed  of  Him, 
ever  the  more  grateful  itwas  to  the  Redeemer's 
spirit.  Never  did  they  vain  Him  ly  mani- 
festing too  lofty  concei)iions  of  Him.  from 
henceforth— marking  a  new  stage  of  their  con- 
nection \vith  Christ.  The  last  was  simply, 
"  I  will  make  .you  fishers."  fishers  of  men— 
'What  ynli  thou  think,  Simon,  overwhelmed 
by  this  draught  of  fishes,  when  I  shall  bring 
to  thy  net  what  wiU  beggar  aU  this  glory? 
See  on  M.  4.  18.  11.  forsook  all— They  did 
this  before  (M.  4.  20  ;  now  they  do  it  again- 
and  yet  after  the  (iucifixion  they  are  at 
their  boats  once  more.  (J.  21.  3.)  In  such  a 
business  this  is  easily  conceivable.  After 
Pentecost,  however,  they  appear  to  have 
finally  abandoned  their  secular  calling. 

12-16.    Leper  Healed.— ijee  on  M.  8.  2-4. 
15.  but  so.  (fee— See  on  I\Ik.  1.  45. 

17-26.  Paralytic  He.^led.— See  on  M.  9. 
1-8.  17.  Pharisees  and  doctors .  . .  sitting  by— 
the  highest  testimony  yet  borne  to  our  Lord's 
growing  influence,  and  the  necessity  increas- 
ingly felt  by  the  ecclesiastics  throughout  the 
country  of  coming  to  some  definite  judgment 
regarding  Him.  power  of  the  Lord  present— 
with  Jesus,  to  heal  them— the  sick  people 
18.  house-top  — the  flat  roof,  through  the 
tiling  .  . ,  before  Jesus— See  on  Mk.  2.  2.  24 
take  up  thy  couch— 'sweet  saying  l  The  bed 
G 


Christ  imtructeth  his  disciples. 

-1  J31cssed  *■  are  ye  when  men  sliall  hate 
.vou,  and  wheu  they  « shall  separate  you 
from  their  company,  and  shall  reproach 
yon,  and  cast  out  your  name  as  e^•il,  lor 
tne  Son  of  man's  sake. 

23  llejoice  «yein  that  day,  and  leap  for 
joy:  tor,  behold,  iour  reward  is  afreat  in 
heaven:  for  "hi  the  like  manner  did  their 
lathers  unto  the  propliets. 

24  iJut  "woe  unto  you  that  are  rich!  for 
ye  '"  have  received  your  cousolation 

25  Woe  *  unto  you  that  are  full!  tor  ye 
shall  hunger,  v  Woe  unto  you  that  laugh 
now!  for  ye  shall  mourn  ana  weep. 

26  Woe  ''unto  you  when  all  men  shall 
speak  well  of  you!  for  so  did  their  fathers 
to  the  false  prophets. 

27  IT  liut "  I  say  unto  yon  which  hear.  Love 
your  eueuiies,  do  good  to  them  which  hate 
you, 

28  Bless  them  that  curse  you,  and  Spray 
for  them  which  despitefuUy  use  you. 

2!>  And^uuto  him  that  smiteth  thee  on 
tiie  one  cheek  oiler  also  the  other ;  ^  and 
him  that  taketli  away  thy  cloak  forbid  not 
io  Uike  thy  coat  fxlso. 

3(1  Give  *  to  every  mau  that  asketh  of  thee ; 
and  of  liim  that  taketh  away  thy  goods  ask 
them  noi  again. 

ol  And  /as  ye  would  that  men  sliould  do 
to^you,  do  ye  also  to  them  likewise. 

32  For  ^  if  ye  love  them  which  love  you, 
what  thank  have  ye?  for  siuuers  also  love 
those  that  love  them. 

33  And  if  ye  do  good  to  them  which  do 
good  to  you,  what  thank  have  ye?  for 
sinners  also  do  even  the  same. 

34  And  'I if  ye  lend  to  them  of  whom  ye 
hope  to  receive,  what  thank  have  ye?  lox 
sinners  also  lend  to  siiiuers,  to  receive  as 
much  again. 

35  But  love  ye  your  enemies,  and  do  good, 
and  » lend,  hoping  for  nothing  agaui ;  anJ 
your  reward  shall  be  great,  and  >  ye  shall 
be  the  children  of  the  Highest:  for  *he  is 
kind  unto  the  unthankful  and  to  the  evil 

3(}  Be  '  ye  therefore  merciful,  as  your 
father  also  is  merciful. 

37  Judge  "*  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be 
judged:  condemn  not,  and  ye  shall  not 
be  condemned :  forgive,  and  ye  shall  be 
forgiven: 

38  Give,  "and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you; 
good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  shaken 
together,  and  ninuing  over,  shall  men  give 
iiito  your  "bosom.  For  ^with  the  same 
measure  that  ye  mete  withal  it  shall  be 
measured  to  you  again. 

3y  And  he  snake  a  parable  unto  them: 
Cans  the  blind  Igad  the  blind?  shall  they 
not  both  fall  into  the  ditch? 

40  The  '"disciple  is  not  above  his  master: 
but  every  one  i  that  is  perfect  shall  be  as 
his  master. 

_  41  And  *  why  beholdest  thou  the  mote  that 
is  in  thy  brother's  eye,  but  perceivest  not 
the  beam  that  is  in  thine  own  eye? 

42  Either  how  canst  thou  say  to  thy 
brother.  Brother,  let  me  pull  out  the  mote 
that  is  m  thine  eye,  when  thou  thyself  be- 
holdest not  the  beam  that  is  in  thine  owu 
eye?  Thou  hypocnte,  'cast  out  first  the 
beam  out  of  tliine  o-vvn  eye,  and  then  shalt 
thou  see  clearly  to  pull  out  the  mote  that 
is  m  thy  brother's  eye. 

43  For  "a  good  tree  bringeth  not  forth 
con-upt  fruit:  neither  doth  a  corrupt  tree 
biiuu  lortli  good  li  uit.  I 


LUKE,  vn. 


TTie  centurion's  faith. 


CHAP.  6. 

r  Alat   5.  11. 

1  Pet.  2.19. 

1  Pet.  3.14. 


Col.  1  24. 

Jam.  1.  2. 

»  Acts  7.  51. 

V  Amos  0. 1. 
cli.  1^.  ai. 

««  ftUt".  6.  2. 

ch.  It)   25. 

a:  Is.  C5.  13. 

V  Pro.  14. 13. 
"  John  15.19. 

I.luhn4.5. 
a  Ex.  2a.  4. 


Pro.  25.  2. 

»Iat.  5.  44 

Ko.  12.  21), 
b  ch.  23.  34. 

Acta  7  60. 
<-•  Alat.  5.  39. 
d  1  Cor.  G.  7. 
e  Dou.  15.  7. 

Pro.  3.  27. 

Pro.  21  2C. 

Mat.  5.  42. 
/  Mat.  7.  12. 

Phil.  4.  8. 

0  Mat.  6.  46. 
h  Mat.  5.  42. 
i  Lot.  25.  36. 

Ps.  37.  26. 
j  Mat.  5.  45. 

1  John  3.  1. 
A  Act«  H.17. 

1  Mat.  5.  48. 
Eph.b.lX 

»»  Mat.  7. 1. 

Jam.  4.11. 

n  Pro.  19.17. 

0  Ps.  79.  12. 
P  Mat.  7.  2. 

Mark  4.24. 

Jam.  2. 13. 
q  aiat.  15.14. 
r  Mat  10.24. 

John  13.16. 

John  15.20. 

1  Or,  shaU 


per- 


fected I 

his  master. 
8  Mat.  7.  3. 
t  Pro.  18.  17. 
M  Mat.  7. 16. 

Gal.  5. 19, 

2.1 

2  Ti.  31-9. 
V  Mat.  12.33. 
2  a  grape. 
M-  Ko.  8.  5-8. 
«  Mai.  1.  6. 

Mat.  25.11. 


44  For^eveiT  tree  is  knov,-n  by  his  own 
fruit.  For  of  thorns  men  do  not  gather 
figs,  nor  of  a  bramble  bush  gather  they 
2gTapes. 

45  A  '"good  man  out  of  the  good  trea.sure 
of  his  heart  bringeth  forth  that  which  is 
good ;  and  an  evil  man  out  of  the  evil  trea- 
sure of  his  heart  bringeth  forth  that  which 
is  evil:  for  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 
his  mouth  speaketh. 

46  H  And  "why  caU  ye  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
and  do  not  the  tilings  which  I  say? 

47  Whosoever  "  cometh  to  me,  and  heareth 
my  sayings,  and  doeth  them,  I  will  show 
you  to  whom  he  is  like: 

48  He  is  like  a  mau  which  built  an  house, 
aud  digged  deep,  and  laid  the  foundation 
on  a  rock:  and  whqi  *the  flood  arose,  the 
stream  beat  vehemently  upon  that  house, 
and  could  not  shake  it;  for  it  was  fouuded 
upon  "  a  rock. 

49  But  he  that  heareth,  and  doeth  not,  is 
like  a  inau  that  without  a  foundation  built 
an  house  upon  the  earth;  agauist  which 
the  stream  did  beat  vehemeutly,  aud  im- 
mediately it  fell;  and  *the  rum  of  that 
house  was  great. 

CHAPTER  VIL 

I  The  eenturion's  faith {  lU  Christ  healeth  Mi  $er- 
va7it,  beitig  absent;  U  raiseA  the  widow's  son, 
2i  Christ's  testimony  of  John.  36  Mary  Mag- 
dalene anoinleth  Christ's  feet. 

">JOW  when  he  had  ended  all  his  sayiiigg 
-'-^  in  the  audience  of  the  people,  "  he  en- 
tered into  Capernaum. 

2  And  a  certain  centurion's  servant,  who 
-vas  dear  uuto  him,  was  sick,  aud  ready  to 
die. 

3  And  when  he  heard  of  Jesus,  he  sent 
unto  him  the  elders  of  the  Jews,  beseech- 
ing  him  that  he  would  come  and  heal  his 
servant. 

4  And  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  they  be- 
sought him  instantly,  saying,  That  he  was 
worthy  for  whom  he  should  do  this: 

5  For  he  loveth  our  nation,  and  he  hath 
built  us  a  synagogue. 

6  Then  Jesus  went  with  them.  And  when 
he  was  now  not  far  from  the  house,  the 
centurion  sent  friends  to  him,  saj  ing  uuto 
him.  Lord,  trouble  not  thyself;  for  I  am 
not  worthy  that  thou  shouldest  enter  under 
my  roof: 

7  Wherefore  neither  thought  I  myself 
worthy  to  come  unto  thee:  but  say  m  a 
word,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed. 

8  For  1  also  am  a  man  set  under  author- 
ity, having  under  me  soldiers;  and  1  say 
unto  1  one.  Go,  and  he  goeth;  and  to 
another.  Come,  and  he  cometh;  aud  to  my 
ser\'aiit,  Bo  this,  and  he  doeth  it. 

9  When  Jesus  heard  these  things,  he  mar- 
veiled  at  him,  and  tm-ued  him  about,  aud 
said  unto  the  people  that  followed  him,  I 
say  unto  you,  1  h.vve  not  fotmd  so  great 
faith,  no,  not  in  *  Israel. 

10  And  they  that  were  sent,  rettmiing  to 
the  house,  found  the  sen'ant  whole  that 
had  been  sick. 

II  ^  And  it  came  to  pass  the  day  after, 
that  he  went  mto  a  city  called  Nain,  and 
many  of  his  disciples  went  with  ium,  aud 
much  people. 

12  Now  when  he  came  nigh  to  the  gate  of 
the  city,  behold,  there  was  a  dead  man 
carrii  d  out,  the  only  sou  of  his  mother, 
ami  she  was  a  widow:  and  much  people 
of  the  city  was  with  her. 


Plucldng  Corn-ears  on  Sahhath. 


LTJKE,  VT. 


Divers  Diseases  Healed. 


liad  borne  the  man;  now  the  man  shall  bear 
the  bed.'  JBeng.L 

27--32.  Levi's  Call  and  Feast.— See  on 
M.  9.  9-13;  and  Mk.  2.  14.  30.  tlieir  scribes— a 
mode  of  expression  showing  that  L.  was 
writing  for  Gentiles. 

33-39.  Fasting.— See  on  M.  9. 14-17.  The 
incongruities  mentioned  in  v.  36-38  were  in- 
tended to  illustrate  the  diflereuce  between 
the  genixLS  of  the  old  and  the  new  economies, 
and  the  danger  of  mixing  up  the  one  with 
other.  As,  in  the  one  case  supposed,  "  the 
rent  is  made  worse,"  and  in  the  other,  "  the 
new  wine  is  spilledj"  so  by  a  mongrel  mixture 
of  the  ascetic  rituahsm,  of  the  old  with  the  spi- 
ritnal  freedom  of  the  new  economy,  both  are 
disfigured  and  destroyed.     The  additional 

E arable  in  i;.  39.  which  is  peculiar  to  L.,  has 
een  variously  interpreted.  But  the  "  new 
wiue"  seems  plainly  to  be  the  evangelical 
freedom  which  Christ  was  introducing;  and 
the  old,  the  opposite  spirit  of  Judaism:  men 
'ong  accustomed  to  the  latter  could  not  be 
expected  "  straightway"— all  at  once— to  take 
a  liking  for  the  former,  q.d.  '  These  inquiries 
about  the  difference  between  my  disciples 
and  the  Pharisees,'  and  even  John's,  are  not 
surprising;  tliey  are  the  effect  of  a  natural 
revulsion,  against  sudden  change,  which  time 
wiU  cure;  tlie  oiew  wine  will  itself  in  time  be- 
come old,  and  so  acquire  all  the  added  charms 
of  antiquity.  What  lessons  does  this  teach, 
on  the  one  hand,  to  those  who  unreasonably 
cling  to  what  is  getting  antiquated ;  and,  on 
the  other,  to  hasty  reformers  who  have  no 
patience  with  the  timidity  of  their  weaker 

Drethren!  

CHAPTER  VI. 
Vcr.  1-5.  Plucking  Corn  Ears  on  Sab- 
bath.    See  on  M.  12.  1-8 ;  and  Mk.  2.  23-28, 
1.   secoud  sabbath  after  tiie  first 


disciples  to  pray  for  "  labourers"  just  beforo 
sending  themselves  forth  see  on  M.  9.  37;  10. 
1.).  so  here  we  find  the  Lord  Himself  in 
prolonged  communion  with  His  Father  in 
preparation  for  the  solemn  appointment  of 
those  men  who  were  to  give  birth  to  His 
Church,  and  from  whom  the  world  in  all  tune 
was  to  take  a  new  mould.  How  instructive 
is  this!  13-16.  See  on  M.  10.  2-4.  17.  in 
the  plain— by  some  rendered '  on  a  level  place,' 
i.  €.,  a  piece  of  high  table-land,  by  which 
they  understand  the  same  thins,  as  "on  the 
mountain,"  where  our  Lord  delivered  th& 
sermon  recorded  by  M.  (5.  1.),  of  which  they 
take  this  following  discourse  of  L.  to  be 
but  an  abridged  form.  But  as  the  sense  given 
in  our  version  is  the  more  accurate,  so  there 
are  weighty  reasons  for  considering  the  dis- 
courses ditt'erent.  Tliis  one  contains  little 
more  than  a  fourth  of  the  other;  it  has 
woes  of  its  own  as  weU  as  the  beatitudes 
common  to  both;  but  above  all,  that  of  M.  was 
plainly  delivered  a  good  while  before,  while 
this  was  spoken  after  the  choice  of  the  twelve, 
and  as  we  know  that  our  Lord  delivered 
some  of  His  weightiest  sayings  more  than 
once,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  supposing  this 
to  be  one  of  his  more  extended  repetitions; 
nor  could  anything  be  more  worthy  of  it. 

19.  healed— kept  healing,  denoting  sucessive 
acts  of  mercy  till  it  went  over  "a/J"  that 
needed.  There  is  something  unusually  grand 
and  pictorial  in  this  touch  of  description. 

20,  21.  In  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  the  be- 
nediction is  pronounced  upon  the  "  poor  in 
spirit"  and  those  who  "hunger  and  thirst 
after  righteousness."  (M.  5.  3,  6.)  Here  it  is 
simply  on  the  "poor"  and  the  "hungry 
now."  In  this  form  of  the  discourse,  then, 
our  Lord  seems  to  have  had  in  view  "  the 


tiie  first— an  obscure  !  poor  of  this  world,  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of 
expression  occurring  here  only,  generally  I  the  kingdom  which  God  hath  promised  to 
understood  to  mean,  the  first  Sabbath  after  them  that  love  him,"  as  these  very  beatitudes 
the  second  day  of  unleavened  bread.  The  are  paraphrased  by  James  (2. 5'.  laugh— how 
reasons  cannot  be  stated  here,  nor  is  the  charming  is  the  liveliness  of  this  word,  to  ex- 
opinion  itself  quite  free  from  difficulty.  5.  i  press  what  in  M.  is  called  being  "  comforted!" 
Lord  also— rather  'even,'  as  M.  12.  8.— of  the  i  separate  you— whether  from  theii  Church,  hy 
Sabbath— as  naked  a  claim  to  cdltheaidhority  [  excommunication,  or  from  their  society:  both 
of  Him  who  gave  the  law  at  Mount  Sinai  as  i  hard  to  flesh  and  blood.  22.  for  the  Son  of 
could  possibly  be  made.  q.d.  '  I  have  said  j  Man's  sake— cf.  M.  5.  11,  "  for  my  sake-"  and 
enough  to  vindicate  the  men  ye  carp  at  on  my  immediately  before,  "  for  riohteousness'  sake" 
account;  but  in  this  place  isthe  Lord  of  the  law,  {v.  10).  Christ  thus  binds  upihe  cause  ofriuht- 
and  tliey  luive  His  sanction.  See  on  Mk.  2.  28. 1  eousness  in  the  v:orld  icith  the  reception  of 
6-11.  Withered  Hand  Healed.  See  on] Himself.  23.  leap  for  joy  — a  liveher  word 
M.  12.  9-15;  and  J\Ik.  3.  1-7.  watched  whether,  j  than  "  be  exceeding  glad"  or  '  exult, '  M  5 
&e.— inM.  this  is  put  as  an  ensnaring  question  12.  24,  25.  rich  .  .  full .  .  laugh— who  have 
oftheirs'toourLord,  who  accordingly  speaks  I  aU  their  good  tilings  and  joyous  feelings 


to  tlie  state  of  their  liearts,  v.  9,  just  as  if 

they  had  spoken  it  out.    9.  good  or  evil,  save  I  your  consolation 

or  destroy— By  this  novel  way  of  putting  His  ger— their  Inwa 


case,  our  Lord  teaches  the  great   ethical 

principle,  that  to  neglect  any  opportunity  o/;26.  all  speak  well  of  you— alluding  to  the  court 
doing  good  IS  to_xncu,r  the  guilt  of  doing  evil;  j  paid  to  the  false  prophets  of  old.    (Mi  2  11  ) 
TT.,         ,,..  ^^.j.    (yee  j  For  the  principle  of  this  woe,  and  its  proper 


and  by  this  law  He  bound  His  own 
on  Mk.  3.  4.)     11.   filled  with  m 


„ „-,  „im   jo; 

here  and  nov),  in  perishable  objects,    received 

see  on  ch.  16.  25.    shall  hun- 

Inward  craving  strong  as  ever,  but 

he  materials  of  satisfaction  for  ever  gone. 

6.  all  speak  well  of  you— alluding  to  the  court 

-aid  to  the  false  prophets  of  old.    (Mi.  2. 11.) 


ess  —the  limits,  see  J.  15.  19.   27-36.  See  on  M.  5. 44-^ 


word  denotes  senseless  rage— at  the  con-! 7.  12;  and  14.  12-14.  37,  38.  See  on  M  7  l  2- 
fusion  to  which  our  Lord  had  put  them,  I  but  this  is  much  fuller  and  more  graphic' 
both  by  word  and  deed,  what  to  do  with )  39.  can  the  blind.  &c.— not  in  the  Sermon  oii 
Jesus--not  so  much  whether  io  get  rid  of!  the  Mount,  but  recorded  by  M.  in  another 
Him,  hMt  how  to  compass  it.  iSee  on  M.  3.  6.)  ]  and  very  striking  connection,  ch  15  14  40 
12-19.  The  Twelve  Apostle.s  Chosen- [the  disciple,  kc.-q.d.  'The  disciple's  aim  t6 
Gathering  Multitudes-Glorious  Hea-  come  up  to  his  master,  and  he  thinks  himself 
LINGS.  12,  13.  went  out— probably  from  complete  when  he  does  so:  if  you  then  be 
Capernaum,  all  night  m  prayer .  .and  when  day,  blind  leaders  of  the  blind,  the  perfection  of 
he  called,  &c  — the  work  with  which  the  next  one's  training  under  you  will  only  land  him 
cia^  began  shows  what  had  been  the  burden  the  more  certainly  in  one  common  ruin  with 
of  this  mfir/ifs  devotions.  As  He  directed  His  yourselves."  41-4.9.  See  on  M  7  3-6  l6-'>7. 
49  '  '         • 


Christ's  testimony  of  John, 


LUKE,  vin. 


Parahle  of  the  tioo  debtont. 


13  And  when  the  Lord  saw  her,  he  "had 
rompassion  ou  her,  and  said  unto  her. 
Weep  not. 

14  And  he  came  and  touched  the  2  bier: 
and  they  that  bare  him  stood  still.  And 
he  said,  Young  man,  I  say  unto  thee, 
d  Arise. 

15  And  he  that  was  dead  sat  np,  and  be- 
gan to  speak.  And  he  delivered  him  to  his 
mother. 

16  And  'there  came  a  fear  on  all:  and 
they  glorified  God,  sajing,  /That  a  great 
prophet  is  risen  up  among  us;  and,  'That 
God  hath  visited  his  people. 

17  And  this  rumour  of  him  went  forth 
throughout  all  Judea,  and  throughout  all 
the  region  round  about. 

18  IT  And  'i  the  disciples  of  John  showed 
him  of  all  these  things. 

19  And  John  calling  unto  him  two  of  his 
discii)les,  sent  tfiem  to  Jesus,  saying,  Art 
thou  «he  that  should  come?  or  look  we  for 
another? 

20  When  the  men  were  come  unto  him, 
they  said,  John  baptist  hath  sent  us  unto 
thee,  saving.  Art  thou  he  that  should  come? 
or  look  we  for  another? 

21  And  in  the  same  horn*  he  cured  many 
of  their  infinnities  and  plagues,  and  of  e%al 
spirits ;  and  unto  mauy  Uuit  were  blind  he 
gave  sight. 

22  Then }  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them. 
Go  your  way,  and  tell  John  what  things 
ye  have  seen  and  heard;  *how  that  the 
blind  see,  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are 
cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are 
raised, '  to  the  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached. 

23  And  blessed  is  he,  whosoever  shall  not 
be  oiiended  in  me. 

24  IT  And  '"when  the  messengers  of  John 
were  departed,  he  began  to  speak  unto  th'', 
people  concerning  John,  What  went  ye  out 
mto  the  wilderness  for  to  see?  A  reed 
Bhakeu  with  the  wind? 

25  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A 
man  clothed  in  soft  raiment?  Behold,  they 
which  are  gorgeously  apparelled,  and  live 
delicately,  are  in  kings'  courts. 

2Q  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A 
prophet?  Yea,  1  say  unto  you,  and  much 
more  than  a  prophet. 

27  This  is  he  of  whom  it  is  written,  "Be- 
hold, 1  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face, 
which  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee. 

28  For  1  say  unto  you.  Among  those  that 
are  bom  of  women  there  is  not  a  greater 
prophet  than  J  olm  the  Baptist :  but  he 
that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
greater  than  he. 

29  And  all  the  people  that  heard  him, 
and  the  publicans,  justified  God,  "  being 
baptized  with  the  baptism  of  John. 

30  But  the  I'harisees  and  lawyers  3  re- 
jected^ the  counsel  of  God  *  against  them- 
belves,  being  not  baptized  of  him. 

31  IT  And  the  Lord  said,  «  Whereunto  then 
thall  1  liken  the  men  of  this  generation? 
and  to  what  are  they  like? 

32  They  are  like  unto  children  sitting  in 
the  market  -  place,  and  calling  one  to 
another,  and  saj  ing.  We  have  i)iped  unto 
you,  and  ye  have  not  danced;  we  have 
mourned  to  you,  and  ye  have  not  wept. 

33  For  '■John  the  Baptist  came  neither 
eating  bread  nor  drinking  wine;  and  ye 
Bay,  lie  hath  a  deviL 

34  The  Son  of  man  is  come  oaiing  and 
diuikiiij;;  and  je  say.  Behold  a  glut touous 


A.  D.  81.    I 


CHAP.  7. 
e  Lam.  3.  32. 

Jol.n  11. 

33,85. 

Heb.  4.  15. 
2  Or,  coffin. 
d  ch.  8.  64. 

John  11.43. 

AcU  9.  Vh 

Kom.  4.17. 
e  ch.  1.  65. 
/ch.  24.  19. 


John  9.  17. 
g  ch.  1.  68. 
A  Mat.  11.  2. 
i  Eze.  21.  27. 

Eie.  34.  23, 

29. 

Dan.  9, 

24-26. 

Mic.  5.  2. 

Hag.  2.  7. 

Zech.  9.  9. 

Mai.  3.  1-3. 
}  Mat  11.  5. 
k  I«.  29.  18. 

I«.  35.  5. 

Is.  42  6. 
{  la.  61. 1. 

ch.  4.  18. 

Jam.  2.  6. 
"»  Mat.  11.7. 
n  Is.  40.  3. 
Mai.  3.  1. 

Mai.  4.  5. 
0  Mat.  3.  6. 

ch.  3.  12. 

3  Or,  frua- 
trateil. 

P  Acts  20.27. 

4  Or,  within 

selves. 
9  Mat.  11.16. 
r  Mat.  3.  4. 

Mark  1.  6. 

ch.  1.  16. 
»  Mat.  11.19. 

1  Cor.  1.23, 

24. 
t  Mat.  26.  0. 

Mark  14.  3. 

John  11.  2. 
«  ch   8.  2. 
«'  Zech.12.10. 
«»  ch.  15.  2. 
*  Mat.  18.28. 
V  Is.  1.  13. 

Is.  43.  25. 

Is.  44.  22. 
»  Gen.  18.  4. 

1  Ti.  6.  10. 
a  1  Cor.  16. 

20. 

2  Cor.  13. 
12. 

b  Ps.  23.  5. 

Eccl.  9.  8. 
e  1  Ti.  1.  14. 
d  Mat.  9.  2. 

Mark  2. 6. 
«  Is.  53.  3. 

Mat.  9.  3. 

Mark  2.  7. 
/  Mat.  9.  22. 


ch.  18.  42. 


CHAP.  8. 
a  Mat.  27.56, 

60. 
0  Mark  16.9. 

c    Mnl^  13.  2. 
M^ik4.1. 


man,  and  a  wine-bibber,  a  liiend  of  pub- 
licans and  sinners! 

35  But  •  Wisdom  is  justified  of  411  her 
children. 

36  H  And  <one  of  the  Pharisees  desired 
him  that  he  would  eat  with  him.  And  he 
went  into  the  rharisee's  house,  and  sat 
down  to  meat. 

37  And,  behold,  a  "woman  in  the  city, 
which  jvas  a  sinner,  when  she  knew  that 
Jesus  sat  at  meat  in  the  Bharisee's  house, 
brought  an  alabaster  box  of  ointment, 

38  And  stood  at  his  feet  behind  ^him 
weeping,  and  began  to  wash  his  feet  with 
tears,  and  did  wipe  them  with  the  hairs  of 
her  head,  and  kissed  his  feet,  and  anointed 
them  with  the  ointment. 

3!)  Kow  when  the  Pharisee  which  had 
biddei.  him  saw  it,  he  sjjake  within  him- 
self, saying,  *"  This  man,  if  he  were  a  pro- 
phet, would  have  known  who  and  what 
manner  of  woman  this  is  that  toucheth 
him ;  for  she  is  a  sinner. 

40  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him, 
Simon,  I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto  thee. 
And  he  saith,  Master,  say  on. 

41  There  was  a  certain  creditor  which  had 
two  debtors:  the  one  owed  five  himdred 
*  pence,  and  the  other  fifty.         / 

i'2  And  when  they  had  nothing  to  pay,  he 
frankly  v  forgave  them  both.  Tell  me 
therefore,  which  of  them  wiU  love  him 
most? 

43  Simon  answered  and  said,  I  suppose 
that  he  to  whom  he  forgave  most.  And  ha 
said  unto  him.  Thou  hast  rightly  judged. 

44  And  he  tmned  to  the  woman,  and  said 
unto  Simon,  Seest  thou  this  woman?  I 
entered  mto  thine  house,  thou  gavtst  me 
no  *  water  for  my  feet:  but  she  hath  washed 
my  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped  thtm  with 
the  hairs  of  her  head. 

45  Thou  gavest  me  no  "kiss:  but  this 
woman  since  the  time  I  came  in  hath 
not  ceased  to  kiss  my  feet. 

46  My  4  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not 
anoint:  but  this  woman  hath  anointed  my 
feet  with  ointment. 

47  Wherefore  "  I  say  unto  thee,  Her  sins, 
wliich  are  many,  are  forgiven ;  for  she  loved 
much:  but  to  whom  little  la  forgiven,  tfus 
same  loveth  little, 

48  And  he  said  unto  her,  <*  Thy  sins  are 
forgiven. 

49  And  they  that  sat  at  meat  with  hivn 
began  to  say  within  themselves,  *  Who  is 
this  that  forgive th  sins  also? 

50  And  he  said  to  the  woman, /Thy  Mlh 
hath  saved  thee ;  go  in  peace. 

CIIAPTEll  VIIL 

1  Devout  xvoinen  minUter  unto   Christ.    4  Th» 

partible  of  the  soiver,  16  and  of  the  candle.    liS 

The  legion  of  dei'ils  cast  out:  43  the  woman 

healed  of  her  bloody  issue,  etc. 

A  NU  it  came  to  pass  aftenvard,  that  he 

•"-  went  throughout  every  city  and  village, 

preaching  and  showing  the  glad  tidings  of 

the  kingdom  of  God:  and  the  twelve  were 

with  him, 

2  And  "certain  women,  which  had  been 
healed  of  evil  spirits  and  infirmities,  Mary 
called  Magdalene,  *out  of  whom  went 
seven  devils, 

3  And  J  oaiina  the  wife  of  Chuza  Herod's 
steward,  and  Susanna,  and  mauy  others, 
which  ministered  imto  him  of  their  sub- 
stance. 

4  ^  And  "^  w  hen  much  people  were  gathered 


Widow  ofNain's  Son  Raised  to  Life.  LUKE,  VIL         Christ s  Feet  Was7i£d  with  Tears, 


CKAJ^TET.  VTI. 

Ver.1-10.  Centurion'.s  Servant  Healed. 
See  on  M.  8.  6-13.  4.  he  was  worthy,  (kc— a 
testimony  most  precious,  coming  from  those 
who  probably  were  strangers  to  the  principle 
from  which  he  acted.  (Eccl.  7. 1.)  loveth  our 
nation— having  found  that  "  salvation  was  of 
the  Jews,"  he  loved  them  for  it.  built,  &c.— 
his  love  took  tliis  practical  and  appropriate 
form. 

11-17'.  ■Widow  of  Natn's  Son  Eaised  to 
Life.  (In  L.  only.)  11.  Nain— a  small  vil- 
lage not  elsewhere,  mentioned  in  Scripture, 
and  only  this  once  probably  visited  by  our 
Lord;  it  lay  a  little  to  the  south  of  mount 
Tabor,  about  12  miles  from  Capemamn.  12. 
carried  out—'  was  being  carried  out.'  Dead 
bodies,  being  ceremonially  unclean,  were 
not  allowed  to  be  buried  within  the  cities 
(thovigh  the  kings  of  David's  house  were 
buried  in  the  city  of  David  ,  and  the  fune- 
ral was  usually  on  the  same  day  as  the 
death,  only  son.  (fcc— affecting  particulars, 
told  with  delightful  simplicity.  13, 14.  the 
Lord  — 'This  sublime  appellation  is  more 
usual  with  L.  and  J.  than  M.;  Mk.  holds  the 
mean.'  [Bejsg.]  saw  her,  had  compassion. 
&c.  —  "What  consolation  to  thousands  of 
the  bereaved  has  this  single  verse  carried 
from  age  to  age !  14, 15.  What  mingled  ma- 
jesty and  grace  shines  in  this  scene !  The 
ilesurrection  and  the  Life  in  human  flesh, 
with  a  word  of  conunand,  bringing  back  life 
to  the  dead  body ;  Incarnate  Compassion 
summoning  its  absolute  power  to  dry  a 
widow's  tears  !  16.  visited  his  people— more 
than  bringing  back  the  days  of  Hijah  and 
Elisha.  (1  Ki.  17  17-2i;  2  Ki.  4.  32-37;  and  see 
on  M.  15.  31.) 

18-35.  The  Baptist's  Message,  the  Ee- 
PLY,  AND  consequent  DISCOURSE.— See  on 
M.  11.  2-14.  29,  30.  and  all  the  people  that 
heard—'  on  hearing  this  .'  Tliese  are  the  ob- 
sen'ations  of  the  evangeUst,  not  of  our  Lord, 
and  the  publicans — a  strikin<i  clause,  justified 
God,  being  baptized,  &c.—ratner' having  been 
baptized.  The  meaning  is,  They  acknow- 
leilged  the  Divine  wisdom  of  such  a  prepara- 
tory ministry  as  John's,  in  leading  them  to 
Him  who  now  spake  to  them;  see  ch.  1. 16, 17;' 
whereas  the  Pharisees  and  lawyers,  true  to 
themselves  in  refusing  the  baptism  of  Jolm. 
set  at  nought  also  the  merciful  design  of  God 
in  the  Saviour  himself,  to  their  owti  destruc- 
tion. 31-35.  the  Lord  said,  <Sr3.— As  cross,  ca- 
pricious childien,  invited  by  their  playmates 
to  join  them  in  their  amusements,  will  play 
with  them  neither  at  weddings  nor  at  fune- 
rals (juvenile  imitations  of  the  joyous  and 
mournful  scenes  of  life),  so  that  generation 
rejected  both  John  and  bis  Master:  the  one 
because  he  was  too  unsocial— more  like  a  de- 
moniac than  a  rational  man ;  the  other,  be- 
cause he  was  too  much  the  reverse,  given  to 
animal  indulgences,  and  consorting  ^vith  the 
lowest  classes  of  society.  But  the  children 
of  Wisdom  recognise  and  honour  her  whether 
in  the  austere  garb  of  the  Baptih;t  or  in  the 
more  attractive  style  of  his  Master,  whether 
in  the  Law  or  in  the  Gospel,  whether  in  rags 
or  in  royalty;  for  "  the  full  send  loathcth  an 
honeycomb,  but  to  the  hungry  soul  every  bitter 
thing  is  sweet."    (Prov.  27.  7.) 

36-50.  Christ's  Feet  Washed  -wtth 
Tears.  37,  33.  a  sinner— one  who  had  led  a 
profligate  life.  n.b.  There  is  vo  ground  what  - 
ixerfor  Uie  popular  notion  HuU  this  woinan 


n-as  Mary  Magdalene,  nor  do  we  know  what 
her  name  was.  See  on  ch.  8.  2.  an  alabaster 
box  of  ointment— a  perfume-vessel,  in  some 
cases  very  costly  iS.  12.  5.;.  '  The  ointment 
has  here  a  peculiar  interest,  as  the  offering 
by  a  penitent  of  what  had  been  an  accessory 
in  her  unliallowed  work  of  sin.'  [Alf.]  at 
his  feet  behind  him— the  posture  at  meals  be- 
ing a  reclining  one,  with  the  feet  out  behind, 
began  to  wash,  etc.— to  '  water  with  a  shower. ' 
Tlie  tears,  which  were  quite  involuntary, 
poured  dowTi  in  a  flood  upon  His  naked  feet, 
as  she  bent  down  to  kiss  them;  and  deeming 
them  rather  fouled  than  washed  by  this,  slie 
hastened  to  wipe  them  oft'  with  the  only 
towel  she  had.  the  long  tresses  of  her  own 
hair,  *  with  which  slaves  were  wont  to  wa.sh 
their  masters'  feet.'  [Stier.]  kissed— the 
word  signifies  '  to  kiss  fondly,  to  caress,'  or 
to  '  kiss  again  and  again,'  wliich  v.  45  shows 
is  meant  here.  "What  prompted  this?  Mudi 
love,  springing  from  a  sense  of  mudi  forgive' 
ncss.  So  says  He  who  knew  her  heart,  v,  47. 
■\\liere  she  had  met  with  Christ  before,  or 
what  words  of  His  had  brought  life  to  her 
dead  heart  and  a  sense  of  Divine  pardon  to 
her  guilty  soul,  we  know  not.  But  probably 
she  was  of  the  crowd  of  "publicans  and 
sinners"  whom  incarnate  Compassion  drew 
so  often  around  Him,  and  heard  from  His 
lips  some  of  those  words  such  as  never  man 
spake,  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour," 
itc.  No  personal  interview  had  up  to  this 
time  taken  place  between  them;  but  she  could 
keep  her  feelings  no  longer  to  herself,  ami 
having  found  her  way  to  Him  and  entered 
along  with  him,  v.  45\  they  burst  forth  in 
this  surpassing  yet  most  artless  style,  as  if 
her  whole  soul  would  go  out  to  Him.  39. 
the  Pharisee— who  had  formed  no  definite 
opinion  of  our  Lord,  and  invited  him  appa- 
rently to  obtain  materials  for  a  judgment, 
spake  within  himself,  &c.— '  Ha !  I  have  him 
now-  he  plainly  knows  nothing  of  the  person 
he  allows  to  touch  him,  and  so,  he  can  be  no 
prophet.'  Not  so  fast,  Simon;  thou  hast  not 
seen  through  thy  Guest  yet,  but  He  hath 
seen  through  thee,  40  43.  Like  Nathan  with 
David,  our  Lord  conceals  his  home-thrust 
under  the  veil  of  a  parable,  and  makes  his 
host  himself  pronounce  upon  the  c^se.  Tlie 
two  debtors  are  the  woman  and  Simon;  the 
criminality  of  the  one  was  tai  times  that  of 
the  other  (in  the  proportion  of  "  60o "  to 
"  60  "y ;  but  both  being  equally  insolvent, 
both  are  -with  equal  frankness  forgiven;  and 
Simon  is  made  to  owti  that  the  greatest  debtor 
to  forgiving  mercy  wiU  cling  to  her  Divine 
Benefactor  with  the  deepest  gratitude.  Does 
our  Lord  then  admit  that  Simon  was  a 
forgiven  man  ?  Let  us  see.  45-i7. 1  entered . . . 
no  water— a  compliment  to  guests.  Was 
this  "much  love T  Wa.%  it  any  ?  no  kiss— of 
salutation.  How  much  love  was  here  "r  Any 
at  all  ?  with  oil . . .  not  anoint— even  common 
olive-oil  in  contrast  with  the  woman's  "oint- 
ment" or  aromatic  balsam.  "What  evidence 
was  thus  afforded  of  any  feeling  which  for- 
giveness prompts?  Our  Lord  speaks  this 
with  delicate  politeness,  as  if  huti  at  the.se 
inattentions  of  his  host,  which  though  not 
invariably  shown  to  guests,  were  the  cus- 
tomary marks  of  studied  respect  and  regard. 
The  inference  is  plain— o?ii)/ one  ofthcdihtors 
was  really  forgiven,  though  in  the  first  in- 
stance, to  give  room  for  the  play  of  withheld 
feelings,  the  forgiveness  of  both  is  supposed 


Partihle  of  the  tOwer. 


LUKE,  VIII. 


The  legion  of  devils  CMt  (nil. 


together,  and  were  come  to  him  out  of 
every  city,  he  spake  by  a  parable: 

5  A  sower  went  out  to  sow  his  seed:  and 
«s  he  sowed,  some  fell  by  the  waj'-side; 
and  it  was  trodden  down,  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  devoured  it. 

6  And  some  fell  upon  a  rock;  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  sprung  up,  it  withered  away,  be- 
cause it  lacked  moisture. 

7  And  some  fell  among  thorns;  and  the 
thorns  sprang  up  with  it,  and  choked  it. 

8  And  other  fell  on  good  ground,  and 
sprang  up,  and  bare  fruit  an  hundred-fold. 
And  when  he  had  said  these  things,  he 
cried,  lie  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him 
hear. 

9  IT  And  <*  his  disciples  asked  him,  saymg, 
What  might  this  parable  be? 

10  And  he  said.  Unto  you  it  is  given  to 
know  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  God: 
but  to  others  in  parables ;  *  that  seeing  they 
might  not  see,  and  hearing  they  might  not 
understand. 

11  Now  /the  parable  is  this:  The  'seed  la 
the  word  of  God. 

12  Those  by  '^  the  way-side  are  they  that 
hear;  then  cometh  'the  de^^l,  and  taketh 
away  the  word  out  of  their  hearts,  lest  they 
sliould  believe  and  be  saved. 

13  They  on  the  rock  are  they,  which, 
when  they  hear,  receive  the  word  with  Joy; 
and  these  have  no  root,  which  for  a  while 
believe,  and  in  time  of  temptation  fall 
away. 

14  And  that  which  fell  among  thorns  are 
thev,  which,  when  they  have  heard,  go 
forth,  and  are  choked  with  cares  /and 
riches  and  pleasures  of  this  life,  aud  bring 
no  fruit  to  perfection. 

1.5  But  that  on  the  good  ground  are  they, 
which  in  an  honest  and  good  heart,  having 
heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and* bring  forth 
fruit  with  patience. 

16  IT  No  'man,  wlien  he  hath  lighted  a 
candle,  covereth  it  with  a  vessel,  or  putteth 
it,  under  a  bed ;  but  setteth  it  on  a  candle- 
stick, that  they  which  enter  in  may  see  the 
light. 

17 For*" nothing  is  secret  that  shall  not 
be  made  manifest;  neither  any  thing 
hid  that  shall  not  be  known  and  come 
abroad. 

18  Tiike  heed  therefore  how  ye  hear:  "  for 
whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall  be  given; 
and  whosoever  hath  not,  from  him  shal 
be  taken  even  that  which  he  ^  seemeth  to 
have. 

19  H  Then  "  came  to  him  his  mother  and 
his  brethren,  and  could  not  come  at  him 
for  the  press. 

20  And  it  was  told  him  hy  cert/iin,  which 
eaid.  Thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  stand 
without,  desiring  to  see  thee. 

21  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
My  mother  and  my  brethren  are  these 
wliich  hear  the  word  of  God,  aud  do  it. 

22^  Now  Pit  came  to  pass  on  a  certain 
day,  that  he  went  into  a  ship  with  his  dis- 
ciples: and  he  said  unto  them.  Let  us  go 
over  unto  the  other  side  of  the  lake.  And 
they  launched  forth. 

23  But  as  they  sailed  he  fell  asleep:  and 
there  came  down  a  storm  of  wind  on  the 
lake;  and  they  were  filled  with  water,  and 
were  in  jeopardy. 

24  Aud  they  came  to  him,  and  awoke  him, 
saying,  Master,  niast<;r,  we  perish!  Then 
he  'arose,  aud  rebuked  the  wind  and  the 

51 


CHAP.  8. 
d  Mat.  13.10. 


Mxrk  4. 12. 
/Mat.  13. 18. 

Blark  4.  14. 
g  Acta  20.27, 


i  2  Cor.  2.11. 

2  Cor.  4.  3. 

2  TUesB.  2. 

10. 

1  Pet.  5.  8. 
J  Mat.  19.  23. 

1  Ti  6.9,10. 

2  TL  4.  10. 
k  Ei.h.  2.  4. 

2  Fet.  1. 
6-10. 
I  Mat.  6. 15. 
4Urk4.21. 
ch.  11.  33. 
Phil.  2.  16, 
16. 
m  Mat.l0.2Q. 

ch.  12.  2. 
n  Mat.  13.12. 

Mat.  25.29. 

Mark  4  26. 

ch.  19.  26. 

John  16.  2. 

Kev.  22.11. 

1  Or,  thick- 
eth  that  be 
hath. 

0  Mat.  12.46. 

Mat.  13.55. 

Mark  3.  31. 

John  7.  6. 

Acts  1. 14. 

1  Cor.  9. 5. 

Gal.  1.  19. 
P  Mat.  8.  23. 

Mark  4.35. 
<7  Job  28.  11. 

Job  38. 11. 

Pb.  29.  10. 

Pb.  46.  1. 

Ps.  C5.  7. 

Pb  89.  9. 

Pb.  93.  4. 

Ps.  107.  29. 

Ps.  135.  6. 

Nah.  1.  4. 
r  Ps.  33.  8.9. 

Mark  4.41. 

Mark  5.51. 
Sfilat.  8.28. 

Mark  5.  1. 
t  Acta  10. 

IC,  17. 

PhU.  2. 10, 

11. 
«  Eev.  20.  3. 
V  Lev.  11.  7. 

D«u.  14.  8. 

w  Job  1.  12. 

Job  12.  le. 

Rev.  20.  7. 

X  1  John  3.8. 

Enm. 16.20. 
y  Mat.  8.  34. 

2  1  Sa.  lb.  4. 
Job  21.  14. 
ftliirkl.24. 
ch.  4.  34. 
ch.  5.8. 

1  Cor.  2.14. 
a  Pa.  103.  1. 

Pb.  116.12. 

Mark  b.\i 

ch.  IS.  43, 
b  Mat.  9.  It 

aUrk6.22. 


raging  of  the  water:  and  they  ceased,  and 
there  was  a  calm. 

25  And  he  said  unto  them,  "Where  is  your 
faith?  And  they  being ''afraid  wondered, 
saying  one  to  another.  What  manner  of 
man  is  this!  for  he  commandeth  eveu  the 
winds  and  water,  and  they  obey  him. 

26  %  And  'they  arrived  at  the  country 
of  the  Gadarenes,  which  is  over  against 
Galilee. 

27  And  when  he  went  forth  to  land,  there 
met  him  out  of  the  citj  a  certain  man, 
which  had  devils  long  time,  and  ware  no 
clothes,  neither  abode  in  any  house,  but  in 
the  tombs. 

28  When  he  saw  Jesus,  he « cried  out,  and 
fell  down  before  him,  and  with  a  loud  voice 
said.  What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  God  most  high?  1  beseech 
thee,  torment  me  not. 

29  (For  he  had  commanded  the  unclean 
spirit  to  come  out  of  the  man.  For  often- 
times  it  had  caught  him:  and  he  was  kept 
bound  with  chains  and  in  fetters ;  and  he 
brake  the  bands,  and  was  driven  of  the 
devil  into  the  wilderness.) 

30  And  Jesus  asked  him,  saying,  What  is 
thy  name?  And  he  said.  Legion:  because 
many  devils  were  entered  into  him. 

31  And  they  besought  him  that  he  would 
not  commaud  them  to  go  out  "into  the 
deep. 

32  And  there  was  there  an  herd  "of  many 
swine  feeding  on  the  mountain:  and  they 
besought  him  that  he  would  sutler  them 
to  enter  into  them.  And  ^  he  sufl'ered 
them. 

33  Then  went  the  devils  out  of  the  man, 
and  entered  into  the  swine:  and  the  herd 
ran  violently  down  a  steep  place  into  the 
lake,  and  were  choked. 

34  When  they  that  fed  them  saw  what  was 
done,  they  fled,  and  went  and  told  it  in  the 
city  and  in  the  country. 

35  Then  they  went  out  to  see  what  was 
done:  and  came  to  Jesus,  and  found  the 
man  out  of  whom  the  devils  were  departed, 
sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  ""aud 
in  his  right  mind:  and  they  were  afraid. 

36  They  also  which  saw  it  told  them  by 
what  means  he  that  was  possessed  of  the 
de^ils  was  healed. 

37  U  Then  v  the  whole  multitude  of  the 
country  of  the  Gadarenes  round  about 
besought  ^  him  to  depart  from  them ;  for 
they  were  talven  with  great  fear.  Aud  he 
went  up  into  the  ship,  and  returned  back 
a  train. 

38  Now  "  the  man  out  of  whom  the  de\il3 
were  departed  besought  him  that  he  might 
be  with  him:  but  Jesus  sent  him  away, 
saying, 

39  lletum  to  thine  own  house,  and  show 
how  great  things  God  hath  done  unto  thee. 
And  he  went  his  way,  and  published 
throughout  the  whole  city  how  gi-eat  things 
Jesus  had  done  unto  him. 

40  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Jesus 
was  returned,  the  people  gladly  received 
him:  for  they  were  all  waiting  for  him. 

41  ^  And,  0  behold,  there  came  a  man 
named  J  aims,  and  he  was  a  ruler  of  the 
synagogue:  and  he  fell  downi  at  Jesus'  feet, 
and  besou-ht  liim  that  he  would  come  into 
his  house: 

42  For  he  had  one  only  daughter,  .about 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  she  lay  a-dying, 
But  as  he  went  the  people  thronged  hiuu 


A  Galilean  Circuit  tviihthe  Tivdve.     LUKE.  Vm. 

in  the  rarable.  her  sins  which  are  many— 
'those  many  sins  of  hers,'  our  Lord,  whoi 
admitted  how  much  more  she  owed  than  the 
Pharisee,  now  proclaims  in  naked  terms  the 
forgiveness  of  her  guilt,  for— not  because,  as 
if  love  were  the  cause  of  forgiveness,  but  'in- 
asmuch as,'  or '  in  proof  of  which.'  1  he  latter 
clause  of  the  verse,  and  the  Avhole  structure 
of  the  parable,  plainly  shows  this  to  be 
the  meaning,  little  for^ven  . . .  loveth  little 
—delicately  ironical  intimation  of  no  lore' 
and  no  forgiveness  in  the  present  case.  48. 
said  iinto  her,  &c.— an  unsought  assurance,  [ 
u.sually  springing  up  unexpected  in  the  midst  [ 
of  active  duty  and  warm  affections,  while 
often  it  flies  from  those  who  mope  and  are ; 


Parable  of  the  Sower. 


paralyzed  for  want  of  it.  49,  50.  they  that 
Bat .  . .  who  is  thisi  &c.— no  wonder  they  were 
startled  to  hear  One  who  was  reclining 
at  the  same  couch,  and  partaking  of  the 
same  hospitalities  with  themselves,  assume 
the  awful  prerogative  of '  even  forgiving  sins.' 
But  so  far  from  receding  from  this  claim,  or 
softening  it  down,  our  Lord  only  repeats  it, 
with  two  precious  additions:  one,  aimouncing 
what  was  the  one  secret  of  the  -'  forgiveness" 
she  had  experienced,  and  which  carried  "sal- 
vation" in  its  bosom  ;  the  other,  a  glorious 
dismissal  of  her  in  that  "peace"  which  she 
had  already  felt  but  is  now  assured  she  has 
His  full  warrant  to  enjoy  !  This  wonderful 
scene  teaches  two  very  weighty  truths  :  il.) 
though  there  be  degrees  of  guilt,  insolvency,  or 
inability  to  wipe  otd  the  dislwnour  done  to 
God,  is  common  to  all  sinners.  (2.  As  Christ  is 
Vie  Great  Creditor  to  whom  all  debt,  whether 
great  or  small,  contracted  by  sinners  is  oicing, 
so  to  Him  belongs  the  jn-erogative  of  forgiving 
it.  This  latter  truth  is  brought  out  in  the 
structure  and  application  of  the  present  par- 
able as  it  is  no  where  else.  Either  then  Jesus 
was  a  blaspheming  deceiver,  or  He  is  God 

manifest  in  the  flesh.        

CHAPTER  vm. 
Ver.  1-3.  A  Galilean  Circuit,  tvith  the 

TV/ELVE  AND  CERTAIN  MINISTERING  Wo- 

WEN.  (InL.only.)  went— '  travelled,' ' made 
a  progress.'  throughout  every  city  and  village— 
*  tlirough  town  and  village.'  preaching.  Arc- 
the  Prince  of  itinerant  Preacliers  scattering 
far  and  wide  the  seed  of  the  Kingdom,  cer- 
tain women  hea.ed,  &c. — on  whom  He  had  the 
double  claim  of  having  brought  healing  to 
their  bodies  and  new  life  to  their  souls. 
Drawn  to  Him  by  an  attraction  more  than 
ma.uTietic,  they  accompany  Him  on  this  tour 
as  His  a/mo«eri— ministering  unto  Him  of 
their  substance.  Blessed  Saviour!  It  melts 
us  to  see  Tliee  living  upon  the  love  of  thy 
ransomed  people.  That  they  bring  thee 
their  poor  offerings  we  wonder  not.  Tliou 
hast  sown  unto  them  spiritual  things,  and 
they  think  it,  as  well  they  might,  a  small 
thing  that  Thou  shouldst  reap  their  carnal 
thin-s.  (1  Co.  9.  11.)  But  dost  Tliou  take  it 
at  their  hand,  and  subsist  upon  it?  "  O  the 
depth  of  the  riches"— of  this  poverty  of  His  ! 
Llary  Magdalene— i.  e.,  probably,  oi  Magdala, 
on  which  see  M.  15.  39.  went— rather  '  had 
gone.'  seven  devils— ;Mk.  IG.  9.)  It  is  a  great 
VTong  to  this  honoured  woman  to  identify 
her  with  the  once  profligate  woman  of  ch.  7. 
27,  and  to  call  all  such  penitents  Magdalenes. 
The  mistake  has  arisen  from  confounding 
iinha]rjijy  demoniacal  iiossession  with  the 
con.scious  entci-tainmt  nt  of  diabolic  im- 
Ijurity,  or  supposing  the  one  to  have  been 
51 


inflicted  as  a  punishment  for  the  other— for 
which  there  is  not  the  least  scriptural  ground. 
Joanna,  wife  of  Chuza,  Herod's  steward— If  the 
steward  of  such  a  godless,  cruel,  and  licentious 
wretch  as  Herod  Autipas  {.see  on  Mk.  6,  14, 
&c.)  differed  greatly  from  himself,  his  post 
would  be  no  ea.sy  or  enviable  one.  That  ha 
was  a  disciple  of  Christ  is  very  improbable, 
though  he  miglit  be  favourably  disposed  to- 
wards Him.  But  what  we  know  not  of  Him, 
and  may  fear  he  wanted,  we  are  sure  his  wife 
possessed.  Healed  either  of  "  evil  spirits" 
or  of  some  one  of  the  "  infirmities"  here  re- 
ferred to— the  ordinary  diseases  of  humanity 
—she  joins  in  the  Saviour's  train  of  grateful, 
clinging  followers.  Of  "  Susanna,"  next  men- 
tioned, we  know  notlung  but  the  name,  and 
that  here  only.  But  her  sei'vices  on  this 
memorable  occasion  have  immortalized  her 
name.  "  Where.soever  this  gospel  shall  be 
preached  throughout  the  vhole  world,  this 
also  that  she  hath  done, '  in  ministering  to 
the  Lord  of  her  substance  on  His  Galilean 
tour.  "  shall  be  spoken  of  as  a  memorial  of 
her."  (Mk.  14.  9.  many  others— i.e.,  many 
oi\\er  healed  u'omen.  "What  a  train!  and  all 
mini.stering  imto  Hun  of  their  substance, 
and  He  allowing  them  to  do  it  and  subsisting 
upon  it!  'He  who  was  the  support  of  the 
spiritual  life  of  His  people  disdained  not  to 
be  supported  by  them  in  the  body.  He  was 
not  ashamed  to  penetrate  so  far  into  the 
depths  of  poverty  as  to  live  upon  the  alms  of 
love.  He  only  fed  others  miraculously:  for 
Himself,  He  liveJr  upon  the  love  of  His 
people.  He  gave  all  things  to  men  His 
brethren,  and  received  all  things  from  them, 
enjoying  thereby  the  pure  blessing  of  love; 
which  is  then  only  perfect  when  it  is  at  the 
same  time  both  giving  and  receiving.  Who 
could  invent  such  things  as  these?  '  It  was 
necessary  to  live  in  this  manner  that  it  might 
be  *o  recorded.'    [Olsh.  | 

4-18.  Parable  of  the  Sower.— See  on 
Mk.  4.  3-9,  14-20.  16.  No  man,  <fcc.— See  on  M. 
5. 1.5,  of  which  this  is  nearly  a  repetition.  17. 
for  nothing,  A:c.— See  on  ch.  12. 2,  18.  how  ye — 
in  Mk.  4.  24,  "  wJtat  ye  hear."  Tlie  one  im- 
plies the  other.  The  precept  is  very  weighty, 
seemeth  to  have  — or,  '  thinlveth  that  he 
hath.'  (Marg.)  The  "  having"  of  M.  13.  12. 
,ou  which  see  and  this  "  thinking  he  hath, 
are  not  different.  Hanging  loosely  on  him, 
and  not  jippropriated.  it  is  and  is  not  his. 

19-21.  His  JMuther  and  Brethren  de- 
sire to  Speak  with  Htm.— See  on  Mk.  12. 

4G-.50. 

22-25.     jEStrS,  CROSSING  THE  LAKE.  StILLS 

THE  Storm.— See  on  M.  8.  20-27,  and  Mk.  4. 
3.5-41.  23.  filled— Kt.  '  were  getting  filled,  i.e., 
those  who  sailed;  meaning  that  their  ship 
Mas  .so. 

2(>-39.  Demoniac  of  Gadaba  Healed.— 
See  on  M.  8,  28-34;  and  Mk.  5.  1-20. 

40-56.  Jairus'  Daughter  Raised,  and 
Issue  of  Blood  Healed.— See  on  M.  9. 18- 
26;  and  Mk.  5.  21-43.  40.  gladly  received  him, 
for  .  . .  all  waiting  him— The  abundant  teach- 
ing of  that  day  (in  M.  13;  and  see  Mk.  4.  36.) 
had  only  whetted  the  jpeople's  appetite;  and 


ointed,  as  would  seem,  that  He  had 
left  them  in  the  evening  to  cross  the  lake, 
they  remain  hanging  about  the  beach,  having 
got  a  hint  probably  through  some  of  His  dis- 
ciples that  He  would  be  back  the  sanie 
evening.  Perliaps  they  witnessed  at  a  dis- 
tance the  sudden  calmiug  ol  the  tempest. 


Jairus^s  daughter  restored  to  life. 


LUKE.  IX. 


mtdtitude  miraeidouslp  fed. 


Lev.  16.25. 

Mat.  9.  20. 
d  Acts  5.  15. 

Acts  19  12 

Mark  5.  30. 

ch.  5.  17. 

ch.  tj.  19. 
/  Mark  5.  36. 
g  2  Chr.  20. 

20. 

Mark  9.  23. 
h  John  11. 

11,  13. 
i  ch.  7.  14. 

John  11.43. 
j  Mat.  8.  4. 

Mat.  9.  30. 

Mark  5. 43. 


43  If  And  *  a  woman,  havintr  an  issue  of 
blood  twelve  years,  which  had  spent  all  her 
li\'ing  upon  phjsicians,  neither  could  be 
healed  of  any, 

44  Came  behind  him,  and  ''touched  the 
border  of  his  garment:  and  immediately 
her  issue  of  blood  stanched. 

45  And  Jesus  s-dd.  Who  touched  me? 
When  all  denied,  Peter  and  they  that  were 
with  him  said,  Master, the  multitude  throng 
thee  and  press  thee,  and  sayest  thou.  Who 
touched  me? 

46  And  Jesus  said,  Somebody  hath  touched 
me:  for  I  perceive  that  'virtue  is  gone  out 
of  me. 

47  And  when  the  woman  saw  that  she  was 
not  hid,  she  came  trembling,  and  falling 
down  before  him,  she  declared  unto  him 
before  all  the  people  for  what  cause  she 
had  touched  him,  and  how  she  was  healed 
immediately. 

48  And  he  said  unto  her.  Daughter,  be  of 
good  comfort:  thy  faith  hath  made  thee 
whole;  go  in  peace. 

4'J  IT  While  /he  yet  spake,  there  cometh 
one  from  the  ruler  of  the  sj-nagogue's 
house,  saj-ing  to  him.  Thy  daughter  is 
dead :  trouble  not  the  Master. 

50  But  when  Jesus  heard  it,  he  answered 
him,  saying.  Fear  not:  s  believe  only,  and 
she  shall  be  made  whole. 

51  And  when  he  came  Into  the  house,  he 
suHered  no  man  to  go  in,  save  Peter  and 
James  and  John,  and  the  father  and  the 
mother  ot  the  maiden.         • 

52  And  all  wept,  and  bewailed  her:  but 
he  said,  Weep  not;  she  is  not  dead,  ''  but 
Bleepeth. 

53  And  they  laughed  him  to  Bcom,  know- 
ing that  she  was  dead. 

54  And  he  put  them  all  out,  and  took  her 
by  the  hand,  and  called,  sajing.  Maid, 
•  arise. 

55  And  her  spirit  came  again,  and  she 
arose  straightway;  and  he  commanded  to 
give  her  meat. 

56  And  her  parents  were  astonished:  but 
he  i  charged  them  that  they  should  tell  no 
man  what  was  done. 

CHAPTER  IX, 
1  Christ  tendeth  out  his  ovostUs:  7  Berod  is  de- 
sirous to  see  him.     12  Christ  feedeth  five  thou- 
sand; '2S  his  trMtsfiguration:  37  he  heaUth  a 
lunatic,  etc. 

fTHEN  "  he  called  his  twelve  disciples 
-•■  together,  and  >>  gave  them  power  and 
authority  over  all  devils,  and  to  cure  dis- 
eases. 

2  And  *  he  sent  them  to  preach  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and  to  heal  the  sick. 

3  And  "*  he  said  unto  them.  Take  nothing 
for  T/ottr  journey,  neither  staves,  nor  scrip, 
neither  bread,  neither  money ;  neither  have 
two  coats  apiece. 

4  And  *  whatsoever  house  ye  enter  into, 
there  abide,  and  thence  depart. 

5  And  /  whosoever  will  not  receive  yon, 
when  ye  go  out  of  that  city,  ^  shake  off  the 
very  dust  from  your  feet  for  a  testimony 
against  them. 

6  And  A  they  departed,  and  went  through 
the  towns,  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  heal- 
ing every  where. 

7  IT  Now  <  Herod  the  tetrarch  heard  of  aU 
that  was  done  by  him:  and  he  was  per- 
plexed, because  that  it  was  said  of  some, 
that  John  was  risen  from  the  dead; 

8  And  of  some,  that  Elitis  had  appeared;  i  1 2  Ki.  a.  ii. 


CHAP.  9. 

0  Mat.  10.  1. 
Mark  3.13. 
Mark  6.  7. 

b  John  14.12. 

Acts  3.  6. 
c  Mat.10.7,8. 

Mark  6. 12. 

ch.  10.1,9. 

Tit.  1.  9. 

Tit.  8.  12, 

14. 
d  Pa.  37.  3. 

Mat.  10. 9. 

Mark  6.  8. 

ch.  10.  4. 

ch.  22.  35. 

2  Ti.  2.  4. 
e  Mat.  10.11. 

Mark  6. 10. 
/  Mat.  10. 14. 
g  Acts  13.51. 
%  Mark  6.12. 
i  Mat.  14.  1. 
Mark  6.  14. 
j  ch.  23.  8. 
k  Mark  6.  30. 

1  Mat.  14.13. 
m  Mat. 14.15. 

Mark6.35. 
John  6. 
1,6. 
1  2  Kj.  4. 42, 


q  Mat.  16  13. 

Mark  8. 27. 
r  Mat.  14.  2. 
8  Mat.  16.16. 

John  6.  69. 

Rom.  10.  9. 

1  John  4. 

14,  15. 

1  Jolin  6.  5. 
t  Mat.  16.20. 
u  Mat.  16.21. 

Mat.  17.22. 
V  Mat.  10  bS. 

Mat.  16.24. 

Mark  8.  34. 

ch.  14.  27. 

tf  Mat.  16.26. 

Mark  8.B6. 

X  Mat.  10.33. 

Mark8.o8. 

2  Ti.  2.  12. 
i  Mat.  16  28. 

Mark  9.  1. 
«  Mat   17.  1. 

Mark  9.  2. 
1  Or,  things. 
a  El.  34.  Si9, 


and  of  others,  that  one  of  the  old  prophets 
was  risen  again. 

[)  And  Herod  said,  John  have  I  beheaded: 
but  who  is  this  of  whom  I  hear  such  things? 
And  i  he  desired  to  see  him. 

10  IT  And  *  the  apostles,  when  they  were 
returned,  told  him  all  that  they  had  done. 
And '  he  took  them,  and  went  aside  pri- 
vately into  a  desert  place  belonging  to  the 
city  called  Bethsaida. 

11  And  the  peonle,  when  they  knew  it, 
followed  him:  ana  he  received  them,  and 
spake  unto  them  of  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  healed  them  that  had  need  of  healing. 

12  If  And  "^  when  the  day  began  to  wear 
away,  then  came  the  twelve,  and  said  unto 
him.  Send  the  multitude  away,  that  they 
may  go  into  the  towns  and  country  round 
about,  and  lodge,  and  get  victuals:  for  we 
are  here  in  a  desert  place. 

13  But  he  said  unto  them,  "  Give  ye  them 
to  eat.  And  they  said,  "  We  have  no  more 
but  five  loaves  and  two  fishes;  except  we 
should  go  and  buy  meat  for  all  this  people. 

14  (For  they  were  about  five  thousand 
men.)  And  he  said  to  his  disciples.  Make 
them  sit  down  by  fifties  in  a  company. 

15  And  they  did  so,  and  made  them  all 
sit  down. 

16  Then  he  took  the  five  loaves  and  the 
two  fishes,  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  he 
blessed  them,  and  brake,  and  gave  to  the 
disciples  to  set  before  the  multitude. 

17  And  they  ^  did  eat,  and  were  all  filled: 
and  there  was  taken  up  of  fragments  that 
remained  to  them  twelve  baskets. 

18  If  And  1  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  was  alone 

E raying,  his  disciples  were  with  him :  and 
e  asked   them,  saying.  Whom  say  the 
people  that  I  am? 

19  They  answering  said,  ^  John  the  Bap- 
tist; but  some  say,  Elias;  and  others  say, 
that  one  of  the  old  prophets  is  risen  agaiii. 

20  He  said  unto  them.  But  whom  say  \e 
that  I  am?  'Peter  answering  said.  The 
Christ  of  God. 

21  And « he  straitly  charged  them,and  com- 
manded them,  to  tell  no  man  that  thing ; 

22  Saying,  "  The  Son  of  man  must  suller 
many  things,  and  be  rejected  of  the  elders 
and  chief  priests  and  scribes,  and  be  slain, 
and  be  raised  the  third  day. 

23  If  And  "he  said  to  them  all,  If  any  wan . 
will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself, 
and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me. 

24  For  whosoever  will  save  his  life  shall 
lose  it:  but  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for 
my  sake,  the  same  shall  save  it. 

25  For  ^  what  is  a  man  advantaged,  if  he 
gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  himself,  or 
be  cast  away? 

26  For  *  whosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  me 
and  of  my  words,  of  him  shall  the  Son  of 
man  be  ashamed,  when  he  shall  come  in  his 
own  glory,  and  in  his  Father's,  and  of  the 
holy  angels. 

27  But  V I  tell  you  of  a  tinith,  there  be  some 
standing  here,  which  shall  not  taste  of 
death,  till  they  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 

28  If  And  *  it  came  to  pass,  about  an  eight 
davs  after  these  i  sayings,  he  took  Peter 
and  J  ohn  and  James,  and  went  up  into  a 
mountain  to  pray. 

29  And  as  he  prayed,  the  "  fashion  of  his 
comitenance  was  altered,  and  his  raiment 
teas  white  and  glistering. 

30  And,  behold,  there  talked  with  him  two 
men,  which  were  Moses  and  <>  Elias; 


Peter's  Confession  ofChHst. 


LUKE,  IX. 


JesMS  Transfigured. 


Here  at  least  they  are,  watching  for  His  re-  j  the  same  instinctive  desire  to  stand  well  vnth 
turn,  and  welcoming  Him  to  the  shore.   The  |  others  begets  the  temptation  to  be  ashamed  of 

tide  of  His  popularity  was  now  fast  rising. '  "'^^ '""' ■>-'-^~  ' ^-^ 

45.  Wiio  touched  mel— 'Askest  Tliou,  Lord,  

M  ho  touched  Thee'r  Eather  ask  who  touched  Sou  of  Man  be  ashamed  when  he  cometh,  &c.— He 
Thee  not  in  such  a  throng.'  46.  somebody  will  render  to  that  man  his  own  treatment: 
touched— yes,  the  multitude  "  i/ironged  and  He  will  disown  him  before  the  most  august  of 
•pressed  Him "—"  they  jostled  against  Him,  all  assemblies,  and  put  him  to  "'shame  and 


I  Him  which  only  the  'expulsive  power' of 
higher  aftection  can  effectually  counteract. 


but  all  Mt-yo'trnfanZi/;  they  were  merely  car-  everlasting  contempt."     Da.  12.  2.1    O  shame, 

ried  along:  but  one,  one  only—"  somebody—  to  be  put  to  shame  before  God,  Christ,  and 

TOUCHED  HiM,"  with  the  conscious,  volun-  angels.'  [Bexg,]  27.  not  taste  of  death  till  they 

tary,  dependent    touch   of  faith,   reaching  see  the  kingdom  of  God— "see  it  come  with 


forth  its  hand  expressly  to  have  contact 
with  Him.  This  and  this  only  Jesus  ac- 
knowledges and  seeks  out.  Even  so,  as  the 
-  Church  father  Augustin  long  ago  said  multi- 
tudes stiM  come  similarly  close  to  Christ  in  the 
means  of  grace,  Init  all  to  no  purpose,  being 
only  sucked  into  the  croivd.  The  voluntary, 
living  contact  of  faith  is  that  electric  conduc- 
tor which  alone  draws  virtue  out  of  Him. 
47.  declared  before  all— this,  though  a  great 
trial  to  the  shrinking  modesty  of  the  believ- 
ing woman,  M-as  just  what  Christ  wanted 


power"  (]Mk.  9.  1.);  or  see  "the  Son  of  Man 
coming  in  his  kingdom"  (M.  16.  28.).  Tlie 
reference,  beyond  doubt,  is  to  the  firm  es- 
tablishment and  victorious  progress,  in  the 
life-time  of  some  then  i^resent,  of  that  new 
Kingdom  of  Christ,  which  was  destined  to 
work  the  greatest  of  aU  changes  on  this 
earth,  and  be  the  grand  pledge  of  His  final 
coming  in  glory. 

28-36.  Jestjs  Tbansfigttred.  28.  an  eight 
days  after  these  sayings— including  the  day  on 
which  this  was  spoken  and  that  of  the  Trans- 


dragging  her  forth,  her  public  testimony  to !  figuration.  M.  and  Mk.  say  "  after  six  days," 
the  facts  of  her  case— both  her  disease,  with '  excluding  these  two  days.  As  the  "sayings  so 

her  abortive  efforts  at  a  cure,  and  the  in-' ''"*'"='^"'" '^--^  — ""^^   •"--  "" ^ 

stantaneous  and  perfect   reUef  which  her 

touch  of  the  Great  Healer  had  brought  her. 

55.  give  her  meat— .';ee  on  Mk.  5.  43. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Ver.  1-6.    Mission  of  the  Twelve  Apos 


definitely  connected  with  the  Transfigura- 
tion scene  are  those  announciug  His  death— 
at  which  Peter  and  aU  the  Twelve  were 
so  startled  and  scandalized,  so  this 
scene  was  designed  to  show  to  the  eyes  as 
well  as  the  heart  how  glorious  that  death  was 


TLBS.      See  on  M.  10.  1-15.     1.   power  and  in  the  view  of  Heaven.    Peter,  James,  and 
-...,.. ._-i._    rx_  ■u^^^.  — T.-.-.j — J  _....i    -•'  Joiin— partners  before  in  secular  business; 

now  sole  v,-itnesses  of  the  resurrection  of 
Jairus'  daughter  JNIk.  5.  37.\  the  transfigu- 
ration, and  the  agony  in  the  garden  (Mk. 
14.  33.).  a  mountain— not  Tahor,  according  to 
long  tradition,  with  which  the  facts  ill  com- 
port, but  someone  near  the  lake,  to  pray— for 
the  period  he  had  now  reached  was  a  critical 
and  anxious  one.  (See  on  M.  16.  13.)  But 
who  can  adequately  translate  those  "  strong 
crj-ings  and  tears  "?  Methinks,  as  I  steal  by 
His  side.  I  hear  from  Him  these  plaintive 
sounds.  Lord,  "SVho  hath  believed  Our  re- 
port? lam  come  unto  mine  own  and  mine 


authority— He  both  qualijied  and  autltorized 
tnem. 

7-9.  Herod  TRotrBLED,  at  what  He 
Hears  6y  Christ,  Desires  to  See  Hui. 
See  on  Mk.  6.  14-30.  7.  perplexed-'  at  a  loss,' 
'embarassed.'  said  of  some  that  John  was  risen 
— amon^  many  opinions,  this  was  tlie  one 
which  Herod  himself  adopted,  for  the  reason, 
no  doubt,  mentioned  on  Mk.  6.  14.  desired  to 
see  him— but  did  not,  till  as  a  prisoner  He  was 
sent  to  him  by  Pilate  just  before  His  death, 
as  we  learn  from  ch.  23.  8. 

10-17.  On  the  Eeturn  of  the  Twelve, 
Jesus  retires  with  them  to  Betiisaida 


and  there  Miraculously  Feeds  Five  ov.ti  receive  Me  not;  I  am  become  a  stranger 


Thousand.    See  on  Mk.  6.  31-44. 

18-27.  Peter's  Confession  of  Christ- 
Our  Lord's  First  Explicit  Announce- 
ment OF  His  Approaching  Death,  and 
Warnings  arising  out  of  it.  See  on  M. 
16.  13-28;  and  Mk.  8.  34.  24.  will  save— 'is 
minded  to  save,'  bent  on  saving.  Tlie  pith 
of  this  maxim  depends— as  often  in  such 
weighty  sas^ngs  (for  example,  "  Let  the  dead 
bury  their  dead,"  M.  8.  22.)— on  the  double 
sense  attached  to  the  word  "life,"  a  lower 
and  a  higher,  the  natural  and  the  spiritual, 
temporal  and  eternal.  An  entire  sacrifice  of 
the  lower,  ora\\T.llingness  to  make  it,  is  indis 


unto  my  brethren,  an  alien  to  my  mother's 
children:  Consider  mine  enemies,  for  they  are 
many,  and  they  hate  me  ^vith  cruel  hatred. 
Arise,  O  Lord,  let  not  man  prevail.  "Thou 
that  dwellest  between  the  cherubim,  slune 
forth :  Show  me  a  token  for  good :  Father, 
glorify  thy  name.'  29.  as  he  prayed,  the  fashion, 
&c.— before  He  cried  He  was  answered,  and 
whilst  He  was  yet  speaking  He  was  heard. 
Blessed  interruption  to  prayer  this !  Thanks 
to  God,  transfiguring  manifestations  are  not 
quite  strangers  here.  Ofttimes  in  the  deepest 
depths,  out  of  groanings  which  cannot  be 
uttered,  Gtod's  dear  children  are  suddenly 


pensable  to  the  preservation  of  the  higher  life;  transported  to  a  kind  of  heaven  upon  earth. 


and  he  who  cannot  bring  himself  to  sun-ender 
the  one  for  the  sake  of  the  other  shall  eventu- 
ally lose  both.  26.  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my 
words— the  sense  of  shame  is  one  of  the 
strongest  in  our  nature,  one  of  the  social  affec- 
tions, founded  on  our  love  of  reputation, 
which  causes  instinctive  aversion  to  what  is 
fitted  to  lower  it,  and  was  given  us  as  a  preser- 
vative from  aU  that  is  properly  shameful. 
WTien  one  is,  in  this  sense  of  it,  lost  to  shame, 
he  is  nearly  past  hope.  (Ze.  3.  5;  Je.  (>.  15; 
3.3.)    But  when  Christ  and  "his  word  "' 


and  their  soul  is  made  as  the  chariots  of 
Amminadab.  Tlieir  prayers  fetch  down  such 
light,  strength,  holy  gladness,  as  makes  their 
face  to  shine,  putting  a  kind  of  celestial  radi- 
ance upon  it.  ,2  Co.  3. 18.  with  Ex.  34.  29-3.i.) 
raiment  wldte,  Arc.  —  M.  says  "His  .face  did 
shine  as  the  sun"  (17.  2,),  and  Mk.  says  "His 
raiment  became  shining,  exceeding  white  as 
snow,  so  as  no  fuller  on  earth  can  white 
them."  (9.  2.)  The  light,  then,  it  would  seem, 
shone  not  upon  Him  fro^n  v-ithout  but  out  of 
Him  /Vom  within;  He  was  all  irradiated,  was 


Cliristianity,  especially  in  its  more  spiritual  j  in  one  blaze  of  celestial  glory.    What  a'  con- 
and  uncompromising  features— is  unpopular,  I  trast  to  that   "visage  more  marred  than 


The  trnnffirrurnfion. 


LUKE.  X. 


Fevevft;  dhciples  sevt  to  preach. 


31  Who  appeared  in  "glory,  and  spake  ot 
his  decease  which  he  should  accomplish  at 
Jerusalem. 

32  But  Peter  and  they  that  were  with  him 
were  "^  heavy  with  sleep:  and  when  they 
were  awake,  they  saw  his  glory,  and  the  two 
men  that  stood  with.  him. 

3:3  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  departed 
from  him,  Peter  said  unto  Jesus,  Master,  it 
13  good  for  us  to  be  here:  and  let  us  make 
three  tabernacles ;  one  for  thee,  and  one  for 
Moses,  and  one  for  Ellas:  not  knowing  what 
he  said. 

34  While  he  thus  spake,  there  came  a 
cloud  and  overshadowed  them:  and  they 
feared  as  they  entered  into  the  cloud. 

35  And  there  came  a  voice  out  of  the 
cloud,  saying,  'This  is  my  beloved  Son: 
hear/  him. 

3G  And  when  the  voice  was  past,  Jesus 
was  found  alone.  "  And  they  kept  it  close, 
and  told  no  man  in  those  days  any  of  those 
things  which  they  had  seen. 

37  IT  And  '•  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  next 
dav,  when  they  were  come  down  from  the 
hill,  much  people  met  him. 

38  And,  behold,  a  man  of  the  company 
cried  out,  saying.  Master,  I  beseech  thee, 
look  upon  my  son;  for  he  is  mine  only 
child: 

39  And,  lo,  a  spirit  taketh  him,  and  he 
suddenly  crieth  out;  and  it  teareth  him 
that  he  foameth  again,  and,  bruising  him, 
hardly  departeth  from  him. 

40  And  1  besought  thy  disciples  to  cast 
him  out;  and  they  could  not. 

41  And  Jesus  answering  said,  O  faithless 
and  perverse  generation!  how  long  shall  I 
be  with  you,  and  suffer  you?  Bring  thy  son 
hither. 

42  And  as  he  was  yet  a-coming,  the  de\il 
threw  him  down,  and  tare  lum.  And 
Jesus  rebuked  the  unclean  spirit,  and 
healed  the  child,  and  delivered  him  again 
to  his  father. 

43  II  And  they  were  all  amazed  at  the 
mighty  power  of  God.  But.  while  they 
wondered  every  one  at  all  things  which 
Jesus  did,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 

44  Let « these  sayings  sink  down  into  your 
ears:  for  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  men. 

45  But }  they  understood  not  this  saying, 
and  it  was  hid  from  them,  that  they  per- 
ceived it  not:  and  they  feared  to  ask  him  of 
that  saving. 

46  H  Then  *  there  arose  a  reasoning  among 
them,  which  of  them  should  be  greatest. 

47  And  Jesus,  perceiving  the  thought  of 
theur  heart,  took  a  child,  and  set  him  by 
him,  ,    „ 

48  And  said  unto  them, « Whosoever  shall 
receive  this  child  in  my  name  receiveth  me ; 
and  whosoever  shall  receive  me  receiveth 
him  that  sent  me:  ™  for  he  that  is  least 
among  you  all,  the  same  shall  be  great. 

49  And  "John  answered  and  said.  Master, 
we  saw  one  casting  out  devils  in  thy  name ; 
and  we  forbade  him,  because  he  followeth 
not  with  us. 

50  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Forbid  him 
not:  for  "  he  that  is  not  agaiiist  us  is  for  us. 

61  IT  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  time 
was  come  that  P  he  should  be  received  up, 
he  stedfastly  set  his  face  to  go  to  J  era 
Balem, 

52  And  sent  messengers  before  his  face 

and  they  went,  and  entered  into  a  village 

Oii 


CHAP.  9. 

c  Unl.  3.  21. 

Col.  3.  4. 
d  Dan.  8. 18. 

Dan.  10.  9. 

Mat.  3.  17. 

2  Pet.  1.16, 

17. 
/Ex.  23.21. 

Den.  18. 

15-13. 

Acta  3. 22. 

Hob.  2.  3. 
Q  Mat.  17.  9. 
>t  Mat.  17  14. 

Slark  9.14, 

Mat.  17. 22. 
j  Mark  9.  32. 

ch.  2.  50. 

ch.  18  34. 
*  Mat.  18.  1. 

M>rk9.34. 
I  Mat.  10.  40. 

Mat.  18.  5. 

Mark  9.  37. 

John  12  44. 

John  13  20. 
n»  Mat.23.11, 

n  iil'rk  9.38. 

Nu.  11.28. 
0  Mat.  12.30. 

ch.  11.  23. 

1  Cor.  12.3. 
P  Mar.  16.19. 

Acts  1.  2. 
?  John  4.4,9. 
»-  2  Ki.  1.  IC, 

12. 
8  Bom.  10.  2. 
t  John  3.  17. 

John  12.47. 
"  Mat.  8.  19. 
«  Mat.  8.  21 
'"  1  Ki. 19.20, 
»  Heb.  6.  <. 


CHAP.  10. 

a  Mat.  10.  1. 

Mark  6.  7. 

6  Mat.  9.  37, 

.Toiin  4.  35 
e  2  Thes3.3 1. 
d  Jar.  3  15. 

1  Cor.  12. 


10. 

Mark  6.  8. 

ch.  9.  3 
g  2  Ki.  4.  29. 
ft  Atit.  10.1'J. 
i  Mat.  10  11. 
}  1  Cor.  10. 

27. 
k  Mat.  10  10. 

1  Cor.  9  4. 

1  Ti.  5.  18. 
I  Eph.  5. 15. 
m  cb,  9.  2. 
n  la.  2.  2. 

Mat.  3.  2. 

Mat.  4.  17. 

Mat.  10.  7. 
Rom.  10.8. 

Tit  2,  11. 
o  Mat.  10.14. 

ch.  9.  5. 

Acts  13.51 

Acts  18.  6. 
pM.t.  10.15. 

Mark  e.ll 

Heb.  6.4-8, 


of  the  Samaritans,  to  make  ready  for 
him. 

63  And  '  they  did  not  receive  him,  because 
his  face  was  as  though  he  would  go  to 
Jerusalem. 

64  And  when  his  disciples  James  and 
John  saw  this,  they  said.  Lord,  wilt  thou 
that  we  command  fire  to  come  down  from 
heaven,  and  consume  them,  even  as  *■  Elias 
did? 

55  But  he  turned,  and  rebuked  them,  and 
said.  Ye  know  not  *  what  manner  of  spiiit 
ye  are  of. 

56  For  '  the  Son  of  man  is  not  come  to 
destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save  them.  And 
they  went  to  another  \-illage. 

57  H  And  "  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  they 
went  in  the  way,  a  certain  man  said  unto 
him,  Lord,  I  \vili  follow  thee  whithersoever 
thou  goest. 

53  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Foxes  have 
holes,  and  birds  of  the  air  have  nests ;  but 
the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his 
head. 

59  And  "  he  said  unto  another.  Follow  me. 
But  he  said.  Lord,  suffer  me  tii'st  to  go  and 
bury  my  father. 

60  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Let  the  dead  bury 
their  dead :  but  go  thou  and  preach  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

61  And  another  also  said.  Lord,  ""  I  will 
follow  thee  •  but  let  me  first  go  bid  them 
farewell  which  are  at  home  at  my  house. 

62  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  ^No  man, 
having  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and 
looking  Dack,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

CHAPTER  X. 
1  Christ  sendeth  oiU  sevr'nt^  disciples.    13  Woet 
against  Chorazin.  Bethsaida,and  Capernaum, 
38  Mary  ciymmendM,  etc. 

A  FTER  these  things  the  Lord  appointed 
^^  other  seventy  also,  and  "  sent  them  two 
and  two  before  his  face  into  every  city  and 
plafe,  whither  he  himself  would  come. 

2  Therefore  said  he  unto  them,  *The  har- 
vest truly  is  great,  but  the  labourers  are 
few:  "pray  ye  therefore  the  <^  Lord  of  the 
harvest,  that  he  would  send  forth  labourers 
into  his  hai-\'est. 

3  Go  your  ways:  *  behold,  I  send  you  forth 
as  lambs  among  wolves. 

4  Cairy  /neither  purse,  nor  scrip,  nor 
shoes:  and «' salute  no  man  by  the  way. 

5  And  /i  into  whatsoever  house  ye  enter, 
first  say.  Peace  be  t<i  this  house. 

6  And  if  the  son  of  peace  be  there,  yonr 
peace  shall  rest  upon  it :  if  not,  it  shall 
turn  to  you  again. 

7  And  « in  the  same  house  remain,  i  eating 
and  drinking  such  things  as  they  give:  for 
the  *  labourer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.  Go 
nut '  tirom  house  to  house. 

8  And  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and 
they  receive  you,  eat  such  things  as  are  set 
before  you: 

9  And  "*  heal  the  sick  that  are  therein : 
and  say  unto  them,  "  The  kingdom  of  God 
is  come  nigh  unto  you. 

10  But  iiito  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and 
they  receive  you  not,  go  your  ways  out  into 
the  streets  of  the  same,  and  say, 

11  Even  "  the  very  dust  of  your  city,  which 
cleaveth  on  us,  we  do  wpe  off  against  you: 
notwithstanding,  be  ye  sure  of  this,  that 
the  kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh  unto  you. 

12  But  1  say  unto  you,  That  p  it  shall  be 
more  tolerable  in  that  daj  for  Sodom,  thaa 
for  that  city. 


Jesus  Transjtcnired, 

men,  and  His  form  than  the  sons  of  men  !  [v. 
(Is.  52.  14.)  30,  31.  there  talked  with  him  two  on 
men  .  .  .  Moses  and  Elias  . . .  appeared  in  glory 
— '  Who  would  have  believed  these  were  not 
anfiels  had  not  theirJtuman  names  been  sub- 
joined ?  [Beng.]  (cf.  A.  1.  10;  Mk.  16.  5.) 
Moses  represented  "the  law,"  Elijah  "the 
prophets."  and  both  together  the  whole  tes- 
timony of  the  O.  T.  Scriptures,  and  the  0.  T. 
saints,  to  Christ;  now  not  borne  inabook  but 
by  Iming  men,  not  to  a  coming  but  a  come 
Messiah,  visibly,  for  they  '*  appeared,"  and  aih- 
dibly,  for  they  "spake."  spake—  'were  speak- 
ing.' of  Ms  decease—'  departure  ;'  beautiful 
euphemism  (softened  term)  for  death,  which 
Peter,  who  witnessedthe  scene.uses  toexpress 
his  o%vn  expected  death,  and  the  use  of  which 
single  teiin  seems  to  have  recalled  the  whole 
by  a  sudden  rush  of  recollection,  and  oc- 
casioned that  delightful  allusion  to  this 
scene  which  we  find  in  2  Pe.  1.  1.5-18.  which 
he  should  accomplish.  '  was  to  fulfil.'  at  Jeru- 
salem—JMark  the  historical  character  and  local 
features  which  Christ's  death  assumed  to 
these  glorified  men— as  important  as  it 
charming— and  see  on  ch.  2. 11.  What  now 
may  be  gathered  from  this  statement  ?  (l.) 
That  a  dying  Messiah  is  the  great  article  of  th  e 
true  Jetnsh  theology.  For  a  long  time  the 
Church  had  fallen  clean  away  from  the  faith  of 
this  article,  and  even  from  a  preparedness  to 
receive  it.  But  here  we  have  that  jewel  raked 
out  of  the  dimghill  of  Jewish  traditions,  and 
by  the  true  representatives  of  the  Church  of 
old  made  the  one  subject  of  talk  with  Christ 
himself.  (2. )  The  adori  n  g  gratitude  of  glorified 
mcnjor  His  undeiiakirig  to  accomplish  such 
adecease;  their  felt  dependence  upon  it  for  the 
glory  in  which  they  appeared;  their  profound 
interest  in  the  progress  of  it;  their  humble 
solaces  and  encouragements  to  go  through  with 
it-  and  their  sense  of  its  peerless  and  over- 
vmehning  glory.  'Go,  matchless,  adored 
One,  a  Lamb  to  the  slaughter !  rejected  ot 
men,  but  chosen  of  God  and  precious;  dis- 
honoured, abhorred,  and  soon  to  be  slain  by 
men,  but  worshii>ped  by  cherubim,  ready  to 
be  greeted  by  aU  heaven  !  In  \'irtue  of  that 
decease  we  are  here;  our  aU  is  .suspended  on 
it  and  wrapt  up  in  it.  Thine  every  step  is 
watched  by  us  with  ineffable  interest;  and 
though  it  were  too  high  an  honour  to  us  to 
be  permitted  to  drop  a  word  of  cheer  into 
that  precious  but  now  clouded  spirit,  yet, 
as  the  first-fruits  of  harvest,  the  very  joy  set 
before  Him,  we  cannot  choose  but  tell  Him 
that  what  is  the  depth  of  shame  to  Him 
is  covered  with  glory  in  the  eyes  of  heaven, 
that  the  Cross  to  Him  is  the  Crown  to  us, 
that  that  "  decease"  is  all  our  salvation  and 
all  our  desire.'  And  who  can  doubt  that 
such  a  scene  did  minister  deep  cheer  to  that 
spirit?  'Tis  said  they  "talked"  not  to  Him 
but  "with  Him;"  and  if  they  told  Him 
how  glorious  His  decease  was,  might  He  not 
fitly  reply,  '  I  know  it,  but  your  voice,  as 
messengers  from  heaven  come  down  to  tell 
it  me,  is  music  in  mine  ears.'  32.  and 
when  they  were  awake — so,  certainly,  the  most 
commentators;  but  if  we  translate  literally, 
it  should  be  '  but  having  kept  awake.'  f  AIey. 


LUKE.  IX.    Demoniac  and  Lunatic  Boy  Healed. 

.).  saw  his  glory,  Arc— the  emphasis  lies 
sau-,  qualiiying  them  to  become  "  eve- 
ivitnesscs  of  his  majesty"  (2  Pet.  1.  I6.i.  33 
they  aeparted— Ah!  bright  manifestations  in 
this  vale  of  tears  are  always  "departing" 
manifestations.  34,  35.  a  cloud  —  not  one 
of  our  watery  clouds,  but  the  Shechinah- 
cloud  (see  on  M.  23.  39',  the  pavilion  of  the 
manifested  presence  of  God  with  his  people, 
what  Peter  calls  "the  excellent"  or  mag- 
nificent glory"  (2  Pe.  1.  l"  .  a  voice—"  such 
a  voice,"  says  Peter  emphatically;  "  and  this 
voice  (he  adds)  we  heard  when  we  were  with 
Him  in  the  holy  mount."  i2  Pe.  1.  17,  18.) 
my  beloved  Son  .  .  ,  hear  Him— reverentially. 


Alf.J  Perhaps,  '  having  roused  tlumselvcs 
tip'  [Olsh.]  may  come  near  enough  the  Uteral 
sense;  but  from  the  word  used  we  can  gather 
no  more  than  that  they  stu>oko.tr't]tcir  drowsi- 
ness. Ifc  was  night,  and  the  Lord  seems  to 
have  spent  the  whole  night  on  the  mountain 
;3 


implicitly,  alone.  36,  Jesus  found  alone— Mo.ses 
and  Elias  are  gone.  Their  work  is  done,  and 
they  have  disappeared  from  the  scene,  feel- 
ing no  doubt  with  their  fellow-servant  the 
Baptist,  "  He  must  increase,  but  I  must  de- 
crea.se."  The  cloud  too  is  gone,  and  the  naked 
majestic  Christ,  braced  in  spirit,  and  en- 
shrined in  the  reverent  aflection  of  hi3 
disciples,  is  left— to  suffer !  kept  it  close- 
feeling,  for  once  at  least,  that  such  things 
were  unmeet  as  yet  for  the  general  gaze. 

b7-4o.  Demoniac  ajjd  Lunatic  Boy 
Healed — Christ'-s  Second  Explicit  An- 
nouncement OF  His  Death  and  Eesur- 
KECTioN.— See  on  Mk.  9.  14-32.  43-45.  the 
mighty^  power  of  God  —  *  the  majesty"  or 
Iniightmess'  of  God  in  this  last  miracle,  the 
Transfignration,  <fcc. ;  the  divine  grancUur 
of  Christ  rismg  upon  them  daily.  By  com- 
paring M.  ir.  22,  and  Mk.  9.  30,  we  gather 
that  this  had  been  the  subject  of  conversation 
between  the  twelve  and  their  Master  as  they 
journeyed  along,  these  sayings— not  what 
was  passing  between  them  about  His  gran- 
deur [Mey.,  kc.\  but  what  He  was  now  to 
repeat  for  the  second  time  about  His  suffer- 
ings. [De  W.,  Stier,  Alf.,  (tc.J  q.d.  '  Be 
not  carried  off  your  feet  by  aU  this  grandeur 
of  mine,  but  bear  in  mind  what  I  have 
already  told  you,  and  now  distinctly  repeat, 
that  that  Sun  in  whose  beams  ye  now  re- 
joice is  soon  to  set  in  micbiight  gloom.' 
"The  Son  of7«a)i,"  says  ChrLst,  "into  the 
hands  of  men  "  —  a  remarkable  antithesis 
also  in  M.  17.  22,  and  Mk.  9.  31 .  and  they 
feared— '  insomuch  that  they  feared.'  Tlieir 
most  cherished  ideas  were  so  completely 
dashed  by  such  announcements,  that  they 
were  afraid  of  laying  themselves  open  to  re- 
buke by  asking  him  any  questions. 

4G-48.  Strife  among  the  Tavelve,  who 
SHOULD  BE  Gre.\test— John  PlEuuked 
FOR  Exclusiveness.  46  48.— See  on  M.  18. 
1-5.  49,  50.  John  answered,  (tc— The  link  of 
connection  here  with  the  foregoing  context 
lies  in  the  words  "  in  My  name"  yV.  48.  i.  '  O, 
as  to  that,  (said  John,  young,  warm,  but  not 
.sufficiently  appreliendiug  Christ's  teaching 
in  these  things)  We  saw  one  casting  out 
devils  "  in  thy  name  "  and  we  forbade  him: 
Were  we  wrong"?  '  Ye  were  ^vrong.'  'But 
we  did  "  because  he  followeth  not  us." '  '  No 
matter.  For  1.)  "  There  is  no  man  which  shall 
do  a  miracle  in  my  name  that  can  lightly  (or 
*  soon')  speak  evil  of  INle,"  Mk.  9.  39.  ,i..u 
(2.)  If  such  a  person  cannot  be  suppo^  d  to  be 
"  against  us,"  you  are  to  hold  him  "jor  us." 
Two  principles  of  immense  importance. 
Christ  does  not  say  this  man  should  not  have 
followed  "  with  them,"  but  simply  teaches 
how  he  was  to  be  regarded  though  he  did  not— 
as  a  reverer  of  His  name  and  a  promoter  oi 


ParaJ^  of  the.  g<y>d  Snmnrifan. 


LUKE,  XI. 


CJn-isf  teaches  Jtnrr  to  pray. 


1»5  Woe  »unto  thee,  Chorazin!  -woe  unto 
thee,  Bethsaida!  Tor  if  the  nii^chty  works 
had  been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon  which 
have  been  done  in  you,  they  had  a  ^-eat 
while  ago  •  repented.  Bitting  in  sackcloth 
end  ashes, 

14  But  it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  Tjts 
and  Sidon  at  the  judgment,  than  for  you, 

15  And  '  thou,  Capernaum,  which  art 
exalted  "  to  heaven,  "shalt  be  thnist  down 
to  hell. 

16  He  "'thatheareth  you  hearethme;  and 
he  *  that  despiseth  you  despiseth  me;  I'and 
he  that  despiseth  me  despiseth  him  that 
Bent  me. 

_  17  IT  And  the  seventy  returned  again  with 
joy,  sajing.  Lord,  even  the  devils  are  sub- 
ject unto  us  through  thy  name. 
IS  And  he  said  luito  them,  *  I  beheld  Satan 
as  lightning  fall  fiom  heaven. 

19  Behold,  "I  give  unto  you  power  to 
tread  on  serpents  and  scorpions,  and  over 
all  the  power  of  the  enemy:  and  nothing 
shall  by  any  means  hurt  you. 

20  Notwithstanding  in  this  rejoice  not, 
that  the  spirits  are  subject  unto  you;  but 
rather  rejoice,  because  *your  names  are 
wiitten  in  heaven. 

21  H  In  "that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit, 
and  said,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these 
things  from  "^the  wise  and  prudent,  and 
hast  revealed  them  unto  babes:  even  so. 
Father-  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight. 

22  1  All  things  *  are  delivered  to  me  of  my 
Father:  and  /no  man  knoweth  who  the 
Son  is,  but  the  Father;  and  who  the  Father 
is,  but  the  Son,  and  lie  to  whom  the  Son 
will  reveal  }dm. 

23  ^  And  he  turned  him  unto  his  disciples, 
and  said  pri\'ately, »  Blessed  are  the  eyes 
which  see  the  things  that  ye  see: 

24  For  I  tell  you,  ''  that  many  prophets 
and  kings  have  desired  to  see  those  things 
which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  them.;  and 
to  hear  those  things  which  ye  hear,  and 
have  not  heard  them. 

25 II  And,  behold,  a  certain  lawyer  stood 
up,  and  tempted  him,  saying,  'Master, 
what  shall  1  do  to  inherit  eternal  life? 

26  He  said  unto  him.  What  is  written  in 
the  law?  how  readest  thou? 

27  And  he  answering  said,  /Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind;  and  *  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself. 

28  And  he  said  unto  him,  Thou  hast  an- 
swered right:  this  do,  and  '  thou  shalt  live. 

29  But  he,  willuig  to  "'justify  himself, 
said  unto  Jesus,  AJid  who  is  my  neigh- 
bour? 

30  And  Jesus  answering  said,  A  certain 
man  went  down  from  Jerasalem  to  Jericho, 
and  fell  among  thieves,  which  stripped  him 
ot  his  raiment,  and  wounded  him,  and  de- 
parted, leaving  him  half  dead. 

31  And  by  chance  there  came  down  a  cer- 
tam  priest  that  way:  and  when  he  saw 
him,  «  he  passed  by  on  the  other  side. 

32  And  likewise  a  Levite,  when  he  was  at 
the  place,  came  and  looked  on  him,  and 
passed  by  on  the  ot  her  side. 

33  But  a  certain  "Samaritan,  as  he  jour- 
neyed, came  where  he  was:  and  when  he 
Baw  him,  he  had  compassion  on  him, 

ol  And  went  to  him,  and  bound  up  his 

Vouuds,  Eouiing  in  oil  and  wine,  and  set  | 

&1 


CHAP.  10. 

9  Mat.  11.21. 
r  Ere.  8.  6. 
«  Jnn»h  3.  5. 
t  Mat.  11.23. 
«  Geo.  11.  4. 

Deu.  1.  28. 

Is.  14. 13. 

Jer.  61.  63. 
»  Em.  28.  20. 

EzB.32. 18. 
«"  Mark  9.37. 

Jolm  13.20. 

«  1  Thes  4.8. 

V  John  5.  23. 

t  John  12  31. 

John  16.11. 

Heb.  2.  14. 

1  John  3.8. 
Kev.  9.  1. 
Rev.  12.8,9. 

O  Mar.  16.18. 

Act3  28.  5. 
6  Ex.  32.32. 

P8.  69.  28. 

Ii.  4.  3. 

Dan.  12.  1. 

Phil.  4.  3. 

Heb.  12.23. 

Ee».  13.  8. 

Kev.  2I).12. 

Bev.  21.27. 
c  Mat.  11.25. 
d  1  Cor.1.19. 

2  Cor.  2. 6. 

ancient 
copies  add 

And  turn- 
ing to  his 
disciples, 


e  Ma 


t.  28.18. 

John  3.  35. 

Jolm  5.  27. 

John  17   2. 

Ei.h.  1.21. 

Phil.  2.  9. 
/John  1.  18. 

John  6.  44. 
0  Mat.  13.16. 
A  1  Pet.l.  10. 
i  Mat.  22.  36. 
;■  Deu.  6.  5. 
ft  Lev.  19.18. 
J  Lev.  18.  5. 

Neh.  9.  29. 

Ew.  20.  U. 

Rom.  10.  5. 
m  eh.  16.  15. 
n  P».  38. 11. 
0  John  4.  9. 
P  Mat.  20.  2. 
9  Rom.  12.20. 
r  John  11.  1. 
8  Deu.  33  3. 

Acts  22.  3. 
t  1  Cor.  7.32. 


CHAP.  11. 

a  2  Cor.  3.6. 
b  Is.  63.  16. 
e  Is.  11.  9. 
Dan.  7.  14. 

1  Or,  for 
the  day. 

d  E|.h.  4  32. 
e  1  Cor.10.13. 

Kev.  3.  10. 

2  Or,  out  of 
his  vpay. 

/ch.  18.  1. 
ffl  John  5.14. 
A  Mat.  7.  0. 

3  give. 


him  on  his  omi  beast,  and  brought  him  to 
an  inn,  and  took  care  of  him. 

35  And  on  the  morrow,  when  he  departed, 
he  took  out  two  P  pence,  and  gave  them  to 
the  host,  and  said  unto  him.  Take  care  of 
him:  and  whatsoever  thou  spendest  more, 
when  I  come  again,  I  will  repay  thee. 

36  Which  now  of  these  three,  thinkest 
thou,  was  neighbour  unto  him  that  tell 
among  the  thieves? 

37  And  he  said.  He  that  showed  mercy  on 
him.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  i  Go,  and 
do  thou  likewise. 

38  %  Now  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  went, 
that  he  entered  into  a  certain  village:  and 
a  certain  woman  named  ''Martha  received 
him  into  her  house. 

89  And  she  had  a  sister  called  Mary, 
which  also  *sat  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  heard 
his  word. 

40  But  Martha  was  « cumbered  about  much 
serving,  and  tame  to  him,  and  said.  Lord, 
dost  thou  not  care  that  my  sister  hath  left 
me  to  serve  alone?  bid  her  therefore  that 
she  help  me. 

41  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her, 
Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful  and 
troubled  about  many  things: 

42  But  one  thing  is  needful:  and  Mary 
hath  chosen  that  good  part,  which  shall 
not  be  taken  away  from  her. 

CllAPTEll  XL 
1  Chrint  tencheth  to  pray  ■  \ihe  casteih  <yut  a  dumb 

devil:  27  tie  showetk  who  are  truly  t/lessedt  JS. 

he  -preacheth.  to  the  people,  37  and  reprovethiht 

i'harisees'  outward  sh</iv  of  holiness,  etc. 

A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  he  was 
■'^  praying  in  a  certain  place,  when  he 
ceased,  one  of  his  disciples  said  unto  him. 
Lord,  "teach  us  to  pray,  as  John  also 
taught  his  disciples. 

2  And  he  said  unto  them,  When  ye  pray, 
say,  *  (Jul-  Father  which  art  in  heaven. 
Hallowed  be  thy  name.  "Thy  kingdom 
come.  Thy  will  be  done,  as  in  heaven,  so 
in  earth. 

3  Give  us  i  day  by  day  our  daily  bread. 

4  And  forgive  us  our  sins:  for  <iwe  also 
forgive  every  one  that  is  uidebted  to  us. 
And  '  lead  us  not  into  temptation;  but  de- 
liver us  from  eviL 

5  And  he  said  unto  them,  Which  of  yon 
shall  have  a  friend,  and  shall  go  unto  him 
at  midnight,  and  say  unto  him,  Friend, 
lend  me  three  loaves; 

6  For  a  friend  of  mine  2  in  his  journey  is 
come  to  me,  and  1  have  nothing  to  set  "be- 
fore him? 

7  And  he  from  within  shall  answer  and 
say,  Trouble  me  not:  the  door  is  now  shut, 
and  my  children  are  with  me  in  bed;  1 
cannot  rise  and  give  thee. 

8  I  say  unto  you,  /Though  he  will  not  rise 
and  give  him,  because  he  is  his  friend,  yet 
because  of  his  importunity  he  will  rise  and 
give  him  as  many  as  he  needeth. 

9  And  "  I  say  tmto  you,  Ask,  and  it  shall 
be  given  you:  seek,  and  ye  shall  hud; 
knock,  and  it  snail  be  opened  unto  you. 

10  For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth; 
and  he  that  seeketh  tindeth;  and  to  him 
that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened. 

11  If  "  a  son  shall  ask  bread  of  any  of  yon 
that  is  a  father,  will  he  give  him  a  stone? 
or  if  he  ask  a  hsh,  will  he  for  a  fish  give 
him  a  serpent? 

12  Or  if  ne  shall  ask  an  egg,  will  he  3  offer 
him  a  scorpion! 


Christ  tdlces  Eis  Last  Leave  of  Galilee.    LUKE,  X.  Mission  of  the  Seventy  Disciples. 


Bis  cause.  Surely  this  condemns  not  only 
those  horrible  attempts  hy  force  to  shut  up 
all  ^vithin  one  visible  pale  of  discipleship, 
which  have  deluged  Christendom  with  blood 
in  Christ's  name,  but  the  same  spirit  in  its 
milder  form  of  proud  ecclesiastic  scowl 
upon  all  who  **  after  the  form  which  they 
call  a  sect  (as  the  word  signifies,  A.  24. 14  ,  do 
so  worship  the  Gk)d  of  their  fathers."  Visible 
unity  in  Christ's  Church  is  devoutly  to  be 
sought,  but  this  is  not  the  way  to  it.  See  the 
nolle  sjyirit  of  Moses,  Nu.  11.  24-29. 

51-56.  The  Period  of  His  Assumption 
Approaching,  Christ  takes  His  Last 
Leave  of  Galilee  — The  Samaritans 
Refuse  to  Receive  Him.  51.  the  time  was 
come— rather,  '  the  days  were  being  fulfilled,' 
or  approaching  their  fulfilment,  that  he 
should  be  received  ap— '  of  His  assiunpdon,' 
meaning  His  exaltation  to  the  Father ;  a 
sublime  expression,  taking  the  sweep  of  His 
whole  career,  as  if  at  one  bound  He  was 
about  to  vault  into  glory.  Tlie  work  of 
Christ  in  the  flesh  is  here  divided  into  tico 
great  stages;  all  that  preceded  this  belonging 
to  the  one,  and  all  that  follows  it  to  the  other. 
During  the  one.  He  formally  "  came  to  His 
ov:n,"  and  "would  have  gathered  them;" 
during  the  other,  the  awful  consequences  of 
"His  ov:n  receiving  Him  not"  rapidly  re- 
vealed themselves,  he  steadfastly^set  his 
face— the  "He"  here  is  emphatic—'  He  Him- 
self then.'  See  His  own  prophetic  language, 
"  I  have  set  my  face  like  a  flint."  Is.  50.  7.  go 
to  Jerusalem— as  His  goal,  but  including  his 
preparatory  visits  to  it  at  the  feasts  of  Taber- 
nacles and  of  Dedication  i  J.  7.  2, 10;  and  10, 
22,  23),  and  aU  the  intermediate  movements 
and  events.  52.  messengers  before  his  face . . . 
to  make  ready  for  him— He  h.ad  not  done  this 
before ;  but  now,  instead  of  avoiding.  He 
seems  to  court  publicity— all  now  ha-itening 
to  maturity.  53.  did  not  receive  him,  be- 
cause, &c.  — the  Galileans,  in  going  to  the 
festivals  at  Jerusalem,  usually  took  the 
Samaritan  route  (Joseph.  Antiq.  xx.  6.  1.), 
and  yet  seem  to  have  met  with  no  such 
inhospitality.  But  if  they  were  asked  to 
prepare  quarters  for  the  Messiah,  in  the 
person  of  one  whose  face  was  as  though  He 
would  go  to  Jemsalem,"  their  national  pre- 
judices would  be  raised  at  so  marked  a 
slight  upon  their  claims.  (See  on  J.  4.  20.) 
54.  James  and  John— not  Peter,  as  we  should 
have  expected,  but  those  "  scms  of  thunder " 
(Mk.  3.  17  ,  who  afterwards  would  have  aU 
the  highest  honours  of  the  Kingdom  to  them- 
selves, and  the  younger  of  whom  had  been 
rebuked  already  tor  his  exclusiveness  {v.  49, 
60.^.  Yet  this  was  "  the  disciple  whom  Jesus 
loved,"  while  the  other  willinirly  drank  of 
His  Lord's  bitter  cup.  (See  on  ilk.  10.  38-40, 
and  A.  12.  2:<  That  same  fiery  zeal,  in  a 
mellowed  and  hallowed  form.  In  the  beloved 
dispiple,  we  find  in  2  J.  10,  and  3  J.  10.  fire . . 
as  Eiias— a  plausible  case,  occurring  also  in 
Samaria.  (2  Ki.  1.  10-12.)  55,  56.  know  not 
what  spirit,  kc.  —  *  The  thing  ye  demand, 
though  in  keeping  with  the  kgal,  is  un- 
suited  to  the  genius  of  the  evangelical  dis- 
pensation.' Tlie  sparks  of  unhi  ly  indignation 
would  seize  readily  enough  on  this  example 
of  Elias,  though  our  Lord's  rebuke  las  is 
plain  from  v.  56,)  is  directed  to  the  principle 
mvolved  rather  than  the  -animal  heat  which 
doulitless  prompted  the  reference.  'It  is  a 
eoiden  sentence  of  TiUotsou.  Let  us  never  do 
61 


anything  for  religion  which  is  contraiy  to 
religion.^  [av.  &  w.]  for  the  Sou  of  Man,  <fec.— 
a  saying  truly  Divine,  of  which  all  His 
miracles— for  salvation,  never  destruction- 
were  one  continued  illustration,  went  to 
another— illustrating  His  o^vn  precept,  M.  10. 
23. 

57-62.  Incidents  Illustrative  of  Dis- 
cipleship. 57,  58.  The  precipitate  dis- 
ciple.—See  on  M.  8. 19,  20.  59,  60.  Tlie  pro- 
crastinati:jg  disciple.— See  on  M.  8.  21,  22. 
61,  62,  The  ibresolute  disciple.  I  will 
follow  ...  but  —  The  second  disciple  had  a 
"  but "  too— a  difficulty  in  the  way  just  then. 
Yet  the  different  treatment  of  the  two  cases 
shows  how  diS'erent  was  the  spirit  of  the 
two,  and  to  that  our  Lord  addressed  himself. 
The  case  of  Elisha  (1  Ki.  19.  19-21 ,  though 
apparently  similar  to  this  will  be  found 
quite  different  from  the  "  looking  back"  of 
this  case,  the  best  illustration  of  which  is 
that  of  those  Hindu  converts  of  our  day  who, 
v:hcn  cmce  perstcaded  to  leave  their  spiritual 
fathers  in  order  to  "  bid  them  farewell  vjhieh 
are  at  fiome  at  their  house,"  very  rarely  return 
to  them,  no  man,  (fee— As  plou:jhing  requires 
an  eye  intent  on  the  furrow  to  be  made,  and 
is  marred  the  instant  one  turns  about,  so 
will  they  come  short  of  salvation  who  prose- 
cute the  work  of  God  -with  a  distracted 
attention,  a  divided  heart.  Though  the  re- 
ference seems  chiefly  to  ministers,  the  appli- 
cation is  general.  Tlie  expression  "  loolcing 
back"  has  a  manliest  reference  to  "  Lot's 
wife."  (Ge.  19.  26;  and  see  on  ch.  17.  32.)  It 
is  not  actual  return  to  the  world,  but  a 
reluctaru:e  to  break  y-ifh  it. 

CUAPTER  X. 

Ver.  1-24.  Mission  of  the  Seventy 
Disciples,  and  their  Return.  As  our 
Lord's  end  approaches,  the  preparations  for 
the  establishment  of  the  coming  Kingdom 
are  quickened  and  extended.  1.  the  Lord— a 
becoming  title  here,  as  this  appointment  was 
an  act  truly  tordii/.  [Beng.]  other  seventy  also 
— rather,  '  others,  (also  in  number)  70;'  proba- 
bly with  allusion  to  the  seventy  elders  of  Is- 
rael on  whom  the  Spirit  descended  in  the 
wilderness.  iNu.  11.  24,  25.)  The  mission, 
unlike  that  of  the  Twelve,  was  evidently 
quite  temporary.  All  the  instructions  are 
in  keeping  with  a  brief  and  hasty  pioneering 
mission,  intended  to  supply  what  of  general 
preparation  for  coming  events  the  Lord's 
own  visit  afterwards  to  the  same  "  cities  and 
places"  {v.  1.),  would  not,  from  want  of  time 
now  suffice  to  accomplish ;  whereas  the  in- 
structions to  the  T\velve,  besides  embracing 
all  those  to  the  seventy,  contemplate  world- 
v:ide  and  permanent  effects.  Accordingly, 
after  their  return  from  this  single  missionary 
tour,  we  never  again  read  of  the  seventy. 
2.  the  harvest,  <fec.— see  on  M.  9.  37,  38.  3-12. 
See  on  M.  10.  7-16.  son  of  peace— inwardly 
prepared  to  embrace  your  message  of  peace. 
See  note  on  "  worthy, '  M.  10.  13.  12-15.  See 
on  M.  11.  20-24.  for  Sodom— Tyre  and  Sidon 
were  ruined  by  commercial  prosperity ;  So- 
dom sank  through  its  vile  pollutions :  but 
the  doom  of  otherwise  correct  persons  who, 
amidst  a  blaze  of  light,  reject  the  Saviour 
shall  be  less  enduraijle  than  that  of  any 
of  these.  16.  he  that.  &c.  See  on  ]\L  10.  40. 
17.  returned— evidently  not  long  away.  Lord, 
&c.— '  Thou  hast  exceeded  thy  promise,  for 
"  even  the  devils,"'  &c.  The  nossession  of  such 
power,  not  being  expressly  iu  theu"  commia- 


Return  of  the  Seventy  Dimples. LUKE.  X.  Parable  oj  the  Good  Samaritan. 


Bion,  as  in  that  to  the  Twelve  (ch.  9.  1),  filled 
theru  with  more  astonishment  and  joy  than 
all  else,  in  thy  name— taking  no  credit  to 
themselves,  bnt  feeling  lifted  into  a  region 
of  unimagined  superiority  to  the  powers  of 
evil  simply  through  their  connexion  with 
Christ.  18.  I  beheld— As  much  of  the  force  of 
this  glorious  statement  depends  on  the  nice 
shade  of  sense  indicated  by  the  imperjed 
tense  in  the  original,  it  should  be  brought  out 
in  the  translation:— 'I  was  beholding  Satan 
as  lightning  falling  from  heaven:"  q.d.,  'I 
followed  you  on  your  mission,  and  watched 
its  triumphs;  wlule  you  were  wondering  at 
the  subjection  to  you  of  devils  in  My  name, 
a  grander  spectacle  was  opening  to  My  view; 
sudden  as  the  darting  of  lightning  from 
heaven  to  earth,  lo!  Satan  was  beheld  falling 
from  heaven  i*  How  remarkable  is  this,  that 
by  that  law  of  association  which  connects  a 
part  with  the  whole,  those  feeble  trimnphs 
of  the  Seventy  seem  to  have  not  only 
brought  vividly  before  the  Redeemer  the 
■whole  ultimate  result  of  His  mission,  but 
compressed  it  into  a  moment  and  quickened 
it  into  the  rapidity  of  lightning!  n.b.  The 
word  rendered  "devils,"  is  always  used  for 
those  spiritual  agents  employed  in  deraonia- 
cal  possessions  —  never  for  the  ordinary 
agency  oi  Satan  in  rational  men.  When 
therefore  the  Seventy  say.  "the  devils  de- 
mons) are  subject  to  us,  and  Jesus  re- 
plies, *  Mine  eye  was  beholding  Satan  fall- 
ing,' it  is  plain  that  He  meant  to  raise  their 
minds  not  only  from  the  particular  to  the 
general,  but  from  a  very  temporary  fonn  of 
Satanic  operation  to  the  entire  kingdom  of 
evil.  (See  J.  12.  31;  and  cf.  Is.  14.  12.  i  19. 
behold  I  give  you,  &c.— not  for  any  renewal 
of  their  mission,  though  probably  many  of 
them  afterwards  became  ministers  ot  Christ; 
but  siniiily  as  disciples,  serpents  and  scor- 
pions—the latter  more  venomous  than  the 
former:  literally,  in  the  first  instance;  Mk. 
16.  17,  IS;  A.  28.  5;)  but  the  next  words,  "and 
over  all  the  power  o/  the  enemy,  and  nothing 
slwdl  by  any  msans  hurt  you,"  show  that  the 
glorious  power  of  faith  to  "  overcome  the 
T.'orld"  and  "  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
wicked  one,"  by  the  communication  and 
maintenance  ot  which  to  his  people  He 
makes  them  innocuous,  is  what  is  meant. 
(1  J.  5.  4;  Eph.  6.  16.  20.  rejoice  not,  &c.— i.e. 
not  so  much.  So  far  from  forbidding  it,  he 
takes  occasion  from  it  to  tell  them  what  had 
been  passing  in  His  owai  mind.  But  as  power 
over  demons  was  after  all  intoxicating.  He 
gives  them  a  higher  joy  to  balance  it,  the  joy 
of  having  their  names  in  Heaven's  register. 
(Ph.  4.  3.)  21,  22.  Jesus  said,  &c.— Tlie  very 
same  sublime  words  were  uttered  by  our 
Lord  on  a  former  similar  occasion,  M.  11. 
25-27,  (on  which  see  note  ;  but  (I.)  there  we 
are  merely  told  that  He  "answered  and 
said"  thus;  here.  He  "rejoiced  in  spirit  and 
said."  (.2.)  There  it  was  merelyi"at  that  time 
(or  season)"  that  he  spoke  thus,  meaning 
with  a  general  re/erence  to  the  rejection  of 
His  gospel  by  the  self-sufficient;  here,  "In 
thathourJeiiViS  said,"  with  express  reierence 
probably  to  the  humble  class  from  which  He 
had  had  to  draw  the  Seventy,  and  the  similar 
class  that  had  chiefly  welcomed  their  mes- 
sage. "Rejoice"  is  too  weak  a  word.  It  is 
"  exulted  inspirit"— evidently  giving  visible 
expression  to  His  unusual  emotions,  while, 
at  tlie  same  time,  the  words  "in  spirit"  are 
64* 


meant  to  convey  to  the  reader  the  depth  of 
them.  Tills  is  one  of  those  rare  cases  ia 
which  the  veil  is  lifted  from  off  the  Re- 
deemer's inner  man,  that,  ansel-like.  we  may 
"look  into  it"  for  a  moment,  il  Pe.  1.  12.) 
Let  us  gaze  on  it  with  reverential  wonder, 
and  as  we  perceive  what  it  v/as  that  pro- 
duced that  mysterious  ecstasy,  we  shall  find 
rising  in  our  heiirts  a  still  rapture— "O  the 
depths!"    23,  24.— See  on  M.  13. 16,  17. 

25-37.  Question  of  a  Lawyer,  and 
Parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan.  25. 
tempted  Mm— *  tested  him;'  in  no  hostile 
spirit,  yet  with  no  tender  anxiety  for  light 
on  that  question  of  questions,  but  just  to  see 
what  insight  this  great  Galilean  teacher  had. 
26.  what  is  written  in  the  law— apposite  ques- 
tion to  a  doctor  of  the  law,  and  putting  him 
in  turn  to  the  test.  [Beng.]  27.  thou  shalt, 
&c.  —  the  answer  Christ  himself  gave  to 
another  lawyer.  See  on  Mk.  12.  29-33.  23. 
he  said,  &c.— '  Right ;  this  do,  and  life  is 
thine '—laying  such  emphasis  on  "this"  as  to 
indicate,  without  expressing  it,  where  thereat 
dijfieulty  to  a  sinner  lay,  and  thus  non- 
plussing the  questioner  himself.  29.  willing 
— '  wishing,'  to  get  himself  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty, by  throwing  on  Jesus  the  definition  of 
'  neighbour, '  which  the  Jews  inten>reted 
very  narrowly  and  technically,  as  excluding 
Samaritans  and  Gentiles.  [Alf.]  30.  a 
certain  man  — a  Jew.  from  Jerusalem  to 
Jericho— a  distance  of  19  miles  N.E.,  a  deep 
and  very  fertile  hollow  —  '  the  Tempe  of 
Judea.'  [Trench.J  thieves —  "  robbers. " 
The  road,  being  rocky  and  desolate,  was  a 
notorious  haunt  of  robbers,  then  and  for 
ages  after,  and  even  to  tliis  day.  31,  33. 
came  down  a  priest .  .  .  and  a  Levite— Jericho, 
the  second  city  of  Judea,  was  a  city  of  the 
priests  and  Levites,  and  thousands  of  them 
I  lived  there.  The  two  here  mentioned  are 
supposed,  apparently,  to  be  returning  from 
temiAe-duties,  but  they  '  had  not  learnt  what 
thatmeaneth.  "  I  will  have  mercy  and  not 
sacrifice.'"  [Trench]  saw  him— it  was  not 
inadvertently  that  he  acted,  came  and  looked 
I  —a  farther  aggravation,  passed  by— although 
ithe  law  expressly  required  the  opposite 
;  treatment  even  of  thebeast  not  only  of  their 
;  brethren,  but  of  their  ervemn,  Deu.  22.  4;  Es", 
23. 4,  6.  (cf.  Is.  68.  7.)  33.  Samaritan— one  ex- 
1  communicated  by  the  Jews,  a  bye-word 
among  them,  sjaionymous  with  heretic  and 
devil.  (J.  8.  48.)  See  on  ch.  17.  18.  had 
1  compassion— His  best  is  mentioned  first;  for 
*  He  who  gives  outward  things  gives  some- 
I  thing  exter-nal  to  himself,  but  he  who  imparts 
I  compassion  and  tears  gives  him  something 
from  his  very  self'  [Gregory  the  Great,  in 
Trench.]  No  doubt  the  Priest  and  Levite 
had  their  excuses—'  Tisn't  safe  to  be  linger- 
ing here;  besides,  he's  past  recovery;  and 
then,  mayn't  suspicion  rest  upon  ourselves  ? 
So  might  the  Samaritan  have  reasoned,  but 
did  not.'  [Trench.]  Nor  did  he  say.  He's  a 
Jew,  who  would  have  had  no  dealings  with  me 
(J.  4.  9),  and  why  should  I  with  him?  oil  and 
wine— the  remedies  used  in  such  cases  all 
over  the  East  Js.  1.  0  ,  and  elsewhere;  the 
wine  to  cleanse  the  wounds,  the  oil  to  assuage 
their  smartings.  on  his  own  beast— himself 
going  on  foot.  35.  two  pence — equal  to  two 
days'  wages  of  a  labourer,  and  enough  for 
several  days'  sui  iport.  36.  Which  was  neigh- 
bour?—a  most  dexterous  way  of  putting  the 
questioa:  (1.)  turning  the  question  from 


MttHha  and  Mary. 


LUKE,  XI. 


TheMsdples  tauoM  to  Pray. 


•Whom  am  I  to  love  as  my  neijchboiir?'  to 
'Who  is  the  man  that  shows  that  love?'  (2./ 
compelling  the  lawyer  to  give  a  reply  very 
dilferent  from  what  he  would  like— not  only 
condemning  his  own  nation,  but  those  of 
them  who  shoulcJ  ie  the  most  exemplary. 
(3.)  making  him  commend  one  of  a  deeply- 
hated  race.  And  he  does  it,  but  it  is  almost 
extorted.  For  he  does  not  answer, '  Tlie  Sama- 
ritan'—that  would  have  sounded  heterodox, 
heretical— but  "  He  that  showed  mercy  on 
him."  It  comes  to  the  same  thin?,  no  doubt, 
but  the  circimilocution  is  significant.  37. 
Go,  &c.— O  exquisite,  matchless  teaching ! 
What  new  fountains  of  charity  has  not  this 
opened  up  in  the  hxmian  spirit— rivers  in  the 
wUdemess,  streams  in  the  desert!  what 
noble  Christian  Institutions  have  not  such 
words  founded,all  undreamed  of  till  that  won- 
drous One  came  to  bless  this  heartless  world  of 
ours  with  His  incomparable  love— first  in 
words,  and  then  in  deeds  which  have  trans- 
lated His  words  into  flesh  and  blood,  and 
poured  the  life  of  them  through  that  hu- 
manity which  He  made  His  own !  Was  this 
Parable,  now,  designed  to  magnify  the  law  of 
love,  and  to  show  who  fulfils  it  and  who  not? 
And  who  did  this  as  never  man  did  it,  as  our 
Brother  Man.  "  our  Neighbour?"  The  Priests 
and  Levites  nad  not  strengthened  the  dis- 
eased, nor  bound  up  the  broken  (Ez.  34.  i\ 
while  He  bound  up  the  broken-hearted  (Is. 
<il.  1),  and  poured  into  all  wounded  spirits 
the  balm  of  sreetest  consolation.  Ad  the 
fathers  saw  through  the  thin  veil  of  this 
noblest  of  stories,  tlie  Story  of  love,  and 
never  wearied  of  tracing  the  analogy  though 
sometimes  fancifully^  enough).  [Trench.] 
'  He  hungered,'  exclaims  Gregory  of  Nazian- 
zum  (in  the  4th  cent. i  but  He  fed  thousands; 
He  was  weary,  but  He  is  the  Rest  of  the 
weary ;  He  is  saluted  "  Samaritan "  and 
"  Demoniac.  "  but  He  saves  him  that  went 
dovm  from  Jerusalem  and  fell  among  thieves,' 
&c. 

38-42.  Martha  and  ]Mart.  38.  certain 
village— Bethany  J.  11. 1),  which  L.  so  speaks 
of,  having  no  farther  occasion  to  notice  it. 
received  Mm .  .  her  house— the  house  belonged 
to  her,  and  she  appears  throughout  to  be  the 
elder  sister.     39.  which  also — *  who  for  her 

Eart,'  in  contrast  with  Martha,  sat—'  seated 
erself.'  From  the  custom  of  sitting  bencatJt 
an  instructor,  the  phrase  '  sitting  at  one's 
feet '  came  to  mean  being  a  disciple  of  any 
one.  A.  22.  3.)  heard— rather,  '  kept  listen- 
ing '  to  his  word.  40.  cumbered—'  distracted.' 
came  to  him—'  presented  herself  before  him,' 
as  from  another  apartment,  in  which  her 
sister  had  "  left  her  to  serve  or  make  prepa- 
ration) alone,  carest  thou  not?  ...  my  sister, 
&c.— '  Lord,  here  am  I  with  evers^thing  to  do, 
and  this  sister  of  mine  will  not  lay  \  hand  to 
anything ;  thus  I  miss  something  from  thy 
lips,  and  Tliou  from  our  hands.'  bid  her. 
&c.— she  presumes  not  to  stop  Christ's  teach- 
ing by  calling  her  sister  away,  and  thus 
leaving  Him  -without  His  one  auditor,  nor 
did  she  hope  perhaps  to  succeed  if  .she  had 
tried.  Martha,  Martha— emphatically  re- 
doubling upon  the  name.  careful  and 
cumbered— the  one  word  expressing  the  inward 
VJorriiing  anxiety  that  her  preparations 
should  be  worthy  of  her  Lord;  the  other,  the 
outward  biw^te  of  those  preparations,  many 
things— "  much  service"  [v.  40  ;  too  elabo- 
rate preparation,  which  so  engrossed  her  at- 
64t 


tention  that  she  missed  her  Lord's  teaching. 
42  one  thing,  &c.— the  idea  of  '  Short  work 
and  little  of  it  suffices  for  Me '  is  not  so  much 
the  hnver  sense  of  these  weighty  words,  as 
supposed  in  them,  as  the  basis  of  something 
far  loftier  than  any  precept  on  economy. 
Underneath  that  idea  is  couched  another,  as 
to  the  littleness  both  of  elaborate  prejiaratiou 
for  the  present  life  and  of  that  life  itself, 
compared  with  another,  chosen  the  good 
part— not  in  the  general  sense  of  Moses' 
choice  He.  11.  25^  and  Joshua's  (Jo.  24.  15), 
and  David's  (Ps.  119.  30  ,  i.e.,  of  good  in  oppo- 
sition to  bad;  but,  of  two  good  ways  of  serving 
and  pleasing  the  Lord,  choosing  the  better. 
Wherein,  then,  was  Mary's  better  than  Mar- 
tha's? Hear  what  follows,  not  be  taken  away— 
Martha's  choice  would  be  taken  from  her, 
for  her  services  would  die  with  her;  Mary's 
never,  being  spiritual  ajid  eternal.  Both 
were  true-hearted  disciples,  but  \ue  one  waa 
absorbed  in  the  higher,  the  other  in  the 
lower  of  two  ways  of  honouring  their  com- 
mon Lord.  Yet  neither  despised,  or  would 
willingly  neglect,  the  other's  occupation. 
The  one  represents  the  contemplative,  the 
other  i\iQ  active  style  of  the  Christian  charac- 
ter. A  Church  full  of  Maries  would  perhaps 
be  as  great  an  evil  as  a  Church  full  of 
Marthas.  Both  are  needed,  each  to  be  the 
complement  of  the  other. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Ver.  1-13.  The  Disciples  Taught  to 
Pray.  1.  one,  &c.— struck  with  eitlier  the 
matter  or  the  manner  of  our  Lord's  pray- 
ers, as  John,  <fec.  —From  this  reference  to  J  ohn, 
it  is  possible  that  disciple  had  not  heard 
the  Sermon  on  the  Mount.  Nothing  of 
John's  inner  teaching  ito  his  own  disciples) 
has  been  preserved  to  us,  but  we  may  be  sure 
he  never  taught  his  disciples  to  say,  "Our 
Father."  2-4.  See  on  M.  6.  9-13.  day  by  day. 
<fcc.— an  extension  of  the  petition  in  M.  for 
"  this  day'^  supply,  to  every  successive 
day's  necessities.  The  closing  doxology, 
wantmg  here,  is  wanting  also  in  aU  the  best 
and  most  ancient  copies  of  Ms  gospel.  Per- 
haps our  Lord  purposely  left  that  part  open; 
and  as  the  grand  Jewish  doxologies  were  ever 
resounding,  and  passed  immediately  and 
naturally,  in  all  their  hallowed  familiarity 
into  the  Christian  Church,  probably  this 
Prayer  was  never  used  in  the  Christian 
assemblies  but  in  its  present  form,  as  we  find 
it  in  M.,  while  in  L.  it  has  been  allowed  to 
stand  as  originally  uttered.  6-8.  at  midnight 
...  for  a  friend  is  come— the  heat  in  wann 
countries  makes  evening  preferable  for  tra- 
velling to  day;  but  "midnight"  is  every 
where  a  most  unseasonable  hour  of  call,  and 
for  that  very  reason  it  is  here  selected, 
trouble  me  not— the  trouble  making  him  in- 
sensible both  to  the  urgency  of  the  case  and 
the  claims  of  friendship.  I  cannot— without  ex- 
ertion which  he  would  not  make,  importunity 
—the  word  is  a  strong  one—'  shamelessness^ 
persisting,  in  the  face  of  aU  that  seemed 
reasonable,  and  refusing  o  take  a  denial, 
as  many,  cfcc— his  reluctance  once  overcome, 
all  the  clauns  of  friendship  and  nece.ssity  are 
felt  to  the  fuU.  The  sen  e  is  obvious  :  If  the 
churlish  and  self-indulgent  —  deaf  both  to 
friendship  and  necessity— can  after  a  posi- 
tive refusal, be  won  over, by  sheer  persistency, 
to  do  all  that  is  neede  ,  hoir  much  more  may 
the  same  determined  ersevevance  in  prayer 
be  expected  to  prey      with  Him  whose  very 


Christ  vindkale$  his  cMracter. 


LUKE,  XI.     The  scribes  and  FJixrisees  denounced. 


13  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give 
good  gifts  unto  your  children:  how  much 
more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy «  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  hiniV 

14 11  And  >  he  was  casting  out  a  devil,  and 
it  was  dumb.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when 
the  de^'il  was  gone  out,  the  dumb  spake; 
and  the  people  wondered. 

15  But  some  of  them  said,  *He  casteth 
out  de%1l3  through  *  Beelzebub  the  chief  of 
the  devils. 

16  And  others,  tempting  Mm, '  sought  of 
him  a  8i,£rn  from  heaven. 

17  But  "*  he,  knowing  their  thoughts,  said 
unto  them,  Every  kingdom  divided  against 
itself  is  brought  to  desolation ;  and  a  house 
divided  against  a  house  falleth. 

18  If  Satan  also  be  di\'ided  against  him- 
self, how  shall  his  kingdom  st^aud?  because 
ye  say  that  1  cast  out  devils  through  Beel- 
zebub. 

19  And  if  I  by  Beelzebub  cast  out  devils, 
by  whom  do  "your  sons  cast  them  out? 
therefore  shall  they  be  your  judges. 

20  But  if  I  0  with  the  finger  of  God  cast 
out  devils,  no  doubt  the  kingdom  of  God 
is  come  upon  you. 

21  When  p  a  strong  man  armed  keepeth 
his  palace,  his  goods  are  in  peace: 

22  But  9 -when  a  stronger  than  he  shall 
come  upon  him,  and  overcome  him,  he 
taketh  trom  him  all  his  armour  wherein  he 
trusted,  and  divideth  his  spoils. 

23  He  •■  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me ; 
Biid  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me  scat- 
tereth. 

24  When  "the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out 
of  a  man,  he  walketh  thi-ough  dry  places, 
seeking  rest;  and  finding  none,  he  saith,  1 
will  return  unto  my  house  whence  I  came 
out. 

25  And  when  he  cometh,  he  findeth  it 
swept  and  garnished. 

26  Then  goeth  he,  and  taketh  to  him 
seven  other  spirits  more  wicked  than  him- 
self; and  they  enter  in,  and  dwell  there: 
and  *  the  last  state  of  that  man  is  woi'se 
than  the  first. 

27  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  spake 
these  things,  a  certain  woman  of  the  com- 

Eany  lifted  up  her  voice,  and  said  unto 
im,  "  Blessed  is  the  womb  that  bai-e  thee, 
and  the  paps  which  thou  hast  sucked. 

28  But  ne  said.  Yea  *  rather,  blessed  are 
they  that  hear  the  word  of  God,  and  keep 
it. 

29  H  And  ""  when  the  people  were  gathered 
thick  together,  he  began  to  say.  This  is  an 
e^'il  generation :  they  seek  a  sign ;  and 
there  shall  no  sign  be  given  it,  but  the  sign 
of  Jonas  the  prophet. 

30  I'or  as  *  Jonas  was  a  sign  unto  the 
Ninevites,  so  shall  also  the  Sou  of  man  be 
to  this  generation. 

31  The  ^  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up 
in  the  judgment  with  the  men  of  this 
generation,  and  condemn  them :  for  she 
came  from  the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth  to 
hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon ;  and,  behold, 
a  '  neater  than  Solomon  is  here. 

_32  The  men  of  Nineve  shall  rise  up  in  the 
judgment  with  this  generation,  and  shall 
condemn  it :  for  "  they  repented  at  the 
preaching  of  Jonas ;  and,  behold,  a  greater 
than  Jonas  is  here. 

33  No  6  man,  when  he  hath  lighted  a 
caiidle,  putteth  it  in  a  secret  place,  neither 
under  a  '' bushel,  but   on  a  candlestick. 


CHAP.  U. 
i  l3.  44.  3. 
;■  Mat.  9.  32. 

Mat.  la.'."-'. 
ft  Mat.  9.  34. 

Mat.  1 -J  ,24. 

4  Beeliebul. 

I  Mat.  12.38. 

Mat.  15.  1. 

m  Mat.  12. 

26. 

Mark  3.24. 

John  2. 25. 

KeT.  2.  23. 
n  Mark  9.38. 

ch.  9.  49. 
o  Ex.  8.  19. 
P  Mat.  12.29. 

Mark  3.27. 

Evh.  6.  12. 

Eph.  2.  2. 

1  Pet.  6. 8. 
9  Is.  9.  6. 

Is.  63.  12. 

Col.  2.  15. 

Heb.  7.  25. 
r  Mat.  12.30. 
8  Mat.  12.43. 
{  Jolm  6.  14. 

Hob.  (3.  4. 

Heb.  10  26. 

2  Pet.  2.20. 
«  ch.  1.  28, 


s  Jonah  1.17. 

Jonah  2.10. 
J/1  Ki.  10.1. 
2  Is.  9.  6. 

Rom.  9.  6. 

Titus  2.13. 

Phil.  2.  10. 
u  Jonah  3.  6. 
6  Ma>.  5. 16. 

fiUrk  4. 21. 

ch.  8.  16. 
c  Mat.  6.16. 
(I  Mat.  6.  22. 
6  a  candle  by 

its  bright 

shining. 
e  Mark  7.  3. 
/  Mat.  23.25. 
y  2  Tim.  3.5. 

Tit.  1.  16. 
h  Is.  68.  7. 

Dan.  4.  27. 

ch.  12.  33. 

6  Or,  as  you 
are  ablo. 

i  Mat.  23  23. 
j  1  Sa.  15.22. 

Hos.  6.  £. 
ft  Mat.  23.  6. 

Mark  12. 

38,39. 
I  Blat.  23.  27. 
m  Ps.  6.  9. 

Acts  23.3. 
n  Mat.  23.  4. 
0  JMat.  23.  29. 
P  Acts  7.  61, 

62. 

1  Thest.  2. 

15. 
?  Pro.  1.  20. 

1  Cor.  1.24. 
r  Mat.  23.34. 
«  Gon.  4.  8. 
(  Mat.  23.13. 

7  Or, 
forbade. 

«  Mark  12. 


that  they  which  come  in  may  see  tha 
light. 

34  The  <*  light  of  the  body  is  the  eye : 
therefore  when  thine  eye  is  single,  thy 
whole  body  also  is  full  of  light;  but  when 
thine  eye  is  e\il,  thy  body  also  is  full  of 
darkness. 

3.5  Take  heed  therefore  that  the  light 
which  is  in  thee  be  not  darkness. 

36  If  thy  whole  body  therefore  be  full  of 
light,  having  no  part  dark,  the  whole  shall 
be  full  of  light,  as  when  6  the  bright  shin- 
ing of  a  candle  doth  give  thee  light. 

37  H  And  as  he  spake,  a  certain  Tharisee 
besought  him  to  dine  with  him:  and  he 
went  in,  and  sat  down  to  meat. 

38  And  *when  the  Pharisee  saw  it,  he 
marvelled  that  he  had  not  fiirst  washed  be- 
fore dinner. 

39  And  /the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Now  do 
ye  Pharisees  make  clean  the  outside  of  the 
cup  and  the  platter;  but  ^  yom- inward  part 
is  full  of  ravening  and  wickedness. 

40  Ye  fools,  did  not  lie  that  made  that 
which  is  without  make  that  which  is  within 
also? 

41  But ''  rather  give  alms  «  of  such  things 
as  ye  have ;  and,  behold,  all  things  are  clean 
unto  you. 

42  But » woe  unto  you,  Pharisees!  /  for  ye 
tithe  mint  and  rue,  and  all  manner  of 
herbs,  and  pass  over  judgment  and  the  love 
of  God :  these  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and 
not  to  leave  the  other  undone. 

43  Woe  *  unto  you,  Pharisees!  for  ye  love 
the  uppermost  seats  in  the  synagogues,  and 
greetings  in  the  markets. 

44  Woe  'unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites!  '"for  ye  are  as  giavcs  which 
appear  not,  and  the  men  that  walk  over 
them  are  not  aware  of  them. 

45  Then  answered  one  of  the  lawyers,  and 
said  unto  him.  Master,  thus  saymg  thou 
reproachest  us  also. 

46  And  he  said,  Woe  unto  you  also,  y* 
lawyers!  "  for  ye  lade  men  with  burdens 
giievous  to  be  borne,  and  ye  yourselves 
touch  not  the  bmdens  with  one  of  your 
fingers. 

47  Woe  "unto  you!  for  ye  build  the  sepul- 
chres of  the  prophets,  and  your  fathers 
killed  them. 

48  Truly  ye  bear  witness  that  ye  allow  the 
deeds  of  your  fathers:  for  p  they  indeed 
killed  them,  and  ye  build  their  sepulchres. 

49  Therefore  also  said  the  « wisdom  of 
God,  ""I  will  send  them  prophets  and 
apostles,  and  some  of  them  they  shall  slay 
and  persecute: 

60  That  the  blood  of  all  the  prophets, 
which  was  shed  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  may  be  required  of  this  genera- 
tion; 

51  From '  the  blood  of  Abel.unto  the  blood 
of  Zachaiias,  which  perished  between  the 
altar  and  the  temple:  verily  1  say  unto  you, 
It  shall  be  required  of  this  generation. 

52  Woe  *  unto  you,  lawyers!  for  ye  have 
taken  away  the  key  of  knowledge:  ye  enter 
not  in  yourselves,  and  them  that  were 
entering  in  ye  '  hindered- 

53  And  as  he  said  these  things  unto  them, 
the  scribes  and  the  Pharisees  began  to  urge 
him  vehemently,  and  to  provoke  him  to 
speak  of  many  things; 

54  Laying  wait  for  him,  and  "  seeking  to 
catch  something  out  of  hia  mouth,  that 
they  might  accuse  him. 


Demand  of  a  Sign,  aiidEcply. 


LUKE.  XI. 


DenUTiciation  of  the  Pharisees. 


nature  is  "rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  Him." 
(K.  10.  12.)  9-13.  See  on  M.  7.  Ml.  the  Holy 
Spirit— in  M.  (7. 11,'  "good  gifts;"  the  former, 
the  Gift  of  gifts  descending  on  the  Church 
through  Clulst,  and  comprehending  the 
latter. 

14—36.  Blind  and  Dusib  Demoniac 
Healed— CuAKGE  of  bexno  in  League 
WITH  Hell,  and  Eeply— Deslind  of  a 
Sign,  and  Reply.  See  on  M.  12.  22-45.  14. 
dumb— blind  also,  M.  12.  22.  20.  the  finger  of 
God— "the  Spirit  of  God,"  M,  12.  28 ;  the 
former  figuratively  denoting  the  pov:er  of 
God,  the  latter  the  livim  Personal  Agent  in 
every  exercise  of  it.  21,  22.  strong  man- 
meaning  Satan,  armed— pointing  to  all 
the  subtle  and  varied  methods  by  which  he 
wields  his  dark  power  over  men.  keepeth— 
'guardeth.  Ms  palace— ni^n,  whether  viewed 
more  largely  or  in  incli\idual  souls  — 
how  significant  of  what  men  are  to 
Satan !  in  peace— undisturbed,  secure  in  his 
possession,  a  stronger  than  he  — Christ: 
Glorious  title,  in  relation  to  Satan!  come 
upon  him  and  overcome  him— sublimely  ex 
pressing  the  Redeemer's  approach,  as  the 
Seed  of  the  woman,  to  bruise  the  Serpent's 
head,    taketh  from  him  all  his  armour—'  his 

Eanoply,'  'his  complete  armour.'  Vain  would 
e  the  victory,  were  not  the  yneans  of  regain- 
ing his  lost  power  wrested  from  him.  It  is  t  his 
that  completes  the  triumph  and  ensiires  the 
final  overthrow  of  his  kingdom.  The  par- 
able that  immediately  follows— ■».  24-26— is 
just  tfie  reverse  of  this.  See  on  M.  12.  43-45 
In  the  one  case,  Satan  is  dislodged  by  Chnd, 
and  so  finds,  in  all  future  assaults,  the  house 
pre-occupied ;  in  the  other,  he  merely  goes 
out  and  comes  in  again,  finding  the  house 
"empty"  (M.  12.  44.1  of  any  rival,  and  all 
ready  to  welcome  him  back.  This  explains 
the  important  saj-lng  that  comes  in  bdveen 
the  two  paraJbles,  v.  23.  Neutrality  in  religion 
there  is  none.  The  absence  of  positive 
attachment  to  Christ  involves  hostUity  to 
Him.  gathereth . . .  scattereth— referring  pro- 
bably to  gleaners.  The  meaning  seems  to  be, 
AMiatever  in  religion  is  disconnected  from 
Christ  comes  to  nothing.  27,  28.  as  he  spake 
these  things,  a  woman  of  the  company— 'of 
the  multitude,'  the  crowd.  A  charming 
little  incident  and  profoundly  instructive. 
With  true  womanly  leelin;^,  she  envies  the 
mother  of  such  a  wonderful  Teacher.  Weil, 
and  higlier  and  better  than  she  had  said  as 
much  before  her,  ch.  1.  28,  42  ;  and  our  Lord 
is  far  from  condemning  it.  He  only  holds 
up— as  "  blessed  rather"— the  hearers  and 
keepers  of  God's  word;  in  other  words,  the 
humblest  real  saint  of  God.  See  on  M.  13.  49, 
50.  How  utterly  alien  is  this  sentiment 
from  the  teaching  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
wliich  would  excommunicate  any  one  of  its 
members  that  dared  to  talk  in  the  spirit  of 
this  glorious  saying !  29-32.  See  on  M.  12. 
39-42,  33-36.  See  on  M.  5. 14-16;  6.  22,  23.  But 
V.  36.  here  is  peculiarly  vivid,  expressing  what 
pure,  beautiful,  broad  perceptions  the  clarity 
of  the  inward  eye  imparts. 

37-54.  Denunciation  of  the  Pharisees. 
38.  maive  led,  (tc.-See  on  Mk.  7. 2-4.  39-41. 
cup  and  platter— remarkable  example  of  our 
Lord's  way  of  drawing  the  most  striking 
illustrations  of  great  truths  from  the  most 
familiar  objects  and  incidents  in  life,  raven- 
ing—rapacity, that  wliich  is  without,  fee.- 
q.a.,*  He  to  whom  belongs  the  outer  life,  and 
65 


nght  to  demand  its  subjection  to  Himself-i? 
the  inner  man  less  His?     give  alms  and  all 
clean— a  principle  of  immense  value.    As  the 
greed  of  these  hyirocrites  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  features  of  their  character  (M.  23, 
14 ;  ch.  16.  14),  our  Lord  bids  them  exem- 
plify  the    opposite    character,    and    then 
their  ozitside,  ruled  by  this,  would  be  beauti- 
ful in  the  eye  of  God,  and  their  meals  would 
be  eaten  with  clean  hands,  though  never  so 
fouled   with   the  business   of  tliis   worky 
world.    (See  Eccl.  9.  7.)    42.  mint,  rue,  <fcc.— 
founding  on  Le.  27. 30,  which  they  interpreted 
rigidly.   Our  Lord  purposely  names  the  most 
trifling  products  of  the  earth,  as  examples  of 
what  they  punctiliously  exacted  the  tenth  of. 
judgment,  mercy,  and  the  love  of  God— in  M.  23. 
25.  "judgment,  mercy,  a.nd  faith."    The  re- 
ference is  to  ]\Ii.  6.  6-8.  whose  third  element 
of  all  acceptable  religion,  "  walking  humbly 
with  God"  comprehends  both  "love"  ana 
"  faith."    See  on  Mk.  12.  29,  32,  .33.    ITie  same 
tendency  to  merge  gi-eater  duties  in  less  be- 
sets us  still,  but  it  is  tlie  characteristic  ofhvj)o- 
crites.    these  ought  ye,  &c.— Tliere  is  no  need 
for  one  set  of  duties  to  jostle  out  another: 
but  of  the  greater,  our  Lord  says,  "Ye  ou{ihi 
to  have  do ne^' them;  of  the  lesser,  only  "ye 
ought  not  to  leave  them  midone."    43.  upper- 
most seats— See  on  ch.  14.  7-11.    greetings— See 
on  M.  23.  7-10.    44.  appear  not,  &c.— As  one 
might  unconsciously  walk  over  a  grave  con- 
cealed from  view,  and  thus  contract  ceremo- 
nial defilement,  so  the  plausible  exterior  of 
the  Pharisees  kept  people  from  perceiving 
the  pollution  they  contracted  from  coming 
in  contact  with  such   corrupt   characters. 
See  Ps.  5.  9 ;  R.  3. 13.    A  ditierent  illustration 
from  M.  23.  27.)     46.  burdens  grievous,  etc.— 
referring  not  so  much  to  the  irksomeness  of 
the  legal  rites,   though  they  were  irksome, 
A.  15.  10,)  as  to  the  heartless  rigour  «lth 
which  they  were  enforced,  and  by  men  of 
shameless  inconsistency.    47,  48.  ye  build, 
<fcc.— Out  of  pretended  respect  and  honour, 
they  repaired  and  beautified  the  sepulchres 
of  the  prophets,  and  with  whining  hypocrisy 
said,  "  If  we  had  been  in  the  days  of  our 
fatliers,  we  should  not  have  been  partakers 
with  them  in  the  blood  of  the  prophets," 
while  all  the  time  they  "  were  witnesses  to 
themselves  that  they  were  the  children  of 
them  that  killed  the  prophets,"  M.  23.  29,  30; 
convicting  themselves  daUy  of  as  exact  a  re- 
semblance in  spirit  and  character  to  the  very 
classes  over  whose  deeds  they  pretended  to 
mourn,  as  child  to  parent.     49-51.  said  the 
Wisdom,  (Src— a  remarkable  variation  of  the 
words  in  ISi.  23,  34,  "Behold  I  send."     As 
there  seems  plainly  an  allusion  to  ancient 
warnings  of  what  God  would  do  with  so  in- 
corrigible a  people   so  here  Christ,  stepping 
majestically  into  the  place  of  God,   so  to 
speak,  says,  '  Kow  I  am  going  to  carry  aU 
that  out.'    Could  this  be  other  than  the  Lord 
God  oj  Israel  in  thejfeah?   all  required  of  this 
generation— As  it  was  only  in  the  last  gene- 
ration of  them  that    "  the  iniquity  of  the 
Amorites  was  lull,  Ge.  16.  16,)  and  then  the 
abominations  of  ages  were  at  once  completely 
and  awfully  avenged,  so  the  iniquity  ol  Israel 
was  allowed  to  accumulate  from  age  to  age 
till  in  that  generation  it  came  at  the  full,  and 
the  whole  collected  vengeance  of  Heaven 
broke  at  once  over  its  devoted  head.    In  the 
first  Fiench  Revolution  the  same  awful  prin- 
ciple was  exemplified,  aud  Christendom  1ms 


CJirist  instnu:ts  his  disciples. 


LUKE.  XII. 


and  exhorts  them  to  watchfulness. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
1  To  avoid  fivvocHsu.     13  To  beware  of  eovetous- 
ness.    il  the  faithM  and  ivise  steward.  49  0/ 
divisions  on  account  of  the  Gospel. 

TN  "  the  mean  time,  when  there  were 
■*■  gathered  togetheran  innumerable  multi- 
tude of  people,  insomuch  that  they  trode 
one  upon  another,  he  began  to  say  unto  his 
disciples  first  of  all,  6  Beware  ye  of  the 
leaven  of  the  Pharisees,  which  is  hypocrisy. 

2  For  *  there  is  nothing  covered,  that  shall 
not  be  revealed;  neither  hid,  that  shall  not 
be  known. 

3  Therefore  whatsoever  ye  have  spoken  in 
darkness  shall  be  heard  in  the  light;  and 
that  which  ye  have  spoken  in  the  ear  in 
closets  shall  be  proclaimed  upon  the  house- 
tops. 

4  And  <*  I  say  unto  you,  my  friends.  Be  not 
afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  body,  and  after 
that  have  no  more  that  they  can  do. 

5  But  I  Tvill  forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall 
fear:  Fear  him,  which  after  he  hath  killed 
hath* power  to  cast  into  hell;  yea,  I  say 
unto  you.  Fear  him. 

6  Are  not  five  span-ows  sold  for  two /far- 
things? and ''not  one  of  them  is  forgotten 
before  God: 

7  But  even  the  very  hairs  of  yonr  head 
are  all  numbered.  Fear  not  therefore:  ye 
are  of  more  value  tlian  many  sparrows. 

8  Also  f^  1  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall 
confess  me  before  men,  him  shall  the  Son 
of  man  also  confess  before  the  angels  of 
God: 

9  But  he  that  denieth  me  before  men  shall 
be  denied  before  the  angels  of  God. 

10  And  «  whosoever  shall  speak  a  word 
afjainst  the  Son  of  man,  it  shall  be  for- 
given  him:  but  unto  hhn  that  blasphenieth 
against  the  Holy  Ghost  it  shall  not  be 
forgiven. 

11  And  }  when  they  bring  you  unto  the 
synagogues,  and  unto  magistrates,  and 
powers,  take  ye  no  thought  how  or  what 
thing  ye  shall  answer,  or  what  ye  shall  say: 

12  For  *  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  teach  you 
in  the  siime  hour  what  ye  ought  to  say. 

13  1[  And  one  of  the  company  said  imto 
him.  Master,  speak  to  my  brother,  that  he 
divide  the  inheritance  with  me. 

14  And  he  said  unto  him, '  Man,  who  made 
me  a  judsre  or  a  di\'ider  over  you? 

15  And  he  said  unto  them,  "^  Take  heed, 
a,nd  beware  of  covetousness:  for  a  man's 
life  consisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the 
things  whicii  he  possesseth. 

16  And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them, 
saying.  The  ground  of  a  certain  rich  man 
brought  forth  plentifully: 

17  And  he  thought  within  himself,  saying. 
What  shall  I  do,  because  I  have  uo  room 
where  to  bestow  my  fruits? 

18  And  he  said.  This  will  I  do:  I  will  pull 
down  my  barns,  and  build  greater;  and 
there  will  1  bestow  all  my  fruits  and  my 
goods. 

19  And  I  will  say  to  my  soul,  "  Soul,  thon 
hast  much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years; 
take  thine  ease,  eat,  diink,  and  be  merry. 

20  But  God  said  unto  him,  Thouiool,  this 
night  1  thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee: 
then  "  whose  shall  those  things  be  which 
thou  hast  I  in  n^.  led? 

21  So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for 
himself,  P  and  is  not  rich  toward  God. 

'i:i  H  And  he  said  unto  his  disciples.  There- 
tor  1  say  xmto  you,  '^  Take  no  thought  for 


CHAP.  12. 

a  Mat.  16.  6. 

Mark  8. 16. 

6  Mat.  16. 12. 

1  Cor.  5. 
7,8. 

e  Mat.  10.25. 

Mark  4.  22. 

ch.  8. 17. 
d  Is.  8.12,13. 

Is.  51.  7,8, 

12, 13. 

Jer.  1.  8. 

Mat.  10.28. 

•  ReT.  1. 18. 
/  Jlat.  10. 29. 
»  Acts  15. 18. 
ft  Mat.  10  32. 

Mark  8.38. 

2  Ti.  2  12. 
IJohnS. 
23. 

i  Mat.  12. 

31,32. 

Mark  3. 28. 

1  John  6. 

16. 
j  Mat.  10. 19. 

Mark  13.11. 
ch.  21. 14. 

*  Ex.  4.  12. 

1  Pet.  5.  7. 
:  John  18.36. 
m  Pro.  28.10. 

1  Ti.  6.  7. 

Heb.  13.5. 
n  Pro.  27.1. 

Eccl.  11. 9. 

1  Cor.  16. 


1  Or,  tlo  thoy 

thy  soul. 

Job  20.  22. 

Job  21.  13. 

Job  27.  8. 

Ps  52.  7. 

Dan.  4.  31. 

1  The3.5.3. 

Jam.  4. 14. 
0  Ps.  39.  6. 

Jer.  17. 11. 
p  Mat.  6.  20. 

1  Ti.  tj.  18, 

19. 

Jam.  2.  5. 
q  Mat.  8.  25. 

Phil.  4.  6. 
r  Job  38.  41. 

Ps.  147.  9. 

2  Or,  Uv« 
not  in 
careful 
suspense. 

»  2  Chr.  16.9. 

Phil.  4.  19. 

t  Mat.  6.  33. 

w  Rom.  8. 31. 

1  Ti.  4.  8. 
"  Mat.  11.25. 
w  Mat.l9.2l. 

Acta  2. 45. 

Acts  4.  34. 
«  Mat.  6.  20. 

ch.  16.  9. 

1  Ti.  6.  19. 
V  £ph.  6. 14. 

1  fet.  1.13. 
Z  Mat.  25. 1. 
a  Mat.  24  46. 
6  1  Thes.  5.2. 

Rev.  16.15. 
c  Mat.  25.  13. 

Mar.  13.33. 
d  Mat  26.21. 

1  Cor.  4.2. 
*  1  Pet.  6. 1. 


your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat;  neither  for  the 
body,  what  ye  snail  put  on. 

23  The  life  is  more  than  meat,  and  the 
body  is  more  than  raiment. 

21  Consider  the  ravens:  for  they  neither 
sow  nor  reap;  which  neither  have  store- 
house nor  bam ;  and  *"  God  feedeth  them: 
how  much  more  are  ye  better  than  the 
fowls? 

25  And  which  of  you  with  taking  thought 
can  add  to  his  stature  one  cubit? 

26  If  ye  then  be  not  able  to  do  that  thing 
which  13  least,  why  take  ye  thought  for  the 
rest? 

27  Consider  the  lilies  how  they  grow:  they 
toil  not,  they  spin  not;  and  yet  1  say  vmto 
yon,  that  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
arrayed  like  one  of  these. 

28  If  then  God  so  clothe  the  grass,  which 
is  to-day  in  the  field,  and  to-morrow  is  cast 
into  the  oven;  how  much  more  wiLL  he 
clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? 

29  And  seek  not  ye  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
what  ye  shall  drink,  2  neither  be  ye  of 
doubtful  mind. 

30  For  all  these  things  do  the  nations  of 
the  world  seek  after:  and  your  Father 
knoweth  » that  ye  have  need  of  these 
things. 

31  But  'rather  seek  ye  the  kingdom  of 
God ;  and  "  all  these  things  shall  be  added 
unto  you. 

32  Fear  not,  little  flock;  for  *  it  is  yonr 
Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the 
kingdom. 

3;^  Sell  ""  that  ye  have,  and  give  alms; 
provide  'yourselves  bags  which  wax  not 
old,  a  treasure  in  the  heavens  that  faileth 
not,  where  no  thief  approacheth,  neither 
moth  corrupteth. 

34  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will 
your  heart  be  also. 

35  Let  i'your  loins  be  girded  about,  'and 
your  lights  burning; 

36  And  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that 
wait  for  their  lord,  when  he  will  return 
from  the  wedding;  that,  when  he  cometh 
and  knocketh,  tney  may  open  unto  him 
immediately. 

37  Blessed  "  are  those  servants,  whom  the 
lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  watching: 
verily  1  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird 
himself,  and  make  them  to  sit  down  to 
meat,  and  will  come  forth  and  serve  them. 

38  And  if  he  shall  come  in  the  second 
watch,  or  come  in  the  third  watch,  and 
find  tJiem  so,  blessed  are  those  servants. 

39  And  *  this  know,  that  if  the  goodman 
of  the  house  had  known  what  hour  the 
thief  wovdd  come,  he  would  have  watched, 
and  not  have  sufiered  his  house  to  be 
broken  through. 

40  Be  '  ye  therefore  ready  also:  for  the 
Son  of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye 
think  not. 

41  IT  Then  Peter  said  nnto  him.  Lord, 
speakest  thou  this  parable  unto  us,  oi 
even  to  all? 

42  And  the  Lord  said,  <*  Who  then  is  that 
faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom  his  lord 
shall  make  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give 
them  their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season? 

43  Blessed  is  that  servant,  whom  his  lord 
when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing. 

44  Of  a  truth  1  say  unto  you,  *  that  he  will 
make  him  ruler  over  all  tnat  he  hath. 

45  But  and  if  that  servant  say  in  his 
heart.  My  lord  Uelayeth  hia  coming;  uud 


Warning  against  Hypocrisy. 


LUKE,  xn. 


Covetousness— Watchfulness. 


not  clone  imth  it  yet.  propliets-m  the  N.  T. 
sense  (M.  23.  34!:  see  l  Cor.  12.  28..  blood  of 
Zaclmnas-Probably  the  aUusion  is  not  to 
any  recent  murder,  but  to  2  Chr  24.  20-22,  as 
the  la4  recorded  and  most  suitable  case  for 
illustration.  And  as  Zacharias  last  words 
were,  "  The  Lord  require  it,'\  so  .they  are 
warned  that  "  of  that  generation  it  should 
be  required.-'  52.  key  of  knowledge  —  not 
the  key  to  open  knowledge,  but  know- 
ledge, the  only  key  to  open  heaven.  In 
]VL  23. 13,  they  are  accused  of  shuttmf  hea- 
ven; here  oi  taking  away  the  key,  which  was 
worse.  A  right  knowledge  of  Gods  word  is 
eternal  life  (J.  17.  3) ;  but  this  they  took  away 
from  the  people,  substituting  for  it  their 
wretched  traditions.  53,  54.— ExceecUngly 
vivid  and  affecting.  They  were  stung  to  tlie 
quick— and  can  we  wonder?— yet  had  not 
materials  for  the  charge  they  were  preparing 
against  liim.  provoke  Mm,  &c.— '  to  harass 
liini  with  questions.' 

CHAPTER  xn.  ^ 

Ver.  1-12.  Warning  against  Hypo- 
crisy. 1-3.  meantime— in  close  connexion, 
probably,  with  the  foregoing  scene.  Our 
Lord  had  been  speaking  out  more  plainly 
than  ever  belore,  as  matters  were  coming  to 
a  head  between  Him  and  his  enemies,  and 
this  seems  to  have  suggested  to  His  0%^!! 
mind  the  warning  here.  He  had  just 
Himself  illustriously  exemplifled  His  OAvn 
precei>ts.  his  disciples  first  of  all— aftei-wards 
to  "the  multitudes,"  v.  54.  covered— from 
the  view,  hid— from  knowledge.  '  'Tis  no 
use  conceaHng  anvthing,  for  aU  will  one  day 
come  out:  Give  free  and  fearless  utterance 
then  to  all  the  truth.'  (cf.  1  Co.  4. 3. 5. )  4, 5. 1 
say,  &c.— *  You  wiU  say.  That  may  cost  us  our 
life.'  '  Be  it  so;'  '  but,  "  my  friends,"  there 
their  power  ends.  He  calls  them  "  friends  " 
here,  not  in  any  loose  sense,  but,  as  we 
think^  from  the  feeling  He  then  had  that 
in  this  "  killing  of  the  body"  He  and  they 
were  going  to  be  affectingly  one  w^th  each 
other.  Fear  Him . .  fear  Him— how  striking  the 
repetition  here!  Only  tlie  one  fear  would  ef- 
fectuaWi  expel  the  other,  after  he  hath  killed, 
&c.— Learn  here.  !l.  To  play  false  with  one's 
convictions  to  save  one's  life,  may  fail 
of  its  end  after  all,  for  God  can  inflict  a 
violent  death  in  some  other  and  equally 
formidable  way.  (2.  Tliere  is  a  hell,  it  seems, 
for  the  body  as  weU  as  the  soul;  conse- 
quently, snfferings  adapted  to  the  one  as 
weU  as  the  other.  (3.)  Fear  of  hell  is  a  di- 
vinely authorised  and  needed  motive  of 
action  even  to  Christ's  "friends."  (4.)  As 
Christ's  "meekness  and  gentleness"  were  not 
compromised  by  such  harsh  notes  as  these, 
so  those  servants  of  Christ  want  their  Mas- 
ter's spirit  who  soften  down  all  such  lan- 
guage to  please  '  ears  polite.'  See  on  ]\Ik.  9. 
43-48.  6,  7.  five  for  two  farthings— in  M.  10. 
29,  it  is  "two  for  one  fartliing;"  so,  if  one 
took  two  farthings'  worth,  he  got  one 
'  in  addition '  —  of  such  small  value  were 
they,  than  many  sparrows — not  'than  mil- 
lions of  sparrows :  *■  the  chaiTu  and  poM-er 
of  our  Lord's  teaching  is)  very  much  in  this 


9.  26.    10.  Son  of  Man . . .  Holy  Ghost.    See  on 
M.  12.  31,  32. 

13-53.     COVETOUSNESS— WATCHFUXNESS— 

Superiority  to  Earthly  Ties.  13.  Mas- 
ter, &LC.—q.d.,  'Great  Pi-eacher  of  righteous- 
ness, help;  there  is  need  of  Thee  in  this  ra- 
pacious world;  here  am  I  the  victuu  of 
injustice,  and  that  from  my  o\vn  brother. 
^vho  withholds  from  me  my  rightful  share  of 
the  inheritance  tiiat  has  fallen  to  us.'  In 
this  most  inopportune  intrusion  upon  the 
solemnities  of  our  Lord's  teaching,  there  is 
a  mixture  of  the  absurd  and  the  irreverent, 
the  one  however  occasioning  the  other.  The 
man  had  not  the  least  idea  that  his  case  was 
not  of  as  urgent  a  nature,  and  as  worthy  the 
attention  of  our  Lord,  as  any  thing  else  He 
could  deal  with.  14.  Man,  &.C.— Contrast  this 
style  of  address  with  "my  friends,"  v.  4.  Who, 
&c.— a  question  literally  repudiating  the 
ofllce  which  Moses  assumed.  (Ex.  2. 14.)  The 
influence  ofrehgious  teachers  in  the  external 
relations  of  life  lias  ever  been  immense,  when 
only  tlie  indirect  effect  of  their  teaching;  but 
whenever  they  intermeddle  directly  vMh 
secular  and  political  matters,  the  spell  of  that 
influence  is  broken.  15.  unto  them— the  multi- 
tude around  Him,  v.  1.  of  covetoasness.  The 
best  copies  have  "  all,"  i.e.,  "  every  kind  of  co- 
vetousness;"  because  as  this  was  one  of  the 
more  plausible  forms  of  it,  so  He  would 
strike  at  once  at  the  root  of  the  eviL  a 
man's  Ufe,  &c.— a  singularly  weighty  maxim, 
and  not  less  so  because  its  meaning  and  its 
truth  are  equally  evident.  16-19.  a  certain 
man.  &c. — ^Why  is  this  man  called  a  "  loolv" 
(1.)  Because  he  deemed  a  life  of  secure  and 
abundant  earthly  enjoyment  the  summit  of 
human  felicity.  (2.)  Becau.se,  possessing  the 
means  of  this,  through  prosiierity  in  his  call- 
ing, he  flattered  himself  that  he  had  a  long 
lease  of  such  enjoyment,  and  nothing  to  do 
but  give  himseK  up  to  it.  Nothing  else  is 
laid  to  his  charge.  20,  21.  this  night,  &c.— 
This  sudden  cutting  short  ot  his  career  is 
designed  to  express  not  only  the  foUy  of 
building  securely  upon  the  future,  but  of 
throwing  one's  whole  soul  into  what  may  at 
any  moment  be  gone.  "  His  soid  being  re- 
quired of  him  "  is  put  in  opposition  to  his 
own  treatment  of  it,  "  I  will  say  to  my  soid. 
Soul,"  &c.  whose  shall  those  things  be,  <tc. — cf. 
Ps.  39. 6,  "  He  heapeth  up  riches  and  knmceth 
not  who  shall  gather  them. "  so  is  he,  &c. — 
Such  is  a  picture  of  his  folly  here,  and  of  its 
awful  issue,  is  not  rich,  (fee— lives  to  amass 
and  enjoy  riches  which  terminate  on  self,  but 
as  to  the  riches  of  God's  favour,  which  is  life, 
(Ps.  30.  5,)  of  "precious"  faith  (2  Pe.  1. 1;  Ja. 
2.  5,)  of  good  works,  (1  Ti.  6.  18,)  of  wisdom 
which  is  better  than  rubies  (Pr.  8.  il)— lives 
and  dies  a  beggar!  22-31.— See  on  M.  6. 25-33. 
25,  26.  which  of  you,  &c.— '  Corroding  solici- 
tude will  not  bring  you  the  least  of  the  things 
ye  fret  about,  though  it  may  double  the  e-m 
of  wanting  them.  Ajid  if  not  the  least,  why 
vex  yourselves  about  things  of  more  conse 
quence.'  of  doubtful,  (fcc— '  unsettled '  mind 
put  off  your  balance.  32.  little  flock,  &c.— How 
sublime  and  touching  a  contrast  between  this 
tender  and  pitying  appellation,  "  Little  floclc" 


simpUcity.  8,  9.  confess  .  .  .  deny,  &c.  The  j  |in  the  original  a  double  diminutive,  which 
point  lies  in  doing  it  "  before  men,"  because  |  m  German  can  be  expressed,  but  not  in 
onehas  to  doit  "despising  the  s/ifMne."  But  j  English  —  and  the  "  good  pleasure  "  of 
when  done,  the  Lord  holds  himself  bound  to  the  Father  to  give  them  the  Kingdom:  the 
repay  it  in  kind  by  confessing  such  "  before  one  recalling  the  insignificance  and  helpless- 
the  angels  of  God."   For  the  rest,  see  on  ch.  j  uess  of  that  then  literal  handful  of  disciples. 


UiiheXieving  hypocrites  reproved. 


LUKE,  xm. 


CJtrist  heaJeth,  a  deformed-woman. 


Bhall  begin  to  beat  the  meu-sen-ants  and 
maidens,  and  to  eat  and  di'iuk,  and  to  be 
drunken ; 

46  The  lord  of  that  servant  will  come  in  a 
day  when  helooketh  not  for  Aim  and  at  an 
hour  when  he  is  not  aware,  and  will  3  cut 
bim  in  sunder,  and  will  appoint  him  his 
portion  with  the  unbelievers. 

47  And  /that  servant,  which  knew  his 
lord's  will,  and  prepared  not  himself, 
neither  did  according  to  his  will,  shall  be 
beaten  with  many  stripes. 

48  But"  he  that  knew  not,  and  did  commit 
things  worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be  beaten 
with  few  stripes.  For  unto  whomsoever 
mtich  is  given,  of  him  shall  be  much  re- 
quired; and  to  whom  men  have  committed 
much,  of  him  they  will  ask  the  more. 

49  IT  1  am  come  to  send  fire  on  the 
earth;  and  what  \sill  I,  if  it  be  already 
kindled? 

60  But  f^  I  have  a  baptism  to  be  baptised 
with ;  and  how  am  I  *  straitened  till  it  be 
accomplished! 

51  Suppose  » ye  that  T  am  come  to  give 
peace  on  eartn?  1  tell  you,  I^ay;  >but 
rather  di%dsion: 

52  For  *from  henceforth  there  shall  be 
five  in  one  house  di\1ded,  three  against  two, 
and  two  against  three. 

53  The  father  shall  be  divided  against 
the  son,  and  the  son  against  the  father- 
the  mother  against  the  daughter,  and 
the  daughter  against  the  mother;  the 
mother-in-law  against  her  daughter-in- 
law,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  her 
mother-in-law. 

51  IT  And  he  said  also  to  the  people. 
When  '  ye  see  a  cloud  rise  out  of  the  west, 
straightway  ye  say,  There  cometh  a  shower 
and  so  it  is. 

55  And  when  ye  see  "*  the  south  wind 
blow,  ye  say,  Tnere  will  be  heat;  and  it 
Cometh  to  pass. 

66  Ye  "  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face 
of  the  sky  and  of  the  eartli ;  but  how  is  it 
that  ye  do  not  discern  "  this  time? 

67  Yea,  and  why  even  of  yom'selves  judge 
ye  not  what  is  right? 

68  f  When  P  thou  goest  with  thine  adver- 
sary to  the  magistrate,  «  as  thou  art  in  the 
way,  give  diligence  that  thou  mayest  be 
delivered  from  him;  lest  he  hale  thee  to 
the  judge,  and  the  judge  deliver  thee  to 
the  officer,  and  the  officer  cast  thee  into 
prison. 

69 1  tell  thee,  thou  shalt  not  depart  thence, 
till  thou  hast  paid  the  very  last  •■  mite. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
1  Christ  preacheth  repetiUmce  by  the   calamity 

upon  the  OaliUans  and  others.     6  The  fruitless 

Jig  tree  cursed.  1 1  He  heaieth  the  crooked  tvotnan. 

18  Jfarable  of  the  grain  of  mtistard  seed,  and  of 

leaven.     'M  The  strait  gate. 
^HERE  were  present  at  that  season  some 
that  told  him  of  "the  Galileans,  whose 
blood  rilate  had  mingled  with  their  sacri- 
fices. 

2  And  Jesus  answering  said  nnto  them. 
Suppose  6  ye  that  these  Galileans  were 
sinners  above  all  the  Galileans,  because 
they  suflered  such  things? 

3  1  tell  you,  Nay:  but,  except  ye  repent, 
ye  shall  all  likewise  perish. 

4  Or  those  eighteen,  upon  whom  the  tower 
in  Siloam  fell,  and  slew  them,  think  ye 
that  tliey  were  i  simiers  above  all  men  thut 
dwelt  in  Jerusalem? 

67 


CHAP.  12. 

3  Or,  cut 
him  off. 
Mat.  21.51. 

/  Nu.  15.  30. 

D«u.  26.  2. 

John  9.  41. 

John  15.22. 

Acts  17  »'. 

Jam.  4.  17. 
ff  Lev.  6.17. 

1  Ti.  1.  liJ. 
h  JIat.  20.22. 

Mark  10. 

B8. 

4  Or, 
pained. 

i  Mat.  10.  34. 


J  fliic. 
Johl 


John  9.  18. 

John  10.19. 
*  Mat.  10.36. 
I  Mat.  10.  2. 
»»  Job  37. 17. 
n  1  Cor.  I. 

19-27. 
0  ch.  19. 

43-44. 

Gal.  4.  4. 
p  Pro.  25.  8. 

Mat.  5.  25. 
q  Pa.  32.  6. 

Is.  55.  6. 

Heb.  3. 

7-15. 
r  Mark  12. 

42. 

aXbea.l.S. 


CHAP.  13. 

a  Acts  6.  37. 
b  Acta  '2Si.  i. 


ch.  11.  4. 
e  £ze.  18.  30. 
d  Is.  5.  2. 

Mat,  21.19. 
e  Kom.  2.4,5. 

2  Pet.  3.  9. 
/Ex.  32.  11. 

Joel  2.  17. 

Heb.  7.  25. 
g  Mar.  16.18. 

Acta  9.  17. 
A  Rom.  10. 2. 
i  Ex.  20.  9. 
;■  Mat.  12.10. 

Mark  3.  2. 

ch.  6.  7. 

ch.  14.  3. 
*  ch.  14.  5. 

1  ch.  19.  9. 
m  Mat.13.31. 

Mark*. 

30. 
»  Mat  13.33. 
0  Mat.  9.  35. 

Mark  6.  6. 

2  Strive  as 
in  agony. 
Mat.  7.  13. 

P  John  7.  34. 
John  8.  21 
John  13. 


33. 

Bo.  9.  31. 

Ho.  10.  2,3. 
5  Ps.  32.  6. 

Is  66  6 
r  Mat.  25.10. 
»  ch.  e.  46. 
t  Mat.  7.  23. 
U  lit.  1,  Iti. 


5  I  tell  you.  Nay:  but,  except  "ye  repent, 
ye  shall  all  likewise  perish. 

6  H  He  spake  also  this  parable ;  <*  A  certain 
man  had  a  fig  tree  planted  in  his  vineyard: 
and  he  came  and  sought  fruit  thereon,  and 
found  none. 

7  Then  said  he  unto  the  dresser  of  his 
vineyard.  Behold,  these  *  three  years  1  come 
seeking  fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  and  find 
none:  cut  it  down;  why  cumbereth  it  the 
ground? 

8  And  he  answering  said  unto  him.  Lord, 
let /it  alone  this  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig 
about  it,  and  dung  it: 

9  And  if  it  bear  fruit,  tveU;  and  if  not, 
then  after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it  down. 

10  H  And  he  was  teaching  iu  one  of  the 
synagogues  on  the  sabbath. 

11  And,  behold,  there  was  a  woman  which 
had  a  spirit  of  infirmity  eighteen  years,  and 
was  bowed  together,  and  could  in  no  wise 
lift  up  herself. 

12  And  when  Jesus  saw  her,  he  called  Tier 
to  him,  and  said  unto  her.  Woman,  thou 
art  loosed  from  thine  infirmity. 

13  And  ^  he  laid  his  hands  on  her:  and 
immediately  she  was  made  straight,  and 
gloiified  God. 

14  And  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue  an- 
swered  '•with  indignation,  because  that 
J  esus  had  healed  on  the  sabbath  day,  and 
said  unto  the  people, '  There  are  six  days 
in  which  men  oui,'lit  to  work:  in  them 
therefore  come  and  be  healed,  and  i  not  on 
the  sabbath  day. 

15  The  Lord  then  answered  him,  and 
said,  77iOit  hypocrite,  *  doth  not  each  one 
of  you  on  the  sabbath  loose  his  ox  or  his 
ass  from  the  stall,  and  lead  him  away  to 
wateiing? 

16  And  ought  not  this  woman,  « being  a 
daughter  of  Abraham,  whom  Satan  hath 
bound,  lo,  these  eighteen  years,  be  loosed 
from  this  bond  on  the  sabbath  day? 

17  And  when  he  had  said  these  things,  all 
his  adversaries  were  ashamed:  and  all  the 
people  rejoiced  for  all  the  glorious  things 
that  were  done  by  him. 

18  V  Then  "'  said  he.  Unto  what  is  the 
kingdom  of  God  like?  and  whereunto  shall 
1  resemble  it? 

19  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which 
a  man  took,  and  cast  into  his  garden;  and 
it  grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree;  and  the 
fowls  of  the  air  lodged  in  the  branches  of 
it. 

20  IT  And  again  he  said,  Whereunto  shall 
I  liken  the  kingdom  of  God? 

21  It  is  like  leaven,  which  a  woman  took 
and  hid  in  three  "  measures  of  meal,  till 
the  whole  was  leavened. 

22  And  "  he  went  through  the  cities  and 
villages,  teaching  and  jomneying  toward 
J  eiTisalem. 

23  H  Then  said  one  nnto  him.  Lord,  are 
there  few  that  be  saved?  And  he  said  unto 
them, 

24  2  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate: 
for  Pmany,  1  say  unto  you,  will  seek  to 
enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able. 

25  When  «  once  the  Master  of  the  house 
is  risen  up,  and  *"  hath  shut  to  the  door, 
and  ye  bt-Lin  to  stand  without,  and  to 
knock  at  tlie  door,  saying,  *Lord,  Lori 
open  unto  us;  and  he  shall  answer  and 
say  unto  you,  *L  know  you  not  whence 
ye  are: 

20  Then  shall  ye  begin  to  say,  **  We  hare 


Superiority  to  Earthly  Ties. 


LUKE,  Xm.  Not  Discerning  the  Signs  of  the  Times. 


the  ether  holding  up  to  their  view  the  eter- 
nal love  that  encircled  them,  the  everlasting 
amis  that  were  imderneath  them,  and  the 
high  inheritance  awaiting  them!— "the  king- 
domf  '  grand  word ;  then  why  not  "  bread," 
V.  31.'  [liENG.J  WeU  midit  He  say,  "  Fear 
not!"  33,  34.  sell,  &c.— This  is  but  a  more 
vivid  expression  of  M.  6,  19-21,  see  note 
there).  35-40.  loins  girded— to  fasten  up  the 
long  outer  garment,  always  done  before 
travel  and  work  (2  Ki.  4.  29 ;  A.  12.  8.).  The 
meaning  is.  Be  in  readiness,  lights,  k,c.—^ee 
on  M,  25.  1.  return  from  the  wedding— not 
come  to  it,  as  the  parable  of  the  Virgins. 
Both  have  their  spiritual  significance;  but 
preparedness  for  Christ's  coming  is  the  pro- 
minent idea,  gird  himself,  &c.— '  a  promi.se 
the  most  august  of  all:  Thus  wiU  the  Bride- 
groom entertain  his  friends  [nay,  servants] 
on  the  solemn  Nuptial  Day.'  [Beng.J 
second  .  . .  third  watch— To  find  them  ready 
to  receive  Him  at  any  hour  of  day  or  night, 
when  one  might  least  of  all  expect  Him,  is 
peculiarly  blessed.  A  servant  may  be 
tr'ily  faithful,  even  though  taken  so  far 
unawares  that  he  has  not  everj^thing  in  stick 
order  and  readiness  for  his  master  s  return 
as  he  thinks  is  due  to  him,  and  both  could 
and  would  have  had  if  he  had  had  notice  of 
the  time  of  his  coming,  and  so  may  not  be 
willing  to  open  to  him  "  immediately  "  but 
fly  to  preparation,  and  let  his  ma.ster  knock 
again  ere  he  admit  him,  and  even  then  not 
v:ith  full  joy.  A  too  common  case  this  with 
Cliristians.  But  if  the  servant  have  himselt 
and  all  under  his  charge  in  such  a  state  that 
at  any  hour  when  his  master  knocks,  he  can 
open  to  him  "immediately,"  and  hail  his 
return"— that  is  the  most  enviable  "  blessed" 
servant  of  all.  41-48.  to  us  or  to  all?— us  the 
Twelve,  or  all  this  vast  audience?  Who  then, 
(fee— answering  the  question  indirectly  by 
another  question,  from  which  they  were  left 
to  gather  what  it  would  be:— 'To  you  cer- 
tainly in  the  first  instance,  representing  the 
"  stewards"  of  the  "  household"  I  am  about 
to  collect,  but  generally  to  all  "  servants"  in 
My  house.'  faitliful  and  vrisa— Fidelity  is  the 
first  requisite  in  a  servant,  wisdom,  (discre- 
tion, and  judgment  in  the  exercise  of  his  func- 
tions) the  next,  steward— house-steward, 
whose  it  was  to  distribute  to  the  servants  their 
allotted  portion  of  food,  shall  make  — Mill 
deem  fit  to  be  made,  make  him  ruler  over  all  he 
hath— will  advance  him  to  the  higliest  post, 
referring  to  the  world  to  come.  (See  M.  25. 
21.  23.)  begin  to  beat,  &c.— in  the  confidence 
that  his  Lord's  return  will  not  be  speedy, 
throws  oil"  the  servant  and  plays  the  master, 
maltreating  those  faithful  servants  who 
refuse  to  join  him,  seizing  on  and  revelUng 
in  the  fulness  of  his  master's  board;  intend- 
mg,  when  he  has  got  his  fill,  to  resume  the 
mask  ol  fidelity  ere  his  master  appear,  cut 
him  in  sunder— a  punishment  not  unknown 
in  the  East;  cf.  He.  11.  37,  "  Sawn  asunder" 
1  Sa.  15.  33 ;  Da.  2.  6.  the  unbelievers  — '  the 
unfaithful,'  those  unwortliy  of  trust;  M.  24. 
51  "the  hypocrites"— talsely  calling  them- 
selves "  servants."  krew  iiot-^.e.,  knew  but 
yaiiiaUy;  for  some  knowledge  is  pre-supposed 
both  in  the  name  "  senant"  of  Christ,  and 
his  being  liable  to  punishment  at  all.  many 
..few  stripes— degrees  of  Suture  punishment 
proportioned  to  the  knowledge  sinned 
against.  Even  heathens  are  not  without 
knowledge  enough  for  luture  judgment:  but 
67 


the  reference  here  is  not  to  such.  It  is  a 
solemn  truth,  and  though  general,  like  all 
other  revelations  of  the  future  world,  dis- 
closes a  tangible  and  momentous  principle 
in  its  awards.  49-53.  to  send—'  to  cast.'  fire 
— '  the  higher  spiritual  element  of  life  which 
Jesus  came  to  introduce  into  this  earth,  (cf. 
M.  3.  11,)  with  reference  to  its  mighty  effects 
in  quickening  all  that  is  akin  to  it  and  de- 
stroying all  that  is  opposed.  To  cause  this 
element  of  life  to  take  up  its  abode  on  earth, 
and  wholly  to  pervade  human  hearts  with 
its  warmth,  was  the  lofty  destiny  of  the  Re- 
deemer.' [Olsh.;  soCal.,  Stier.Alf.,  &c.] 
what  will  I,  &c.— an  obscure  expression,  ut- 
tered under  deep  and  half-smothered  emo- 
tion. In  its  general  import  all  are  agreed; 
but  the  nearest  to  the  precise  meaning  seems 
to  be,  '  And  what  should  I  have  to  desire  if 
it  were  once  already  kindled?'  [Bexg,  and 
Bloomf.]  But.. a  baptism,  &c.— clearly.  His 
own  bloody  baptism,  first  to  take  place. 
how  straitened— not,  '  how  do  I  long  for  its 
accomplishment,'  as  many  understand  it, 
thus  making  it  but  a  repetition  of  the  former 
verse;  but '  what  a  pressure  of  spirit  is  upon 
me.'  till  it  be  accomplished— till  it  be  over. 
Before  a  promiscuous  audience,  such  obscure 
language  was  fit  on  a  theme  like  tliis;  but  O 
what  surges  of  mysterious  emotion  in  the 
\-iew  of  what  was  now  so  near  at  hand  does 
it  reveal!  peace?  nay— the  reverse  of  peace, 
in  the  fird  instance.  See  on  M.  10.  34-36. 
Ihe  connection  of  aU  this  with  the  foregoing 
warnings  about  Hyiiocrisy,  Covetousness, 
and  Watchfulness,  is  deeply  solemn:  '  My 
conflict  hastens  apace ;  mine  over,  yours 
begins;  and  then,  let  the  servants  tread  in 
their  Master's  steps,  uttering  their  testimony 
entire  and  fearless,  neither  loving  nor  dread- 
ing the  world,  anticipating  awful  wrenches 
of  the  dearest  ties  in  life,  but  looking  for- 
ward, as  I  do,  to  the  comiiletion  of  their 
testimony,  when,  reaching  the  haven  after 
the  temiiest,  they  shall  enter  into  the  joy  of 
their  Lord.' 

64-69.  Not  Discerning  the  Signs  of 
THE  Time.  54.  to  the  people-' the  multi- 
tude, '  a  word  of  special  warning  to  the 
thoughtless  crowd,  before  dismissing  them. 
See  on  M.  16.  2,  3.  how  not  discern,  fcc— 
unable  to  perceive  what  a  critical  period 
that  was  for  the  Jewish  Church,  why  not  of 
yourselves,  &c.— They  might  say.  To  do  this 
requires  more  knowledge  of  Scripture  and 
Providence  than  we  possess;  but  He  sends 
them  to  their  own  conscience,  as  enough  to 
show  them  who  He  was,  and  -svin  them  to 
immediate  discipleship.  when  thou  goest, 
&c.— See  on  M.  5.  25,  26.  Tlie  urgency  of  the 
case  with  them,  and  the  necessity, Jor  tlieir  oun 
safety,  of  immediate  decision,  was  the  object 
of  these  striking  words. 

CHAPl'ER  xm. 

Ver.  1-9.  The  Lesson,  '  Eepent-  or 
Perish,'  Suggested  by  Two  Becent 
Incidents,  and  Illustrated  by  the 
Parable  of  the  Barren  Fig-Tree.  1-3 
Galileans— possibly  the  followers  of  Judas  of 
Galilee  who,  some  20  years  belore  this, 
taught  that  Jews  should  not  pay  tribute  to 
the  Bomans,  and  of  whom  we  learn,  from  A. 
5.  37,  that  he  drew  after  him  a  multitude  of 
followers  who  on  his  being  slain  were  all 
dispersed.  About  th  s  time  that  party  v  ould 
be  at  its  height,  and  if  Pilate  can  peri  tLig 
cletachinent  of  them  to  be  waylaid  and  put 


Christ  lamentefh  over  Jerusalem. 


LUKE,  XIV. 


Parable  of  the  grea^  supper. 


eaten  and  drunk  in  thy  presence,  and  thou 
hast  taught  in  our  streets. 

27  But  "  he  shall  say,  i  tell  you,  I  know 
you  not  whence  ye  are:  ""depart  from  me, 
all  t/e  workers  of  iniquity. 

'28  There  *  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing 
of  teeth,  y  when  ye  shall  see  Abraham,  and 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets,  in 
the  kingdom  of  God,  and  you  yourselves 
thrust  out. 

ay  And "  they  shall  come  from  the  east, 
and  from  the  west,  and  from  the  north, 
audrrom  the  south,  and  shall  sit  down  in 
the  kingdom  of  God. 

30  And,  "  behold,  there  are  last  which 
Bhall  be  first,  and  there  are  liist  which 
Bhidl  be  last. 

31  H  The  same  day  there  came  certain  of 
the  Pharisees,  saying  unto  him.  Get  thee 
oat,  jtnd  depart  hence;  for  Herod  will  kill 
thee. 

3-'  And  he  said  unto  them.  Go  ye,  and  tell 
that  fox,  Behold,  I  cast  out  devils,  and  1 
do  cures  to-day  and  to-morrow,  and  the 
third  dai/  *  1  shall  be  perfected. 
33  Nevertheless  I  must  walk  to-day,  and 
to-morrow,  and  the  dai/  follo^ring:  for  it 
cannot  be  that  a  prophet  perish  out  of 
Jerusalem. 

31  O  '^Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  which  killest 
the  prophets,  and  stonest  them  that  are 
sent  unto  thee;  how  often  would  1  have 
gathered  thy  children  together,  as  a  hen 
doth  gather  her  brood  under  her  wings, 
and  ye  would  not! 

35  Beheld,  <i  your  house  is  left  unto  you 
desolate:  and  verily  1  say  unto  you.  Ye 
shall '  not  see  me,  until  the  time  come  when 
je  shall  say,  / Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
8  Christ  healeth  the  driipsy  on  the  sabbath  day: 
7  teacheth  humility!  12  to  feed  the  poor,  id 
The  j/arable  of  the  great  suyper.  25  What  is 
required  of  those  who  would  be  Christ's  disci- 
ples. 

X  ND  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  went  into  the 
■*^  house  of  one  of  the  chief  Pharisees  to 
eat  bread  on  the  sabbath  day,  that  they 
watched  him. 

2  And,  behold,  there  was  a  certain  man 
before  him  which  had  the  dropsy. 

3  And  Jesus  answeiing  spake  unto  the 
lawyers  and  Pharisees,  saying,  "  Is  it  law- 
ful to  heal  on  the  sabbath  day  ? 

4  And  they  held  theu-  peace.  And  he  took 
him,  and  healed  liim,  and  let  him  go: 

6  And  answered  them,  saying,  *  Which  of 
you  shall  have  an  ass  or  an  ox  fallen  into  a 
pit,  and  will  not  straightway  pull  him  out 
on  the  sabbath  day  ^ 

6  And  they  could  not  answer  him  again  to 
these  things. 

7  11  And  he  put  forth  a  parable  to  those 
which  were  bidden,  when  he  marked  how 
tliey  chose  out  the  chief  rooms;  saying  unto 
them, 

8  \V  hen  thou  art  bidden  of  any  man  to  a 
wedding,  sit  not  down  in  the  h  ghest  room; 
lest  a  more  houoiuable  man  tlian  thou  be 
bidden  of  him; 

y  And  he  that  bade  thee  and  him  come 
and  say  to  thee.  Give  this  man  place;  and 
thuu  begin  with  shame  to  take  the  lowest 
room. 

10  But  *  when  thou  art  bidden,  go  and  sit 

down  in  the  lowest  room;  that  when  he 

that  bade  thee  cometh,  he  may  say  unto 

W 


I    A.  D.   33. 


CHAP.  13. 

»  Mat.  7.  23. 

Mat.  25  41. 
«-  yt.  6.  B. 

Mat.25.41. 
»  Mat.  8.  12. 

Mat.  13.42 

Mat.  24.51. 
V  Mat.  8.  11. 
s  Gen.  28.  M. 
a  Mat  19  »J. 

Mat.  20.16. 

Mar.  10  31. 

4  Heb.  2. 10. 

Heb.  5.  8. 
c  Mat.  23. 37. 
d  Lev.  20.31, 

32. 

Ps.  C9. 25. 

I».  1.  7. 

Dan.  9.  27. 

Mic.  3.  12. 

Lu.  21.  24. 
«  ProT.  1. 

24-30. 

John  S.  21, 

24. 
/Ps   118.26. 

Mat.  21.9. 

M.ir.  11.10. 

ch.  19.  38. 

John  12.13. 


CHAP.  14. 

»  Mat.  12.10. 
•>  £i.  23  5. 

Deu.  22. 4. 

ch.  13.  16. 
•  Pro.  16.  33. 


Pro. 


Pro.  25.6,7. 
d  Job  22.  29. 
Pa.  18.  37. 
Pro.  29.  23. 
Mat.  23  12. 
eh.  18. 14. 
Jam.  4.  C. 

1  Pet.  5.  6. 
e  Neh.  8.  10, 

Job  31. 14- 

20. 

Pro.  3  9,28. 
/  Dan.  12.  2. 

iVUt.  25. 30. 

John  5.  29. 

Acu  24.15. 
g  Roy.  19.  9. 
?.  Mat.  22.  2. 
i  Pro.  9.  2,  5. 
)  Mat.  6.  24. 

Mat.  13.  22. 

Lu.  8.  14. 

John  5.  40. 

ITi.  6.9,10. 

2  Ti.  4.  10. 
k  Mat.  28.18, 

19. 

Acts  13.40. 
I  Pro.  1  20. 

2  Cor.  5.20. 
•»  Mat.  8.  11, 
12. 

>Ut.21.43. 
Mat.  :;2.  8. 
Acts  13. 
46. 

Heb.  3  19. 

»»  Deu.  13.  0. 

Deu.  33  9. 

Mat.  10.37. 

o  Kom.  9. 13. 

P  Rev.  12  U. 

8  ilat.  16.24. 

Wirk  8.  34. 

eh.  9.  23. 

r  Pro.  24.  27. 

1  Pot.  2.  6. 


thee.  Friend,  go  up  higher:  then  shalt  thoa 
have  worship  in  the  presence  of  them  that 
sit  at  meat  with  thee. 

11  For  <*  whosoever  exalteth  himself  shall 
be  abased;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself 
shall  be  exalted. 

12  H  Then  said  he  also  to  him  that  bade 
him.  When  thou  mukest  a  diimer  or  a 
supper,  call  not  thy  friends,  nor  thy 
brethren,  neither  thy  kinsmen,  nor  t/iy 
rich  neighbours;  lest  they  also  bid  thee 
again,  and  a  recompence  be  made  thee. 

13  But  when  thou  makest  a  feast, '  call 
the  poor,  the  maimed,  the  lame,  the 
blind: 

14  And  thou  shalt  be  blessed;  for  they 
cannot  recompense  thee:  for  thou  shalt  bo 
recompensed  at  /the  resurrection  of  the 
just. 

15  H  And  when  one  of  them  that  sat  at 
meat  with  him  heard  these  things,  he  said 
unto  him,  "Blessed  is  he  that  shall  eat 
bread  in  the  kingdom  of  God, 

16  Then  f^  said  he  unto  him,  A  certain  man 
made  a  gi-eat  supper,  and  bade  many: 

17  And  •  sent  his  sen'ant  at  supper  time 
to  say  to  them  that  were  bidden.  Come; 
for  all  things  are  now  ready. 

18  And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to 
make  excuse.  The  tu-st  said  unto  hhii,  i  I 
have  bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  I  must 
needs  go  and  see  it:  I  pray  thee  have  mo 
excused. 

19  And  another  said,  I  have  bought  five 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  1  go  to  prove  them:  I 
pray  thee  have  me  excused. 

20  And  another  said,  I  have  married  a 
wife,  and  therefore  i  cannot  come. 

21  So  that  servant  came,  and  showed  his 
lord  these  things.  Then  the  master  of  the 
house,  being  angry,  said  to  his  servant. 
Go  *  out  quickly  into  the  streets  and  lanes 
of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither  the  poor, 
and  the  manned,  and  the  halt,  ana  the 
blind. 

22  And  the  servant  said.  Lord,  it  is  done 
as  thou  hast  commanded,  and  yet  there  is 
room. 

23  And  the  lord  said  unto  the  servant,  Go 
out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  *  and 
compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house 
may  be  tilled. 

24  For  1  say  unto  you,  "*  that  none  of  those 
men  which  were  bidden  shall  taste  of  my 
supper. 

25  H  And  there  went  great  multitudes 
with  him:  and  he  turned,  and  said  unto 
them, 

2G  if  "any  man  come  to  me,  "and  hate 
not  his  lather,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and 
children,  and  brethren,  and  sisters,  ^  yea, 
and  his  own  life  also,  he  cannot  be  my 
disciple. 

27  And  'whosoever  doth  not  bear  his 
cross,  and  come  alter  me,  cannot  be  my 
disciple. 

28  For  ''which  of  you,  intending  to  build 
a  tower,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and  count- 
eth  the  cost,  whether  he  have  sujicienc  to 
finish  il? 

29  Lest  haply,  after  he  hath  laid  the 
foundation,  and  is  not  able  to  finish  it,  all 
that  behold  it  be'4n  to  mock  him, 

30  Saying,  This  man  began  to  build,  and 
was  not  able  to  finish. 

31  Or  what  king,  going  to  make  war 
against  another  king,  sitteth  not  down 
liist,  and  cousulteth  whether  he  be  able 


Woman  of  Infirmity  Healed. LUKE,  XIIL Miscellaneous  Teachings. 

to  death  as  tliev  were  offering  their  sacri- 1  in  consideration  of  the  sadness  an<FionR 
fices  at  one  of  the  festivals,  that  would  be  duration  of  her  sufferina;.  and  of  her  dionity 
"mingling  their  blood  with  their  sacrifices." ; notwithstanding,  as  an  heir  of  the  promise  « 
fdROT..  w.  <fc  w.,  but  doubted  by  De  W.  |  18-30.  IVIiscellaneous  Teachings  18-21. 
Met.,  AxF.,  &c.]  News  of  this  being  brought  mustard-seed  .  .  ,  leaven  — see  on  Mk.  4. 
to  our  Lord,  to  draw  out  His  views  of  such,  1 30-32.  The  parable  of  "  the  Leaven"  sets 
and  whether  it  was  not  a  judgment  of  forth  perhaps,  rather  the  inv-ard  growth 
Heaven,  He  simply  points  them  to  the  prac-lof  the  kingdom,  while  "the  Mustard  seed" 
tical  view  of  the  matter ;  '  These  men  are  seems  to  point  chieflv  to  the  outward.  It 
not  signal  examples  of  divine  vengeance,  as  being  a  woman's  work  to  knead,  it  seems 
ye  suppose;  but  every  impenitent  sinner— ?/e  a  refinement  to  say  that  "the  woman" 
yourselves,  except  ye  repent— shall  be  like '  here  represents  the  Chu  rch,  as  the  instru- 
monuments  of  the  jud^ent  of  Heaven,  and  ment  of  depositing  the  leaven.     Nor  does 


in  a  more  awful  sense?    Tlie  reference  here 
to  the  impending  destruction  of  Jerusalem 


it  yield  much  satisfaction  to  imderstand  the 
'three  measures  of  meal"  of  that  three- 


is  far  from  exhausting  our  Lord's  weighty  fold  division  of  our  nature  into  "  spirit,  souL 
^      '"     "'  "'  "        -•-'----"        ^-    and  body,"  alluded  to  in  1  Thess.  5  23.,  or  of 


words ;  they  manifestly  point  to  a  "  perdi 
tion"  of  a  more  awful  kind— future,  personal, 
remediless  4,  5.  tower  in  Siloam— probably 
one  of  the  towers  of  the  city  wall,  near  the 
3ool  of  Siloam.  Of  its  fall  nothing  is  known, 


the  threefold  partition  of  the  world  among 
the  three  sons  of  Noah,  iGe.  10.  32,)  as  some 
do.  It  yields  more  real  satisfaction  to  see  in 
this  brief  parable  just  the  ali-penctrating  and. 


1-9.  fig-tree— Israel,  as  the  visible  witness  for  |  assimilating  quality  of  the  Gospel,  by  virtue 
God  in  the  world,  but  generally,  all  within  of  which  it  will  yet  mould  all  institutions 
the  pale  of  the  visible  Church  of  God ;  a  and  tribes  of  men,  and  exhibit  over  the 


familiar  figure,  cf.  Is.  5.  1-7 ;  J.  15.  1-8 ;  &<;, 
vineyard  — a  spot  selected  for  its  fertility 


whole  earth   one  "KLingdom  of   our  Lord 
and_of_His  Christ."  .  (See  on  Eev.  11.  15.) 


separated  from  the  surrounding  fields,  and;  23.  Lord,  &c.— one  of  those  curious  questions 
cultivated  with  special  care,  with  a  view  j  by  talking  of  which  some  flatter  themselves 
Bolely  to  fruU.  came  and  sought  fruit— a  heart  i  they  are  religious,  said  unto  them— the  mul- 
turned  to  God;  the  fruits  of  righteousness,"  i  titude 


cf.  M.  21.  33,  34,  and  Is. 


.  taking  no  notice  of  the  man  or  his 
2,  "He  looked  that  •  question,  save  as  furnishing  the  occasion  of  a 


it  should  bring  forth  fruit:'  He  has  a  right  to  '  solemn  warning  not  to  trifle  with  so  mo- 
it,  and  will  require  it.  three  years— a  long  mentous  a  matter  as  "salvation."  strive- 
enough  trial  for  a  fig-tree,  and  so  denoting  The  word  signifies  to  *  contend'  as  for  the 
probably  .just  a  suffinent  period  of  culture  mastery,  to  '  struggle,'  expressive  of  the  diM- 
lOT  spiritual  fruit.  The  supposed  allusion  culty  of  being  saved,  as  if  one  would  have  to 
to  the  duration  of  our  Lord's  ministry  force  his  ivay  in.  strait  gate— another  figure 
is  precarious,  cut  it  down— indignant  Ian-  of  the  same.  See  note  on  M.  7.  13,  14.  for 
guage.  cumbereth— not  only  doing  no  good,  many  will  seek— desire,  i.e.  with  a  mere  wish 
but  wasting  ground.  He  answering,  cfec.  or  slothful  endeavour,  and  shall  not  be  able — 
—  Chri.st,  as  intercessor,  loath  to  see  it  because  it  must  be  made  a  life-and-cleath 
cut  down  so  long  as  there  was  any  hope,' struggle.  Master  of  the  house  is  risen  up  and. 
see  V.  34.  dig,  &c.— loosen  the  earth  about  hath  shut  to  the  door— awfully  sublime  and 
it  and  enrich  it  with  manure ;  pointing  to  vivid  picture  1  At  present  He  is  represented 
changes  of  method  in  the  divine  treatment  j  as  in  a  sifiijifl' posture,  as  if  calmly  looking  on 
of  the  impenitent,  in  order  to  fresh  spiritual  to  see  who  will  "strive,"  while  entrance  is 
culture,  if  fruit,  well— Genuine  repentance,  I  practicable,  and  whe  wiU  merely  "  seek  "  to 
however  late,  avails  to  save.  fch.  23.  42,  43.)  |  enter  in.  But  this  is  to  have  an  end,  by  the 
after  that,  k,c.  —  The  final  perdition  of  such  great  Master  of  the  house  Himself  rising  and 
as,  after  the  utmost  limits  of  reasonable  ,  shutting  the  door,  after  which  there  will  be 
forbearance,  are  found  fruitless,  will  be  pre- j  710  admittance.  Lord,  Lord — emphatic  re- 
eminently  and  confessedly  just.  (Pr.  1.  24-31;  i  duplication,  expressive  of  the  earnestness 


Ez.  24.  13.) 
10-17.  Woman  of  Eighteem  Years' Infir- 


I  noiu  felt,  but  too  late.    See  on  M.  7.  21,  2i'. 
26,  27.  See  on  the  similar  passage,  M.  7.  22, 


MiTY  Healed  on  the  Sabbath.  11.  spirit !  23.  eaten  and  dnmk,  &c,— we  have  sat  with 
of  infirmity  — cf.  v.  17,  "whom  S'atoK  hath  jTliee  at  the  same  table,  taught  in  our  streets 
bound."  From  this  it  is  probable,  though  —Do  we  not  remember  listening  in  our  own 
not  certain,  tliat  her  protracted  infirmity  streets  to  Tliy  teaching  ?  Surely  ire  are  not  to 
•was  the  effect  of  some  milder  form  of  j  be  denied  admittance  ?  But  he  shall  say,  (fee. 
possessioyi:  yet  she  was  "a  daughter  of,No  nearness  of  externa),  communion  with 
A.braham,,"  in  the   same    gracious    ie \%q,\  Christ  vnll  avail  at  the  great  day,  in  place  of 


no  doubt,  as  Zaccheus,  after  his  conversion 
was  'la  son  of  Abraham."    'ch.  19.  9.)    12,  13. 


tliat ''  holiness  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord."  _  Observe  the  style  which  Christ 


said,  Woman . .  and  laid— both  at  once.  14.  with  '■  intimates  that  He  will  then  assume,  that  of 
indignation— not  so  much  at  the  sabbath- 1  absolute  Disposer  of  men's  eternal  destinies, 
violation  as  at  the  glorification  of  Chri-st.  |  and  contrast  it  with  His  "  despised  and  re- 
ef. M.  21.  15.    [Trexch.]    said  to  the  i)eopie —  jected"  condition  at  .that  time.    28,  29.  See 

and  de- 


•  not  daring  directly  to  find  faidt  with  the  ,  on  M.  8.  li,  12. 

Lord,  he  seeks  circuitou.sly  to  reach  Him  j     31-35.  Message  to  Herod. 


through  the  people,  who  were  more  under  part  hence— and 'go  for  wai  J,' ims/ioji.  He  was 


his  influence,  and  whom   he  feared  le 
(Trench.]     16.  the  Lord— .see  on  ch.  10.  1 
hypocrite !— How  "  the  faithful  and  true  Wit 


on  his  way  out  of  Perea.  £.  of  Jordan,  and 
in  Herod's  dominions,  "journeying  towards 
J  eru.salem"_  i;.  22.).   Haunted  by  guilty  fears. 


ces.s"  tears  oft'  the  mask.?  which  men  v>-ear !  |  probably,  Herod  wanted  to  get  rid  of  Him. 
his  ox.  (fee-  see  on  M.  12.  9-13;  and  ch  6.  9.  i , see  on  Mk.  6.  I4,j  and  seems,  from  our  Lord's 
onght  not,  <fcc.  —  How  gloriously  the  Lord !  answer,  to  have  sent  these  Pharisees,  under 
vindicates  the  superior  claims  of  this  woman,  \  pretence  of  a  friendly  hint,  to  persuade  Him 


Parahlc  of  tJie  lost  sheep. 


LUKE.  XV.  XVI. 


ParahU  of  the  proAiqal  son. 


vi'Mh.  ten  thousand  to  meet  him  that  cum- 
etli  against  him  with  twent)-  thousaud^ 

32  Or  else,  while  the  other  is  yet  a  great 
way  otf,  he  sendeth  *an  ambassage,  and 
desireth  conditions  of  peace. 

2ii  So  lilcewise,  whosoever '  he  be  of  you 
that  forsaiieth  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  can- 
not be  mv  disciiile. 

31  IT  Salt  "is  Kood:  but  if  the  salt  have 
lost  his  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be  sea- 
Eoned? 

35  It  is  neither  fit  for  the  land,  nor  yet  for 
the  dunghill ;  hut  men  cast  it  out.  lie  that 
hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

1  Th«  parable  of  the  lost  sheep:  8  of  the  piece  of 

silver:  Ho/  the  prodigal  son. 

T^HEN  »  drew  near  unto  him  all  the  pub- 
-*-  licans  and  >>  sinners  for  to  hear  him. 

2  And  the  I'harisees  and  scribes  murmur- 
ed, saying,  Tiiis   man   receiveth  sinners, 
and "  eateth  with  them. 
"  3  IT  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  them, 
saying, 

4  Wliat  rfman  of  you,  ha^^ng  an  hundred 
sheep,  if  he  'li>se  one  of  them,  doth  not 
leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilderness, 
and  go  after  tnat  which  is  lost,  until  he 
find  it? 

'  5  And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it 
on  his  shoulders,  rejoicing. 

6  And  when  he  cometh  home,  he  calleth 
together  his  friends  and  neiglibours,  saving 
nrito  them,  Rejoice  with  me;  for  I  liave 
found  my  sheep /which  was  lost. 

7  I  say  unto  you,  That  likewise  joy  shall 
be  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repent- 
eth,  "  more  than  over  ninety  and  nine  just 
persons,  which  need  no  repentance. 

8  H  Either  what  woman,  having  ten 
1  pieces  of  silver,  if  she  lose  one  piece,  doth 
not  light  a  candle,  .and  sweep  the  house, 
and  seek  diligently  till  she  find  it? 

y  And  when  she  hath  found  it,  she  calleth 
her  friends  and  her  neighbours  togetlier. 
Baying,  Rejoice  with  me;  for  1  have  found 
the  piece  which  I  had  lost. 

10  Likewise,  1  say  unto  you.  There  is  joy 
in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over 
one  sinner  that  repenttth. 

11 H  And  he  said,  A  certain  man  had  two 
sons: 

12  And  the  younger  of  them  said  to  his 
father.  Father,  give  me  the  portion  of 
goods  that  falleth  lo  nie.  And  ne  divided 
unto  them  ''  his  living. 

13  And  not  many  days  after,  the  younger 
Bon  gathered  all  together,  and  took  his 
journey  into  «  a  far  country,  and  there 
wasted  his  substance  with  riotous  living. 

14  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there  arose 
a  mighty  famine  in  that  laud;  and  he  be- 
gan to  be  in  want. 

15  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  a 
citizen  of  that  country ;  and  he  sent  him 
into  his  fields  to  feed  swine. 

IG  And  he  would  fain  have  filled  his  belly 
with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat:  and 
no  man  gave  unto  him. 

17  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said. 
How  many  hired  8ei-\ant8  of  my  father's 
have  bread  enough,  and  to  spare,  and  I 
perish  with  hunger! 

18  1  will  3  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and 
will  say  unto  him.  Father,  *  I  have  sinned 
against  Heaven,  and  before  thee, 

I  li)  And  am  iio  more  worthy  to  be  called 
50 


CHAP.  14. 

»  Job  22.  21. 
Mat.  5.  25. 


CHAP.  15. 
a  Mat.  9.  10. 
b  Eze.  18.  23. 

1  Ti.  1. 15. 
c  Acts  11.  3. 

Gal  2.  12. 
d  M.^t.  18.12. 
«  1  Pet.  2.25. 
/ 1  Pet.  2.10, 

26. 
g  Pro.  3.0. 12. 

ch.  5.  32. 
1   Drachma, 

here  trao- 

elated  a 


AUt.'l8.« 
ft  ALtr.  VIA 
t  Itora.  1.  £ 


Gal.  3.  27, 

Rev.  19.  8, 

0  Eph.  2.  1. 

£ph   5. 14, 


Col. 


13. 


P  l3.  35.  10. 
9  Acts  11  2. 
r  Mat.  20. 

11,  12. 
«  Ko.15.9-12. 


CHAP.  16. 

0  Ps.  24.  1. 

6  Mat.  12.36. 
Rom. 14.12, 

1  The  word 
Batua  in 
the 
original 


nine  gal- 

£ze  45.10, 
11,  14. 
The  word 
here  iuter- 
preteJ  a 
Mua.<uro, 

containeib 
jpottto. 


thy  son:  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hhed  ser- 
vants. 

'.'0  And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father. 
But '  when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  oti'.  his 
father  saw  him,  and  had  compHssion,  and 
ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  ki.ssed  him. 

21  And  the  son  said  unto  him.  Father,  I 
have  sinned  against  Heaven,  '"and  in  thy 
siglit,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called 
thy  son. 

22  But  the  father  said  to  his  aen'ants. 
Bring  forth  "  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on 
him ;  and  put  a  ling  on  his  hand,  and  shoes 
on  his  feet: 

23  And  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf,  and 
kill  it;  and  let  us  eat,  and  be  men-y: 

24  For  "  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive 
again;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And 
they  P  began  to  be  merry. 

25  Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field:  and 
as  he  came  and  drew  nigh  to  the  house,  ho 
heard  music  and  dancing. 

20  And  he  called  one  of  the  servants,  and 
asked  what  these  things  meant. 

27  And  he  said  unto  him.  Thy  brother  is 
come ;  and  th  v  father  hath  killed  the  latted 
calf,  because  he  hath  received  hun  safe  and 
sound. 

28  And  '  he  was  angry,  and  would  not  go 
in:  therefore  came  his  father  out,  and  en- 
treated him. 

2y  And  he  answering  said  to  his  father, 
Lo,  these  many  years  do  1  serve  thee,  nei- 
ther transgressed  1  at  any  time  thy  com- 
mandment; and  '■yet  thou  never  gavest 
me  a  kid,  that  I  might  make  merry  with 
my  friends: 

30  But  as  soon  as  this  thy  son  was  come, 
which  hath  devoured  thy  living  witli  har- 
lots, thou  hast  killed  for  him  the  fatted 
calf. 

31  And  He  said  unto  him.  Son,  thou  art 
ever  with  me,  and  all  that  1  have  is  thine. 

32  It  *was  meet  that  we  should  make 
merry  and  be  glad :  lor  this  thy  brother 
was  dead,  and  is  alive  again;  and  was  lost, 
and  is  fomid. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

1  The  parable  of  the  unjuxt  steward.  14  Chriit 
reprmieth  the  hi/pocrisi/  of  the  covetmts  I'hari- 
sees. 19  The  rich  glittton,  and  Ijuiarus  t/H 
beggar. 

A  ND  he  said  also  unto  his  disciples,  There 
-"-  was  a  certain  "  rich  man  which  had  a 
steward ;  and  the  same  was  accused  mito 
him  that  he  had  wasted  his  goods. 

2  And  he  called  him,  and  said  unto  mm. 
How  is  it  that  I  hear  this  of  theei  give  an 
account  f>  of  thy  stewardship;  lor  thou 
mavest  be  no  longer  steward. 

3  then  the  steward  said  withm  himself. 
What  shall  I  do*  for  my  lord  taketh  away 
from  me  the  stewai-dship:  I  cannot  dig;  to 
beg  1  am  ashamed. 

4  I  am  resolved  what  to  do.  that,  when  I 
am  put  out  of  the  stewardship,  they  may 
receive  me  into  their  houses. 

5  So  he  called  every  one  of  his  lord  s 
debtors  unto  him,  and  s.oid  unto  the  first. 
How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  lord? 

6  And  he  said.  An  hundred  i  measures  of 
oil.  And  he  said  unto  him.  Take  thy  bill, 
and  sit  down  quickly,  and  \n'\te  fifty. 

7  Then  siiid  he  to  another.  And  how  much 
owest  thou?     And  he  said.  An  hundred 

2  measures  of  wheat.  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Take  thy  bill,  and  write  fourscore. 

8  And  the  ford  commended  the  unjust 


Healing  of  a  Dropsiml  Man.  LUKK,  XTV.  Teachings  at  a  Sabbath  Feasi^ 

that  the  sooner  lie  got  beyond  nero<Vs  juris-  j  [BExa.]   The  meaninc:,  however,  is  that  no 
diction  the  better  il  would  be  for  His  own !  e^rcm-s-e  of  pnnripln  is  involved   in   it,  a3 


safety.     Our   Lord    saw  through   both    .     

them,  and  sends  the  cunning  niler  a  message  (M.  5. 46, 47.1  call  the  poor 
couched  in  dij^Tiified  and  befitting  irony. ;  calls 


of  i  selfishness  itself  will  sultice  to  promiit  to  it. 
Such  God  himself 


[BENfj.l     blessed— acting  from 


that  fox— that  crafty,  cruel  enemy  of  God's  disinterested,  god-like  compassion  for  the 
innocent  servants.     Behold  I  cast  out  devils  Wretched.     IS^i.  when  one.. heard.. he  said 


and  I 
wiles 


lo  cures— <y.r7.  'Plot  on  and  ply  thy  Blessed,  ttc— As  our  Lord's  words  seemed  to 
I  also  have  my  plans;  my  works  of  hold  forth  the  future  "  recompen.=e "'  under 


mercy  are  ueanng  completion,  but  some  yet  the  idea  of  a  great  Feast,  the  thought  pas.ses 
remain ;  I  have  work  for  to-day  and  to-  through  this  man's  mind,  how  blessed  they 
morrow  too.  and  the  third  day;  by  that  j  would  be  who  should  be  honoured  to  sit 
time  I  shall  be  where  his  junsdiction  reaches  !  down  to  it.  Our  Lord's  reply  is  in  substance 
not;  the  guilt  of  my  blood  shall  not  lie  at  his  |  this:  '  The  great  Feast  is  prepared  already; 
door:  that  dark  deed  is  reserved  for  others.'  the  invitations  are  issued,  but  declined;  the 
He  does  not  say,  I  preach  the  Gospel— that  feast,  notwithstanding,  shall  not  want  abun- 
would  have  made  little  impression  upon  dance  of  guests;  but  not  one  of  its  present 
Herod— in  the  light  of  the  rmrcifid  character  contemners— who  shall  yet  come  to  sue  for 
of  C:hrist's  adioits  the  malice  of  Herod's  arlmission- shall  be  allowed  to  taste  of  it. 
snares  is  laid  bare.  [Bexg.1  to-day,  to-  This  shows  what  was  lacking  in  the  seem- 
morrow,  the  third  day— remarkable  language  ingly  pious  exc'amation  of  this  man.  It  was 
exi)ressive  of  siiccessive  step^  of  His  work  Balaam's,  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
yet  remaining,  the  calm  detibcrateness  with  i  righteous,  and  let  my  ?a4  end  be  like  his," 
which  He  meant  to  go  through  with  them, 
one  after  another,  to  the  last,  unmoved  by 
Herod's  threat,  yet  the  rapid  march  with  |  w 

which  they  were   now   hastening   to   com-  p:  ^  „  „ 

pletion.  (cf.  J.  22. 18.)  I  shall  be  perfected—'  1 1  bade  vaaxij—historiccalv,  the  .Jews;  (.see  on  M. 
finish  my  course.'  *  I  attain  completion.'  1 22.  3  ;)  generally,  those  within  the  pale  of 
It  cannot  be  that  a  prophet,  Scc—q.  d. "  It  icoiild  professed  discipleship,  supB-^r  time . .  all  nov? 
never  do  that.'  dtc— awful  severity  of  satire  ready  —  pointing  undoubtedly  to  the  now 
this  upon  "the  bloody  city"!  'He  seeks  to  I  ripening  preparations  for  the  great  Gospel 
"kiU  me"  does  he?  Ah  !  I  must  be  out  of  i call.  See  on  M.  22.  4.  all  began  to  make  ex- 
Herod's  .iurisdiction  for  that.  Go  tell  him  I  --,---  r„. 
neither  fly  from  him  nor  fear  him.  but  Jeru- 
•salem  is  the  prophet's  slaughter-house.' 
34,  35,  0  Jerusalem,  Arc— vSee  on  M.  23.  37  39. 
CH.\PTER  XIV. 
Ver  1-24.  Healing  of  a  Propsicai, 
Man,  and  Manifold  Tea(:hin<;.s  at  a 
Sabbath  Feast.  2.  Man  before  him— Not 
one  of  the  company,  since  this  was  appa- 
rently before  tlie  guests  sat  do\vn,  and  pro- 
bably the  man  came  in  hope  of  a  cure, 
though  not  expressly  soliciting  it.  [Dk  W.] 
on  M.  12.  11,  12.     7-11.  a  parable  — 


Nu.  23. 10.)  without  any  anxiety  about  Uving 
his  life;  fondly  wishing  that  all  were  right 
with  him  at  hist,  while  all  heedless  of  the 

recious  present,    a  great  supper- cf.  Is.  25.  6. 


cuse— cf.  M.  22.  5.  Three  excuses,  given  as 
specimens  of  the  rest,  answer  to  "  the  care 
of  this  world"  {v.  18.  ,  "  the  dcccitfvlness  of 
riches"  {v.  19.),  and  "the  pleasures  oftldslife" 
iv.  20.),  which  "  cholie  the  word"  (M.  13. 22,  and 
L.  8.  14 .  Each  differs  from  the  other,  and 
each  has  its  own  plausibility,  but  all  come  to 
tlie  same  result:  We  have  other  things  to 
attend  to,  more  pre3.sing.just  now.'  Nobody 
is  represented  as  .saying,  I  vnll  not  conre;  nay. 
all  the  answers  imply  that  but  for  certain 
things  they  wo^d.d  come,  and  when  these  are 
out  of  the  way  they  ')>-iU  come.  So  it  certainly 


•showing  that  His  design  was  not  so  much  to  ,  is  in  the  case  intended,  for  the  last  words 
inciUcate  mere  politeness  or  good  manners;  clearly  imply  that  the  refusers  will  one  day 
as  underneath  this  to  teach  something  deeper  liecome  petitioiurs.  came  and  told,  &c.— say- 
{v.  11.)  chief  rooms— '  principal  seats,' in  the  iing  as  in  Is.  53. 1.  '  It  is  the  part  of  ministers 
middle  part  of  the  couch  on  which  they  re-  to  report  to  the  Lord  in  their  prayers  the 
clined  at  meals,  esteemed  the  most  honour-  compliance    or  refusal   of  their  hearers. ' 


m  one  sense  a  gracious 
low  sincere  he  was  in  issuing 
(Ez.  33.  11.)     But  it  is  the 
light  put  upon  him,  the  sense  of  which  is 
not  a  intended  to  be  marked  by  this  word,    streets 


able.— wedding— and  seating  thy.self  at  the  [Beng.3 

wedding-/ea.s^.   Our  Lord  avoids  the  appear-  word,  showin; 

ance  of  personality  by  this  delicate  allusion  ,  his  invitations. 

to  a  different  kind  of  entertainment  than 

thisof  his  host.— IBeng.]    the  lowest 

lov:er  merely.    [Beng.1    with  shame—'  To  be  and  lanes— /it-storicaf/y.  those  within  the  same 

lowest  is  oaly  ignominious  to  him  who  affects  pale  of  "  the  city  of  God  as  the  former  class, 

the  highest.      [Beng.]     friend  — said  to  the  but  the  despised  and  outcasts  of  the  nation, 

modest  guest  only,  not  the  proud  one,  v.  9.  the    "publicans   and  sinners,"  [Trench]; 

[Beng.1    worship  —  honour.     The  whole  of  generally,  all  similar  classes,  usually  over- 

this  is  but  a  reproduction  of  Pr.  25.  6,  7.   But  looked  in  the  first  provision  for  supplying 


it  was  reserved  for  the  matchless  Teacher  to  the  means  of  grace"  to  a  community,  half 

_plv\ 
of  the  minutest  features  of  social  life,  such  ,  in   every  sense  miserable.      yet    there    is 


utter  articulately,  and  apply  to  th^  regulation  heathen  in  the  midst  of  revealed 


inity, 
light, 


and 


great  lavs  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  an  that  of  room— irh plying  that  these  classes  had  em 
V.  11,  "  Whosoever,"  &c.— couching  them  braced  the  invitation,  M.  21.  32;  Mk.  12,  37, 
in  a  chaste  simplicity  and  proverbial  terse-  last  cl.;  J.  7.  48,  49;)  and  beautifully  express- 
ness of  style  which  makes  them  "  apples  of  ing  the  longing  that  should  fill  the  hearts  of 
gold  in  a  setting  of  .silver;"  See  on  ch.  18.  14.  ministers  to  see  their  Master's  table  filled. 
12-14.  call  not  thy  friends  — Jesus  certainly  highways  and  hedees— outside  the  city  alto- 
did  not  mean  us  to  dispense  with  the  duties  gether:  historically,  the  heathen,  sunk  in  the 
of  ordinary  fellowship,  but,  remitting  these  lowest  depths  of  spiritual  wretchedness,  as 
to  their  proper  place,  inculcates  what  is  being  beyond  the  pale  of  all  that  is  revealed 
better.  [Beng.]  lest..a  recompense  be  given  and  saving,  "  without  Christ,  strangers  from 
thee  -a  fear  tho  world  is  not  afllicted  with. .  the  covenant  of  promise    ■      •  - 

69 


havins  iio  hope. 


Address  to  Great  Multitudes. 


liUKE,  XV.       PulMcansaiul  Sinners  Welcomed, 


and  without  God  in  the  world:"  (Eph.  2.  12;) 
generally,  all  such  still.  Thus,  this  parable 
vropheticallu  contemplates  the  extension  of 
the  kingdom  of  God  to  the  whole  world;  and 
spiritually,  directs  the  Gospel  invitations  to 
be  carried  to  the  lowest  strata,  and  be 
brought  in  contact  with  the  outermost 
circles,  of  human  society,  compel  them  to 
come  in— not  as  if  they  would  make  the  "  ex- 
cuses" of  the  first  class,  but  because  it  would 
be  hard  to  get  them  over  two  difficulties: 
(1.;  '  V/e  are  not  fit  company  for  such  a  feast,' 
(2.)  'We  have  no  proper  dress  and  are  ill  in 
order  for  such  a  presence.'  How  fitly  does 
this  represent  the  difficulties  and  fears  of  the 
sincere!  How  is  this  met?  '  Take  no  excuse 
—make  them  come  as  they  are— bring  them 
along  with  you.'  What  a  directory  for  min- 
isters of  Chi-ist !  that  my  house  may  be  filled— 
*  Grace  no  more  than  nature  will  endure  a 
vacuum.'  PjEng.]  I  say  unto  you,  that  none 
— OurLordhere  appears  to  throw  off  the  veil 
of  the  parable,  and  proclaim  tlie  Supper  His 
Own,  intimating  that  when  transferred  and 
transformed  into  its  final  glorious  form,  and 
the  refusers  themselves  would  give  all  for 
another  opportunity.  He  will  not  allow  one 
of  them  to  taste  of  it.  (n.b.  This  pai-able 
must  not  be  confounded  with  that  of  Pr.  1. 
24-33,  The  Marringe  Supper,  M.  22.  2-14.) 

25-35.  ADDBES3  TO  GREAT  MULTI- 
TUDES Travelling  with  Him.  25.  great 
multitudes  with  htm— on  his  final  journey  to 
Jerusalem.  The  "great  multitudes"  were 
doubtless  people  going  to  the  Passover,  who 
moved  along  in  clusters,  (oh.  2.  44,)  and  who 
on  this  occasion  falling  in  with  our  Lord  had 
formed  themselves  into  one  mass  about  Him. 
26,  27.  If  any  man,  &c.— See  on  M.  10.  34-36; 
and  jNIk.  8.  34,  35.  28-33.  which  of  you,  &c.— 
Common  sense  teaches  men  not  to  begin  any 
costly  work  witliout  first  seeing  that  they 
have  wherewithal  to  finii^h.  And  he  who 
docs  otherwise  exposes  himself  to  general 
ridicule.  Nor  will  any  wise  potentate  en- 
ter on  a  war  with  any  hostile  power  with- 
out first  seeing  to  it  that,  despite  formidable 
jdds  (two  to  one),  he  be  able  to  stand  his 
iTound,  and  if  he  has  no  hope  of  this,  he  wiU 
feel  that  nothing  remains  for  him  but  to 
make  the  best  terms  he  can.  '"Even  so," 
says  our  Lord,  '  in  the  warfare  you  will  each 
have  to  wage  as  my  disciples,  despise  not 
your  enemy's  strength,  for  the  odds  are  all 
against  you;  and  you  had  better  see  to  it 
that,  despite  every  disadvantage,  you  still 
have  wherewithal  to  hold  out  and  win  the 
day,  or  else  not  begin  at  aU  and  make  the 
best  you  can  in  such  awful  circumstances.' 
In  this  simple  sense  of  the  parable— Stier., 
Alf.,  &c.,  go  wide  of  the  mark  here  in  making 
the  enemy  to  be  God,  because  of  the  "  condi- 
tions of  peace,"  v.  32, —two  things  are  taught: 
(1.)  Better  not  begin  (Re.  3.  15.)  than  begin 
and  not  finish.  (2.)  Though  the  contest  for 
salvation  be  on  our  part  an  awfully  unequal 
one,  the  human  will,  in  the  exercise  of  that 
"  faith  which  overcometh  the  world,"  (1  J.  5. 
4.)  and  nerved  by  power  from  above,  which 
'  out  of  weatnessmakes  it  strong,  (He.  11.  34; 
1  Pe.  1.  5,)  becomes  heroical  and  will  come  off 
*'  more  than  conqueror. "  But  without  al- 
solute  surrender  of  self,  the  contest  is  hcipe- 
less,  V.  33.  34,  35.  salt,  &o.  See  on  M.  6. 
13-16;  and  Mk.  9.  .50. 

CHAPTER.  XV. 
Ver.  1-32.  Publicans  and  Sinners  Wel- 
60^ 


coMED  BY  Christ- Three  Parables  to 
Explain  This.  1.  drew  near  all  the  publi- 
cans and  sinners,  &c.— drawn  around  Him  hy 
the  extraordinary  adajitation  of  His  teach- 
ing to  iheir  case,  who,  till  He  ai^peared— at 
least  His  forerunner— might  well  say,  "No 
man  careth  for  my  soul."  2.  murmured,  say- 
ing &c.— took  it  ill,  were  scandalized  at  Him, 
and  insinuated  on  the  principle  that  a  man 
is  known  by  the  company  he  keeps  that  He 
must  have  some  secret  sympathy  with  their 
character.  But  O  what  a  truth  of  unspeak- 
able preciousness  do  their  lips,  as  on  other 
occasions,  unconsciously  utter!  Now  follow 
three  parables  representing  the  sinner  (I.) 
in  his  stupidity;  (2.)  as  all-unconscious  of  his 
lost  condition;  (3.)  knov;ingly  and  vnllingly 
estrariged  from  God.  IBeng.]  The  first  two 
set  forth  the  seeking  love  of  God;  the  last. 
His  receiving  love.  [Trench.]  3-7.  I.  The 
Lost  Sheep— occurring  again,  M.  18. 12-14; 
but  there  to  show  how  precious  one  of  his 
sheep  is  to  the  good  Shepherd,  here,  to  show 
tliat  the  shepherd,  though  it  stray  never  so 
widely,  will  seek  it  out,  and  when  he  hath 
found  will  rejoice  over  it.  leave  the  ninety- 
nine— bend  all  liis  attention  and  care,  as  it 
were,  to  the  one  object  of  recovering  the  lost 
sheep  ;  not  saying,  '  'Tis  but  one;  let  it  go; 
enough  remain. '  go  after .  .  .  until,  (fcc— 
pointing  to  all  the  diversified  means  which 
God  sets  in  operation  for  recovering  sinners. 
6.  Rejoice  with  me,  &c. — The  principle  here  is, 
that  one  feels  exuberant  joy  to  be  almost  too 
much  for  liimself  to  bear  alone,  and  is  posi- 
tively relieved  by  having  others  to  share  it 
with  him.  (See  on  v.  10.)  ninety-nine  just, 
needing  no  repentance  —  not  angels,  whose 
place  in  these  parables  is  very  difi"erent  from 
this;  but  those  represented  by  the  prodigaVs 
well-behaved  hroflier,  who  have  "  served  their 
Father  many  years "  and  not  at  any  time 
transgressed  His  commandment"  (in  the 
outrageous  sense  of  the  prodigal.^  See  on 
V.  29,  31.  In  other  words,  such  as  have  groivn 
up  from  childhood  in  the  fear  of  God  and  as 
the  sheep  of  His  pasture.  Our  Lord  does 
not  say  "the  Pharisees  and  scribes"  were 
such;  but  as  there  was  undoubtedly  such  a 
class,  while  "the  publicans  and  sinners'* 
M'ere  confessedly  the  strayed  sheep  and  the 
prodigal  children.  He  leaves  them  to  fill  up 
the  place  of  the  other  class,  ■;/  they  coukl. 
8-10.  II.  The  Lost  Coin,  sweep  the  house— 
'not  done  v/ithout  dust  on  man's  part.'  [Beng.] 
Likewise— on  the  same  principle,  joy,  (fee- 
Note  carefully  the  language  here:— not  "joy 
on  the  part,'  but  "joy  in  the  presence  of  the 
angels  of  God."  True  to  the  idea  ot  the  par- 
ables. The  Great  Shepherd,  The  Great  Owner 
Himself,  is  He  whose  the  joypropcrij  is  over 
His  own  recovered  property;  but  so  vast  and 
exuberant  is  it,  (Ze.  3.  17,)  that  as  if  He 
could  not  keep  it  to  Himself,  He"cal]eth 
His  friends  and  neighbours  together"— His 
whole  celestial  family  —  "  saying.  Rejoice 
with  Me,  for  I  have  found  My  sheep— My 
piece"  &c.  In  this  sublime  sense  it  is  "joy," 
before  "  or  in  the  presence  of  the  angels;"  they 
only  '  catch  the  flying  joy,'  sharing  it  with 
Him  !  The  application  of  this  to  the  recei)- 
tion  of  those  publicans  and  sinners  that 
stood  around  our  Lord  is  grand  in  the  ex- 
treme: 'Ye  turn  from  these  lost  ones  with 
disdain,  and  because  I  do  not  the  same,  ya 
murmur  at  it:  but  a  very  different  leeling  is 
cherished  iu  heaven:  There,  the  recovery  of 


Parable  of  iM 


LUKE.  XV. 


Prodigal  Son. 


even  one  such  outcast  is  watched  with  inte 

rest  and  hail'^d  with  joy;  nor  are  they  left  to 

come  home  of  themselves  or  perish ;  for  lo 

even  now  the  great  iShepherd  is  going  after 

His  lost  sheep,  and  the  Owner  is  making 

diligent  search  for  the  lost  property;  and  He 

is  finding  it  too.  and  bringing  it  back  with  joy, 

and  all  heaven  is  full  of  it.'    (Let  the  reader 

mark  what  sublime  claims  for  Himself  our 

Lord  covertly  puts  in  here— as  if  in  Him  they 

beheld,  all  unknown  to  themselves,  nothing 

less  than   Heaven   in   the   habiliments   of 

earth,  the  Great  bhepherd  above,  clothed  in 

a  garment  of  flesh,  come  "to  seek  and  to 

save  that  which  was  lost!")    11-32.    HI.  The 

Prodigal   Son.     12.   the  your.ger— as   the 

more  thoughtless,  said,  &c.— weary  of  re- 
straint, panting  for  independence,  unable 

longer  to  abide  the  check  of  a  father's  eye. 

TJt,is  is  man,  impatient  of  divine  control, 

desiring  to  be  independent  of  God,  seeking 

to  be  his  own  master;  that  '  sin  of  sins,  in 

which  all  subsequent  sins  are  included  as  in 

their  germ,  for  they  are  but  the  unfolding  of 

this  one.'    [Tkench.]    he  divided,  &c.— Thus 

*  God,  when  His  service  no  longer  appears  a 

perfect  freedom,  and  man  promises  himself 

something  far  better  elsewnere,  allows  him 

to  make  the  trial:  and  he  shall  discover,  if 

need  be  by  saddest  proof,  that  to  depart 
from  Him  is  not  to  throw  off  the  yoke,  but 
to  exchange  a  light  yoke  for  a  heavy  one.  and 
one  gracious  Master  for  a  thousand  imperi- 
ous tyrants  am  I  lords.'  [Trench.]  13.  not  many 

days— intoxicated  with  his  new-found  resour- 
ces, and  eager  for  the  luxury  of  using  them  at 
will,  a  far  country— beyond  all  danger  of  inter- 
ference from  home,  wasted,  (tc— So  long  as 
it  lasted,  the  inward  monitor  (Is.  55. 2,)  would 
be  silenced.  (Is,  9.  10;  .'.7.  10;  Am.  4.  c-10.) 
riotous  livine— ^.  30,  "  with  harlots."  Ah  ! 
but  this  reaclies  farther  than  the  sensualist: 
for  '  in  the  deep  symbolical  language  of 
Scripture  fornication  is  the  standing  image 
of  idolatry;  they  are  in  fact  ever  spoken  of  as 
one  and  tlie  same  sin,  considered  now  in  its 
fleshly,  now  in  its  spiritual  aspect  (Je.  3.  ; 
Ez.  IC.  and  17.  .'  [Trench.]  14.  when  he  had 
spent  all.  .a  mighty  famine- a  mysterious  pro- 
vidence holding  back  the  famine  till  he  was 
in  circumstances  to  feel  it  in  all  its  rigour. 
Thus,  like  Jonah,  whom  the  storm  did  not 
overtake  till  on  the  mighty  deep  at  the  mercy  his  rags  ?  Yes. 
of  the  waves,  does  the  sinner  feel  as  it  "  the  j  wretchedness 

stars  in  their  courses  were  fighting  against  "in  heaven, "  is  this  Thy  portraiture?  It  is 
him.  (Ju.  5.  20.)  m  want— the  first  stage  of  I  even  so.  (Je.  31.  20.)  And  becau.se  it  is  so 
Lis  bitter  experience,  and  preparation  for  a  1 1  wonder  not  that  such  incomparable  teach- 
change.  15.  joined  himself,  6:c.— his  pride  [  ing  hath  made  the  world  new.  21.  Father  I 
not  yet  humbled,  unable  to  brook  the  shan.e  have  sinned,  (fcc— '  This  confession  is  uttered 
of  a  return,  to  feed  swine— Glad  to  keep  life  after  the  Jciss  of  reconcviation.'  (Ez.  16.  6i.) 
in  any  how,  behold  the  son  sunk  into  a  swine- 1  [Trench.]    22.  but  the  Father  said,  <fcc.— The 


turmng-pomt;  midnight  before  dawn  of  day 
2  Chr.  12.  8;  Je.  2.  10;  2  Chr.  33.  11-13.)  cama 
to  himself- Before,  he  had  been  "  beside  him- 
self'—Eccl.  9.  3)— in  what  sense  will  presently 
appear,  how  many  hired,  ic— AVhat  a  testi- 
mony to  the  nature  of  the  home  he  had  left' 
But  did  he  not  know  all  this  ere  he  departed 
and  every  day  of  his  voluntary  exile?  He  did, 
and  he  did  not.  His  heart  being  wholly 
estranged  from  home  and  steeped  in  selfish 
gratifications,  his  father's  house  never  came 
within  the  range  of  his  vi.sion,  or  but  as 
another  name  for  bondage  and  gloom.  Now 
empty,  desolate,  withered,  perishing,  home, 
with  all  its  peace,  plenty,  freedom,  dignity, 
starts  into  view,  fills  all  his  visions  as  a  warm 
and  living  reality,  and  breaks  his  heart.    18. 

"  I  WILL  ABtSE  AND  GO  TO  MY  FATHER  ! " 

The  change  has  come  at  last,  and  what  a 
change!— couclied  in  terms  of  such  exquisite 
simplicity  and  power  as  if  expressly  tramed 
for  all  heart-broken  penitents.  Father,  Aic— 
Mark  the  term.  Though  "  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  his  son,"  the  prodigal  .sinner  is 
taught  to  claim  the  dcoradid  anddfji'ed,  but 
still  exiiting  relation.ship,  asking  not  to  be 
made  a  servant,  but  nmaimng  a  ion  to  be 
made  "as  a  servant  '  willing  to  take  the 
lowest  place  and  do  the  meanest  work.  Ah! 
and  is  it  come  to  this?  Once  it  was,  '  Any 
place  rather  than  home.'  Kow,  '0  that  home 
could  I  but  dare  to  hope  that  the  door  of  it 
would  not  be  closed  against  me,  how  gladly 
would  I  take  any  place  and  do  any  work, 
happy  only  to  be  there  at  all.'  Well,  ttiat  is 
conversio7i—no\hins  absolutely  new,  yet  all 
new ;  old  familiar  things  seen  in  a  new 
light  and  for  the  first  time  as  realities  of 
overwhelming  magnitude  and  power.  Hoiu 
tJtis  is  hroxight  ahont  the  varahle  says  not. 
(We  have  that  abundantly  elsewhere— Ph.  2. 
13,  <fec. )  Its  one  object  is  to  paint  the  mltome 
home  of  the  greatest  sinners,  when  no  matter 
lor  the  present  how,  they  *'  arise  and  go  to 
their  Father."  20.  a  great  way  off— O  yes, 
when  but  the  face  is  turned  homeward, 
though  as  yet  far.  far  away,  our  Father  re- 
cognises his  own  child  in  us.  and  bounds  to 
meet  us— not  saying.  Let  him  come  to  me 
and  sue  for  pardon  first,  but  himself  taking 
the  first  step,  fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed 
him— W  hat!  In  all  his  filth  ?  Yes.  In  aU 
In  all  his  haggard,  shattered 
Yes.    "  Our  lather  who  art 


herd,  among  the  J  ews,  on  account  of  the  pro-  son  has 
hibition  of  swine's  flesh,  emphatically  vile  !  because 


not  said  all  he  purposed,  not  so  much 
the  father's  demonstrations  had  re- 
He  w.'io  begins  by  using  the  world  as  a  ser-  kindled  the  filial,  and  .swallowed  up  all  .ser- 
•'ant,  to  minister  to  his  pleasure,  ends  by  \'ile,  feeling  [Trench,  <S:c.]  (see  on  the  word 
•reversing  the  relationship.  [Trench.]  16.  |  "  Father, "  v.  IS.i  but  because  the  father's 
weuld  fain  have  filled— rather,  '  was  fain  to  heart  is  made  to  appear  too  full  to  listen,  at 
fill,'  ate  greedily  of  the  only  food  he  could  that  moment,  to  more  in  this  strain,  the 
get.  the  husks—'  the  hulls  of  a  leguminous  best  robe— ct.  Ze.  3.  4,  5.  "  Take  away  the 
plant  which  in  the  East  is  the  food  of  cattle  filthy  garments  from  him  ;  behold  I  have 
and  swine,  and  often  the  nourishment  of  the  clothed  thee  with  change  of  raiment;  and 
poorest  in  times  of  distress.  [Stier.]  no  they  clothed  him  with  garments."  jie!  3  18- 
man  gave  him— not  this  food,  for  that  he  had.  Is  61.  10.)  a  ring -cf.  Ge.  41.  42;  Ja.  2.  2.' 
\)iit  anything  better.  (Je.  30.  14.)  This  was  shoes— slaves  M-ent  barefoot.  Thus,  we  have 
his  lowest  depth— perishing  unpitied,  alone  here  a  threefold  symbol  of  fretdom  and 
in  the  world,  and  ready  to  disapinar  from  hoiimir.  restored,  as  the  fruit  of  infert  re- 
ii  uumissedl  Uut  this  is  juat  the  blessed ,  co/tciiiafiojt,  23.  the  latled  calf— kept  for 
691 


Th^  rlcTi  man  and  Lazanis. 


LUKE,  XVIT. 


steward,  because  he  had  done  wisely:  for 
the  children  of  this  world  are  in  their  gener- 
ation wiser  than '  the  children  of  light. 
-9  And  I  say  unto  you,  ^  Make  to  yourselves 
friends  of  the  3  mammon  of  unrighteous- 
ness; that,  when  ye  fail,  they  may  receive 
you  mto  everlasting  habitations. 

10  He  *  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is 
least  is  faithful  also  in  much ;  and  he  that 
is  unjust  in  the  least  is  unjust  also  in 
much. 

11  If  therefore  ye  have  not  been  faithftd  in 
the  unrighteous  *  mammon,  who  will  com- 
mit to  your  trust  the /true  riches? 

12  And  if  ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  that 
which  is  another  man's,  who  shall  give  you 
that  which  is  your  own  ? 

13  No  "servant  can  sen'e  two  masters:  for 
either  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the 
other;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and 
despise  the  other.  Ye  cannot  serve  God 
and  mammon. 

14  !f  And  the  Pharisees  also,  '*  who  were 
covetous,  heard  all  these  things:  aud  they 
derided  him. 

15  And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  are  they 
which  'justify  yourselves  before  men;  but 
God  }  knoweth  your  hearts:  for  *  that  which 
is  highly  esteemed  among  men  is  abomina- 
tion m  the  sight  of  God. 

16  The  *  Law  and  the  Prophets  were  until 
John:  since  that  time  the  kingdom  of  God 
is  preached,  and  every  man  presseth  into 

17  And  "*  it  is  easier  for  heaven  and  earth 
to  pass,  than  one  tittle  of  the  Law  to  fail. 

18  Whosoever  "  putteth  away  his  wife,  and 
marrieth  another,  coinmitteth  adultery: 
and  whosoever  marrieth  her  that  is  put 
away  from  her  husband  committeth  adul- 
tery. 

19  V  There  was  a  certain  rich  man,  which 
was  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  and 
fared  sumptuously  every  day: 

20  And  there  was  a  certain  beggar  named 
Lazarus,  which  was  laid  at  his  gate,  "  lull 
of  sores, 

21  And  desiring  to  be  fed  with  the  crumbs 
which  fell  from  the  rich  man's  table:  more- 
over the  dogs  came  and  hcked  his  sores. 

22  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  beggar 
died,  and* was  can-ied  by  the  angels  nito 
Abraham's  'bosom:  the  rich  man  also 
died,  aud  was  buried; 

23  And  Ln  hell  he  lilted  up  his  eyes,  being 
in  torments,  and  seeth  Abraham  afar  olf, 
and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom. 

2i  And  he  cried  and  said.  Father  Abra- 
ham, have  mercy  on  me,  and  send  Jiazams, 
that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in 
water,  and  '"cool  my  tongue;  for  i  *ani 
tormented  in  this  tiame. 

25  But  Abraham  said.  Son,  'remember 
that  thou  in  thy  lifetime  receivedst  thy 
good  things,  and  likewise  Lazarus  evil 
things:  but  now  he  is  comforted,  aud  thou 
art  tormented. 

26  And  besides  all  this,  between  us  and 
you  there  is  "  a  great  gulf  fixed:  so  that 
they  which  would  pass  from  hence  to  you 
caiuiot;  neither  can  they  pass  to  us,  that 
would  come  from  thence. 

27  Then  he  said,  i  pray  thee  therefore, 
tather,  that  thou  wouldest  send  him  to  my 
lather  s  house: 

28  For  1  have  five  brethren;  that  he  may 
testify  unto  them,  lest  they  also  come  into 
this  place  of  torment. 


Of  offences  and  forgiveness. 


CHAP.  16. 

c  John  12. 35, 
Eph.  5  8. 
1  Thes.  5.5, 

d  r>.in.  4.  27. 
Mat.  6.  19, 
Mat.  19.21. 
ch.  11.  41, 
1  Ti,  6.  17. 

»  Mat.  25. 2l'. 

ch.  19.  17. 
4  Or,  riclies. 
/  Eph.  3.  8. 

Rav.  3.18. 
g  Mat.  6.  24 
h  Mat.  23  14. 
»  ch.  10.  29. 
}  Pa.  7.  9. 

Jer.  17.  10. 

Bev.  2,  23. 
*  I  Sa.  16.  7. 

Jam.  4.  4. 
J  Mat,  11.12. 
*»  Fs.  102. 
26,27. 


»  1  Cor.  7.10. 
0  Heb.  11,37, 
P  Heb.  1.  14 

Jam.  2.  5. 
q  Mat.  8. 11. 
r  ZcTh  14.12. 
«  Is.  06.  24. 

Mark  9.  44. 
t  Job  21.  13. 

ch.  6.  24. 
w  2  Thcs.l.g. 
V  Is.  8.  20. 

Is.  34.  16. 

John  5.  39, 

45. 

Acts  1521. 

Acts  17.11. 

2  Ti,  3.  16. 


il2. 


10. 


CHAP.  17. 

0  Mat.  18. 
6.7. 

Mark  9.42. 
1  Cor.  11. 
19. 

6  2 Thes,  1.6. 
c  Mat.  1S,15. 
d  Lev,  19  17. 

Pro.  17. 10. 

Jam.  5.  19 
«  1  Cor.  13.4. 

Col.  3.  12. 
/Mat.  17.20. 

Mat.  21.21. 

Mar.  9.  23. 

Mar.  11.23. 
g  ch.  12.  37. 
h  Job  22,  3. 

Job  35.  7. 

P».  16.  2. 

Kom.  3.  12. 

Ro.  11.35. 

1  Cor.  9.16. 

Phil.  11. 
i  Lu.  9.  51. 

John  4.  4. 
;•  Lev,  13.46. 
k  Lev.  13.  2. 

Lev.  14.  2. 

Mat.  8,  4. 

1  Ps.  103.  1. 
m  2  K.i.  17. 


John 


1.48. 


29  Abraham  saith  unto  him.  "  They  hava 
Moses  and  the  Prophets;  let  them  heal 
them.       ; 

30  And  he  said.  Nay,  father  Abraham' 
but  if  one  went  unto  them  from  the  dead, 
they  will  repent. 

31  And  he  said  unto  him.  If  they  hear  not 
Moses  and  the  Prophets, ""  neither  will  they 
be  persuaded  though  one  rose  from  the 
dead. 

CHAPTER  XYIL 

1  Christ  teacheth  to  avoid  occasions  of  offence,  3 

to  forgive  one  another.    6  The  power  of  faith. 

1 1  He  heuleth  ten  lepers,     'ii  Of  the  kingdom  of 

Ood,  and  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man,  etc. 

'PHEN  said  he  unto  the  disciples,  "  It  is 

"^  impossible  but  that  offences  will  come: 

but  *woe  unto  him  through  whom  they 

come! 

2  It  were  better  for  him  that  a  millstone 
were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  he  cast 
into  the  sea,  than  that  he  should  offend  one 
of  these  little  ones. 

3  H  Take  heed  to  yourselves:  '  If  thy 
brother  trespass  against  thee,  <*  rebuke  him; 
and  if  he  repent,  *  forgive  him. 

4  And  if  he  trespass  against  thee  seven 
times  in  a  day,  and  sevtn  times  in  a  day 
turn  again  to  thee,  saying,  1  repent ;  thou 
shalt  forgive  him. 

5  IT  And  the  apostles  said  unto  the  Lord, 
Increase  our  faith. 

6  And/ the  Lord  said.  If  ye  had  faith  as  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed,  ye  might  say  unto 
this  sycamine  tree,  Pe  thou  plucked  up  by 
the  root,  and  be  thou  planted  in  the  sea; 
and  it  siiould  obey  you. 

7  But  which  of  you,  having  a  servant 
plowing  or  feeding  cattle,  will  say  unto 
him  by  and  by,  when  he  is  come  from  the 
field.  Go  and  sit  down  to  meat? 

8  Aud  will  not  rather  say  unto  him.  Make 
ready  wherewith  1  may  sup,  and  gird  thy. 
self,  "and  serve  me,  till  I  have  eaten  and 
dimikeu;  aud  afterward  thou  shalt  eat  and 
diuik? 

y  Doth  he  thank  that  servant  because  he 
did  the  things  that  were  commanded  liimi 
1  trow  not. 

10  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done 
all  those  things  which  are  commanded  you, 
say.  We  are  i^  unprofitable  servants:  we 
have  done  that  whith  was  our  duty  to  do. 

11  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  «as  he  went  to 
Jerusalem,  that  he  passed  thi-ough  the 
midst  of  Samaria  and  Galilee. 

12  And  as  he  entered  into  a  certain  village, 
there  met  him  ten  men  that  were  lepers, 
which  >  stood  afar  oh': 

13  And  they  lifted  up  their  voices,  and 
said,  Jesus,  Master,  have  mercy  on  us. 

14  And  when  he  saw  them,  he  said  unto 
them,  *  Go  show  yom-selves  unto  the  priests. 
Aud  it  came  to  pass,  ihat,  as  they  went, 
they  were  cleansed. 

15  And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he 
was  healed,  turned  back,  and  with  a  loud 
voice '  glorified  God, 

16  And  fell  down  on  his  face  at  his  feet, 
giving  hhu  thanks:  and  he  was  "'  a  Sa- 
maritan. . ,  „, 

17  And  Jesus  answenng  said.  Were  there 
not  ten  cleansed?  but  where  are  the  nine! 

18  Tliere  are  not  found  that  returned  to 
give  glory  to  God,  save  this  stranger. 

19  And  "he  said  unto  him.  Arise,  go  thy 
way:  tliy  liiith  hath  made  thee  whole. 

20  il  And  when  he  was  demanded  of  the 


'  37ic  Prodigal  Son» 


LTJKE,  XVL 


T7ie  Uvjust  Steward. 


festive  occasions.  21.  my  son— now  twice  his 
son.  dead . . .  lost— to  me ;  to  himself— to  my 
service,  my  satisfaction;  to  his  own  dignity, 
peace,  profit,  alive  again . .  found— to  all  these, 
merry-  see  on  v.  10.  25.  in  the  field— engaged 
in  his  fauiefs  business:  cf.  20,  "  These  many 
years  do  I  serve  thee."  28.  came  his  father  out 
and  entreated  him—"  Like  as  a  father  pitieth 
his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that 
fear  Him."  (Ps.  103. 13.)  As  it  is  the  elder 
brother  who  now  errs,  so  it  is  the  same  pa- 
ternal compassion  which  had  fallen  on  the 
neck  of  the  younger  that  comes  forth  and 
pleads  with  the  elder.  29.  these  many  years 
..neither  transgressed  at  any  time,  &c.— The 
words  are  not  to  be  pressed  too  far.  He  is 
merely  contrasting  his  constancy  of  love  and 
service  with  the  conduct  of  his  brothers;  just 
as  Job,  resenting  the  charge  of  hypocrisy  by 
his  friends,  speaks  as  if  nothing  could  be  laid 
to  his  charge  (Job  23.  10-12),  and  David  too 
(Ps.  18.  20-24.).  The  father  attests  the  truth  of 
all  he  says,  never  a  kid  —  I  say  not  a  calf, 
but  not  even  a  kid.  that  I  might  make  merry 
with  my  friends— Here  lay  his  misapprehen- 
sion. It  was  no  entertainment  for  the  grati- 
fication of  the  prodigal:  it  was  a  fathers  ex- 
pression of  the  joy  he  felt  at  his  recovery, 
thy  son.. thy  living— How  unworthy  a  reflec- 
tion on  the  common  father  of  both,  for  the 
one  not  only  to  disown  the  other  but  fling 
him  over  upon  his  father,  as  if  he  should  say. 
Take  him.  and  have  joy  of  him!  31.  Son,  &c. 
— ITie  father  resents  not  the  insult  — how 
could  he,  after  the  largeness  of  heart  which 
had  kissed  the  returning  prodigal?  He 
calmly  expostulates  with  nim.  '  Son,  listen 
to  reason.  What  need  for  special,  exuberant 
joy  over  thee?  Didst  thou  say,  Lo,  these 
many  years  do  I  serve  thee  ?"  In  that  saidst 
thou  truly;  but  just  for  that  reason  do  I  not 
set  the  whole  household  a  rejoicing  over 
thee.  For  thee  is  reserved  what  is  hiahcr  still 
—a  tranquil  life-long  satisfaction  in  thee, 
as  a  true-hearted  faitlifiU  son  in  thy  father's 
house,  nor  cl  the  inheritance  reserved  for 
thee  is  aught  alienated  by  this  festive  and 
fitting  joy  over  the  once  foolish  but  now  wise 
and  newly  recovered  one.'  32.  it  was  meet— 
*  Was  it  possible  he  should  simply  take  his 
long-vacant  place  in  the  family,  without  one 
special  sign  of  wonder  and  delight  at  the 
chanee^  would  that  have  been  nature?' 
But  this  being  the  meaning  of  the  festi\'ity, 
it  would  for  that  very  reason  be  temporary. 
In  time,  the  dutifulness  of  even  the  younger 
son  would  become  the  law  and  not  the  ex- 
ception:  he  too  at  length  might  venture  to 
say,  "  Lo,  these  manyyears  do  I  serve  thee;" 
,  and  of  him  the  father  would  say,  "Son,  thou 
''■  art  ever  with  me. "  In  that  case,  therefore, 
it  would  not  be  "  meet  that  they  should 
;  make  merry  and  be  glad."  The  lessons  are 
!  obvious,  but  how  beautiful!  (1.)  The  deeper 
I  sunk  and  the  longer  estranged  any  sinner  is, 
the  more  exuberant  is  the  joy  which  his  re- 
:  covery  occasions.  (2.)  Such  joy  is  not  the 
portion  of  those  whose  whole  lives  have  been 
spent  in  the  service  of  their  Father  in  hea- 
ven. 3.)  Instead  of  grudging  the  want  of 
this,  they  should  deem  it  the  highest  testi- 
mony to  their  lifelong  fidelity,  that  some- 
thing better  is  reserved  for  them— the  deep, 
abiding  complacency  of  their  Father  in 
heaven. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

\ei:.  1-31.    Parables  of  the  Unjust 

6j 


Steward  A>rD  of  the  Etch  Man  ano 
Lazarus,  or.  The  Eight  Use  of  Money". 
1.  steward— manager  of  his  estate,  accused— 
informed  upon,  had  wasted— rather,  'was 
wasting.'  3.  cannot  dig  .  .  .  to  beg,  ashamed— 
therefore,  when  dismissed,  shaU  be  in  utter 
want.  4.  may  receive  me,  &c.— Observe  hia 
one  object— it'/iejt  cast  out  of  one  home  to 
secure  another.  This  is  the  key  to  the  par- 
able, on  which  there  have  been  many  differing 
views.  5-7.  fifty  .  .  .  fourscore— deducting  a 
half  from  the  debt  of  the  one,  and  a  fifth 
from  that  of  the  other.  8.  the  lord— evidently 
the  steward's  lord,  so  called  in  v.  3,  5.  com- 
mended, &c.  —  not  for  his  "injustice"  but 
"  because  he  had  done  wisely,"  or  prudently; 
with  commendable /orcsif/Zi^  undskilful  adap- 
tation of  means  to  end.  children  of  this  world 
—so  ch.  20.  34 ;  cf.  Ps.  17. 14,  ("their  portion 
in  this  life");  Ph.  3.  19.  ("mind  earthly 
things") ;  Ps.  4.  6, 7.  in  (or  for)  their  generation 
—i.e.  for  the  purposes  of  the  "world"  they 
are  "of."  The  greater  wisdom  (or  shrewdness 
of  the  one,  in  adaptation  of  means  to  ends^ 
and  in  energetic,  determined  prosecution  of 
them,  is  none  of  it  for  God  and  eternity— li 
region  they  were  never  in,  an  atmosphere 
they  never  breathed,  an  undiscovered  world, 
animborn  existence  to  them— but  all  for  the 
purposes  of  their  o'wn  grovelling  and  fleeting 
generation,  children  of  light— so  J.  12.  36; 
Eph.  6.  8-  1  Th.  5.  5.  Yet  this  is  only  'as 
night-birds  see  better  in  the  dark  than  those 
of  the  day— owls  than  eagles.  [Ca  jetan  and 
Trench.]  But  we  may  learn  lessons  from 
them,  as  our  Lord  now  shows,  and  be  "wise  as 
serpents."  9.  make  friends  of— turn  to  your  own 
advantage;  i.e.  as  the  steward  did,  "  by  show- 
ing mercy  to  the  poor"  (Da.  4.  27.) :  cf. 
12.  33;  14. 13, 14.  manimon  of  unrighteousness- 
treacherous,  precarious.  (See  on  M.  6.  24.) 
ye  fail— in  respect  of  life,  they  may  receive  yoa 
—not  generally,  '  ye  may  be  received'  (  as  ch. 
6.  38,  'shall  men  give'),  but  'those  ye  have 
relieved  may  rise  up  as  witnesses  for  you'  at 
the  great  day.  'llien,  like  the  steward, 
when  turned  out  of  one  home  shaU  ye  secure 
another;  but  better  than  he,  a  heavenly  for 
an  earthly,  an  everlasting  for  a  temporary 
habitation.'  Money  is  not  here  made  the 
key  to  heaven,  more  than  "  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body  in  general,  according  to  which, 
as  a  test  of  character— but  not  by  the  merit 
of  which— men  are  to  be  judged,  (2  Co.  5.  10,) 
and  see  M.  25.  34-40.  10.  He,  &c.— a  maxim 
of  great  pregnancy  and  value ;  rising  from 
the  prudence  which  the  steward  had  to  the 
fidelity  which  he  had  not,  the  "  harmlessness 
of  the  dove,  to  which  the  serpent"  with  aU 
his  '"wisdom"  is  a  total  stranger.  Fidehty 
depends  not  on  the  amount  entr^isted,  but  on 
the  sense  of  responsibility.  He  that  feels  this 
in  little  will  feel  it  in  much,  and  conversely, 
11, 12.  unrighteous  mammon— To  the  whole  or 
this  He  applies  the  disparaging  term  "what 
is  least,"  in  contrast  with  "  the  true  riches." 
another  man's  . .  .  your  own— an  important 
turn  to  the  subject.  Here  all  we  have  is  on 
trust  as  stewards,  who  have  an  account  to  ren- 
der, Hereafter,  what  the  faithful  have  will  be 
their  own  property,  being  no  longer  on  pro- 
bation but  in  secure,  undisturbed,  rightful, 
everlasting  possession  and  enjoyment  of  all 
that  is  graciously  bestowed  on  us.  Thus 
money  is  neither  to  be  idolised  nor  despised; 
we  must  sit  loose  to  it  and  use  it  for  God's 
glory.   13.  can  serve— be  entirely  at  the  comr 


Clirist  fordeUftli  his  deafJi. 


LUKE.  XVITI. 


He  ble?seth  tittle  children. 


Pharisees,  when  the  kingdom  of  God  should 
como,  he  answered  tliem  and  said,  The 
kiiiadorn  of  God  cometh  not  i  with  obser- 
vation: 

-1  Neither  shall  they  say,  Lo  here!  or,  lo 
there!  for,  behold,  •  the  longdora  of  God  is 
8  within  you. 

2J  %  And  he  said  nnto  the  disciples,  P  The 
days  will  come,  when  ye  sliall  desire  to  see 
one  of  the  days  of  the  Son  of  man,  and  ye 
eball  not  see  it, 

23  And  '  tliey  shall  say  to  you.  See  here! 
or,  see  there!  go  *■  not  after  them,  nor  follow 
them. 

24  For  as  the  lightning,  that  lighteneth 
out  of  the  one  part  under  heaven,  shineth 
unto  the  other  part  under  heaven;  so  shall 
also  *  the  Son  of  man  be  in  his  day. 

25  Hut  '  first  must  he  suffer  many  things, 
and  be  rejected  of  this  generation. 

2t!  And  "  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Noe,  so 
shall  it  be  also  in  the  days  of  the  Son  of 
01  an. 

27  They  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  married 
wives,  they  were  given  in  maniage,  until 
the  day  that  Noe  entered  into  the  ark,  and 
the  flood  came,  and  destroyed  them  all. 

28  Likewise  "  also  as  it  was  in  the  days  of 
Lot;  they  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  bought, 
they  sold,  they  planted,  they  buililed; 

29  But  the  same  day  that  Lot  went  out  of 
Sodom  it  rained  fire  and  brimstone  from 
heaven,  and  destroyed  them  all. 

3U  Even  thus  shall  it  be  in  the  day  when 
the  Son  of  man  "*  is  revealed. 

31  In  that  day,  he  *  which  shall  be  upon 
the  house-top,  and  his  >tuff  in  the  house, 
let  him  not  come  down  to  take  it  away:  and 
he  that  is  iu  the  field,  let  him  likewise  not 
return  back. 

3J  Kemember  ^  Lot's  wife. 

33  Whosoever  *  shall  seek  to  save  his  life 
shall  lose  it;  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his 
life  shall  presen'e  it. 

34  I  "  tell  you,  in  that  night  there  shall  be 
two  men  in  one  bed ;  the  oue  shall  be  taken, 
and  the  other  shall  be  left. 

35  Two  loomen  shall  be  grinding  together; 
the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 

36  a  Two  men  shall  be  in  the  field;  the  one 
shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 

37  And  they  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  *  Where,  Lord?  And  he  said  unto 
them.  Wheresoever  the  body  is,  thither 
Mill  the  eagles  be  gathered  together. 

ClIAPTEll  XVIIL 

I  Thf  importunate  widow.    9   The  Pharisee  and.^ 

publican.     15  ChiUiren   brought  to    Christ,     'ii 

All  to  be  Uft  for  the  Gospel' s'sake.    31  Ht  fore- 

thorveth  his  death. 

A  ND  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to 
"*■*-  this  end,  that  men  ought  "always  to 
pray,  and  not  to  faint; 

2  Saying,  There  was  i  in  a  city  a  judge, 
which  feared  not  God,  neither  regarded 
man: 

3  And  there  was  a  widow  in  that  city;  and 
she  came  unto  him,  saying,  Avenge  me  of 
mine  adversary. 

4  And  he  would  not  for  awhile:  but  after- 
ward he  said  within  himself.  Though  I  fear 
not  God,  nor  regard  man ; 

6  Vet  'because  Uiis  widow  troubleth  me, 
I  V.  ill  avf  nge  her,  lest  by  her  continual 
coming  she  weary  me. 

6  And  the  Lord  said.  Hear  what  the  un- 
just jud^je  saith 


Jam.  a.  5. 
r  Jer.  32.  17. 

Zech.  8.  6. 
»  Mat  19  'll. 
t  Da  1.  ;«.  9. 
«»  Job  42.  10. 

7  And  '^bhall  not  God  avenge  his  own!    iiuv!s.2i. 


a 


John  1.  26. 

Gal.  6. 13. 
P  Mat.  9.  15. 

Jnhn  17.12. 
?  Mat  24  aj, 


r  1  John  4.1. 
«  1  Ti.  6  16. 
t  ch.  t.  22. 
W  Gen.  7.  1. 

Mxt.  24.a7. 
»  Gen.  19.  1. 
«'2Thos.l7. 
*  Mar.  13.15. 
V  Gen.  19.-.». 
«  Mat.  16, 'Jo. 

John  12.i;6. 
o  1  Tbees.  1. 

17. 
8  Tliis  rerte 

18  wanting 


nany 


Greek 


elect,  which  cry  day  and  night  unto  himj 
though  he  bear  long  with  them? 

8  1  tell  you  <*  that  he  will  avenge  them 
speedily.  Nevertheless  when  the  Son  of 
man  cometh,  shall  he  find  faith  on  the 
earth? 

9  H  And  he  spake  this  parable  onto 
certain 'which  trusted  in  themselves  2  that 
they  were  righteous,  and  despised  others: 

10  Two  men  went  up  into  tiie  temple  to 
pray ;  the  one  a  Thaiisee,  and  the  other  a 
publican. 

11  The  Pharisee  /  stood  and  prayed  thus 
with  himself,  »  God,  I  thank  thee,  that  I 

Mar!  13.21!  i  am  not  as  other  men  are,  extoi tioueis, 
■  "■  "     'unjust,  adulterers,  or  even  as  this  pub- 
lican. 

12  I  fast  twice  in  the  week,  I  give  tithes  of 
all  that  1  possess. 

13  And  tlie  publican,  '» standing  afar  off, 
would  not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes  unto 
heaven,  but  smote  upon  his  breast,  saying, 
God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner. 

14  I  tell  you,  this  man  went  down  to  his 
house  justified  rather  than  the  other:  » for 
every  one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  he 
abased ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall 
be  exalted. 

15  H  And  >they  brought  unto  him  also 
infants,  that  he  would  touch  them:  but 
when  his  disciples  saw  it,  they  rebuked 
them. 

16  But  Jesus  called  them  unto  him,  and 
said,  *  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me.  and  forbid  them  not:  for  *  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

17  Verily  1  say  unto  you.  Whosoever  shall 
not  receive  the  kin^'dom  of  God  as  a  little 
child  shall  in  no  wise  enter  therein. 

18  H  And  "*  a  certain  ruler  asked  him,  say- 
ing. Good  Master,  what  shall  1  do  to  inherit 
eternal  life? 

19  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Why  callest 
thou  me  good?  none  is  good,  save  oue,  that 
is,  God. 

20  Thou  knowest  the  commandments, "  Do 
not  commit  adultery.  Do  not  kill.  Do  not 
steal.  Do  not  bear  false  witness,  "  Honour 
thy  father  and  thy  mother. 

21  And  he  said.  All  these  have  I  kept 
from  my  youth  up. 

22  Now  when  Jesus  heard  these  things,  he 
said  unto  him.  Yet  lackest  thou  one  thing: 
sell '  all  that  thou  hast,  and  distribute  unto 
the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  iu 
heaven:  and  come,  follow  me. 

23  And  when  he  heard  this,  he  was  very 
sorrowful:  for  he  was  very  rich. 

24  And  when  Jesus  saw  that  he  was  very 
sorrowful,  he  said,  '  How  hardly  shall  they 
that  have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God! 

25  For  it  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  throuch 
a  needle's  eye,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter 
into  the  kmgdom  of  God. 

■2G  And  they  that  heard  it  said.  Who  then 
can  be  saved? 

27  And  he  said,  '"The  things  which  are 
impossible  with  men  are  pos.sible  with  God. 

28  ^  Then  « Feter  said,  Lo,  we  have  left 
all,  and  followed  thee. 

29  And  he  said  unto  them,  "Verily  I  say 
mito  you,  *  There  is  no  man  that  hath  iett 
house,  or  parents,  or  brethren,  or  wife,  or 
children,  for  the  kingdom  of  iiod's  sake, 

30  Who  "shall  not  receive  manifold  more 
in  this  present  time,  and  "in  the  world  to 
come  life  evcrlastiug. 


CHAP.  18. 

0  ch.  II.  5. 
ch.21.  36. 
Ko.  12.  12. 
EpK.  6. 18. 
Col.  4.  2. 
1  Thesa.  5. 
17. 

1  in  a  cer- 
tain city. 

6ch.  U.S. 
C2TI.es.  1.6. 


2  ret.3  8,9. 
«  ch.  10.  29. 

ch.  16. 15. 
2  Or.  as 

being 

righteous. 
f  Pa.  135  2. 
fl'Is.  1    15. 

Is.  68.  2. 

Rev.  3.  17. 
h  Ps.  40.  12. 
i  Job  22.  29. 

1  Pet  6  5,6. 
y  Mat.  19.13. 

Mar.  10.13. 
k  Pro  8.  7. 
I  1  Cor.  14. 

20. 
♦»  Mat.19.16. 
«  Ex.  20.  12. 

Deu.  6.  16. 

Rom.  13  9. 
o  Eph.  6.  2. 

Col.  3.  20. 
p  Mat.  6.  19. 

Mat   19,21. 


The  Rich  Man  and  Lazarus. 


LtTKE,  XVn. 


Offences— Failh^Rumility.' 


mand  of;  and  this  is  true  even  where  the  into  the  present  life,  drove  him  to  seek,  and 


find,  consolation  in  a  life  beyond  the  grave, 
is   by  death  released   from    all    evil   ana 


services   are  not   opposed,     hate  .  . .  love 

showing  that  the  two  here  inUnckd  are  in  .  

uncompromisinghostility  to  each  other:— an  ushered  into  umnixed  and  unintemipted 
awfully  searching  principle!  14-18.  covetous  j  good  (ch.  6.  21.)  (2.)  It  is  impossible,  besides  all 
. . .  derided  Mm— sneered  at  him;  their  mas-  this— '  independently  of  this  consideration.' 
ter-sin  being  too  plainly  struck  at  for  them  [a  great  gulf  fixed— ?)-!/  an  irrevocable  decree 
to  relish.  But  it  was  easier  to  run  dawn  tliere  has  been  placed  a  vast  impassable 
than  to  refute  such  teaching,  justify  your- 1  abyss  between  the  two  states,  and  the  occu- 
selves— make  a  show  of  righteousness,  highly  i  pants  of  each.  27-31.  Then  he  said— now 
esteemed  among  men— generally  carried  away ;  abandoning  all  hope  for  himself,  send  him  to 


by  plausible  appearances.  (See  1  Sa.  16.  7 
andch.  14. 11.)  The  Law,  &c.— See  on  M.  11. 13, 
every  man  presseth,  &c. :— Publicans  and  sin- 
ners, all  indiscriminately,  are  eairerly  pres- 
sing into  it;  and  ye,  interested  adherents  of 
the  mere  forms  of  an  economy  which  is  pas 


my  father's  house,  etc.— no  waking  up  of  good 
in  the  heart  of  the  lost,  but  bitter  reproach 
against  God  and  the  old  economy,  as  not 
warning  him  sutiiciently.'  [Trench.]  The 
answer  of  Abraham  is.  They  are  sufficiently 
warned,  nay— giving  the  lie  to  Abraham.   If. 

sing  away,  " discerning  not  the  signs  of  this  (fee— a  principle  "'"  --"-^ ^^..j-  — j 

time,"  will  allow  the  tide  to  go  past  jou  and  |  importance.    The 


le  of  awful  magnitude  and 

J  go  past  you  and  i  importance.    The  greatest  miracle  will  have 

be  found  a  stranded  monument  of  blindness  i  no  effect  on  those  who  are  determined  not  to 


and  obstinacy.'  it  is  easier,  &c.— See  on  M, 
5.  17, 18.  putteth  away  his  wife,  <fec.— See  on 
M.  19.  3-9.  Far  from  intending  to  weaken 
the  force  of  the  law,  in  these  allusions  to  a 


believe.  A  real  Lazarus  soon  "rose  from  the 
dead,"  but  the  sight  of  him  by  crowds  of 
people.  Inclined  thereby  to  Christ,  only 
crowned   the   unbelief   and  hastened    the 


new  economy,  our  Lord,  in  this  unexpected  murderous  plots  of  the  Pharisees  against  the 
way,  sends  home  its  high  requirements  mth  i  Lord  of  glory;  nor  has  His  own  resurrec- 
a  pungency  which  the  Pharisees  would  not  j  tion,  far  more  overpowering,  yet  won 
fail  to  feel.    19.  purple  and  fine  linen,  <fcc.— cf.  that  "crooked  and  perverse  nation." 
Estb.  8.   15;  Ee.    18.   12,  wanting    nothing  C'HAPTEE  XVII. 


-  ,  .  „    nothing 

which  taste  and  appetite  craved  and  money 


Ver.  1-10.   Offences— rAiTH—fltnvrrLiTT. 


3,  4.— See  on  M.  18. 
-not  a  Imcer  measure 


could  procure.  20,  21.  laid— having  to  be  j  1,  2.— See  on  M.  18.  6,  7. 
carried  and  put  dow  n.  fuU  of  sores— open,  j  15-17,  21, 22.  seven  times- 
running,  "not  closed,  nor  bound  up,  nor  of  the  forgiving  spirit  than  the  "' seventy- 
moUified  with  ointment."  (Is.  1.  6.)  desiring  j  times  seven  "  enjoined  on  Peter,  which  was 
to  be  fed  with— but  was  not.  [Grot.,  Beng.,  occasioned  by  his  asking  if  he  was  to  stop  at 
Mey.,  Trench.,  &c.]:  the  words  may  mean  '  seven  times.  *  Ko,'  is  the  virtual  answer, 
indeed  '  was  fain  to  feed  on  '  or  '  gladly  fed  | '  though  it  come  to  seventy  times  that  num- 
on,'  as  ch.  15.  16.  [Alf.,  w.  &  w.,  &c.]  But  {  ber,  if  only  he  ask  forgiveness  in  sincerity, 
the  context  rather  favours  the  former. ;  6.  Lord— See  on  ch.  10.  l.  increase  our  faith- 
licked,  &c.— a  touching  act  of  brute  pity,  in  i  moved  by  the  difficulty  of  avoiding  and  for- 
the  absence  of  hmnan  relief.  It  is  a  case  of  giving  "  offences."  This  is  the  only  instance 
heartless  indifference,  amidst  luxuries  ofiin  which  a  spiritual  operation  upon  their 
every  kind,  to  one  of  God's  poorest  and  sou?^  was  solicited  of  Christ  by  the  Twelve; 
most  afflicted  ones.presented  daily  before  the,  but  a  kindred  and  higher  prayer  had  been 
eye.  22.  died— his  burial  was  too  unimport- '  offered  before,  by  one  with  far  fewer  oppor- 
ant  to  mention;  while  "the  rich  man  died '<  tunities.  See  on  Mk.  9.  24.  6.  sycamine  — 
and  was  huried"—his   carcase   carried  in  mulberry.     See  on  Mk.  11.  22-24.     7-10.  say 

gomp  to  its  earthly  resting-place,  in  Abra- junto  him  by  and  by— The  "  by  and  by"  ;or 
am's  bosom— as  if  seen  reclining  next  to  him  rather  '  directly ')  should  be  joined  not  to  the 
at  the  heavenly  feast,  (M.  8.  ll.)  23.  in  heU— 1  sayix (7  but  the  qoinq:—' Go  directly.'  The 
not  the  final  place  of  the  lost  (for  which  an-  connection  here  is:  'But  when  your  faith  has 

I  increased  as  both  to  avoid  and  forgive 


other  word  is  us 


but  as  we  say  '  the  un- '  been  i 


seen  world.'  But  as  the  object  here  is  cer-  offences,  and  do  things  impossible  to  all  but 
tainly  to  depict  the  v:hole  torment  of  the  one  faith,  be  not  puffed  up  as  though  you  had 
and  the  perfect  bliss  of  the  other,  it  comes  in  laid  the  Lord  under  any  obligations  to  you. 
this  case  to  much  the  same,  seeth  Abraham  j  I  trow  not— or,  as  we  say,  when  much  more 
—not  God,  to  whom  therefore  he  cannot  cry.  is  meant,  '  I  should  think  not.'     unprofitable 

E3eng.]     Father  Abraham— a  well-founded,  |  —a  word  which,  though  usually  denoting  the 
ut  unavailing,  claim  of  natural  descent,  i  opposite  of  profit,  is  here  used  simply  in  its 
(ch.  3.8;  J.  8.  37.)   24.  mercy  on  me— who  never  ■neffftiive  sen.se.  *We  have  not,  as  his  ser- 


showed  any.    (Ja.  2.  13.)    send  Lazarus— the  vants,  profited  or  benefited  God  at  ail.' 

pining  victim  of  his  merciless  neglect,    that  Job  22.  2,  3;  R.  11.  35.) 

ne  may— take  me  hence?    No;  that  he  dares      11-19.     Ten  Lepers  Cleansed.     11-13. 

not  to  ask.     dip  .  .  .  tongue— i.e.,   the   least  through  midst  of  Samaria  and  Galilee— proba- 

conceivable  ana  the  most  momentary  abate-  bly  on  the  confines  of  both,    stood  afar  off— cf. 

.  ment   of  his   torment ;   that  is  all.     But  Le.  13.  45,  46.    they  lifted  up— their  common 

!  even  this  he  is  told  is  (l.)  unreasonable.    25,  misery  drawing  these  poor  outcasts  together, 

:  26.    Son— stinging  acknowledgment  of  the  |2  Ki.  7.  3,)  nay,  making  them  forget  the 

,  claimed  relationship,   thou. .  .Lazarus,  <fec.—  fierce  national  antipathy  of  Jew  and  Samari- 

'  As  it  is  a  great  law  of  God's  kingdom,  that  tJie  tan.    [Trench.]    Jesus,  &c. — cf.  M.  20.  30-33. 

nature  0/  our  present  desires  shall  rule  that  How  quick  a  teacher  is  felt  misery,   even 

of  ourfxdure  bliss,  so  by  that  law,  he  whose  though  as  here  the  teaching  maybe  soon  for- 

good  things,"  craved  and   enioyed,  were  gotten!    14.  show  yourselves— as  cleansed  per- 

all    bounded     by    time,    could    look    for  sons.     See  on  M.  8. 4.     Thus  too  would  the 

none  after  his  connection  with  time  had  Samaritan  be  taught  that  "  salvation  is  of 

come  to  an  end.     (ch.  6.  24.)     But  by  the  the  Jews."      J,  4.  22.)     as  they  went,  were 

.  same  law,  he  whose  "evil  things,"  all  crowded  cleansed— In  how  many  different  ways  were 

61 


Coming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God. 


LTJKE,  XVni. 


Tlie  Tmporttmate  Widow. 


our  Lord's  cures  wrou,d)t,  and  this  different 
from  all  the  rest.  17, 18.  Were  there  net  ten 
cleansed?— rather,  'Were  not  the  ten  rleansedV 
i.e.,  the  whole  of  them— an  example  iby  the 
way)  of  Christ's  omniscience.  [Uexg.]  tMs 
Btranger—*  this  alien'  (literally,  '  of  another 
race').  The  language  is  that  of  wonder  and 
admiration,  as  is  expressly  said  of  another 
exhibition  of  Gentile  faith,  M.  8.  10.  19. 
arise— for  he  had  "  fallen  down  on  his  face 
at  His  feet,"  v.  16,  and  there  lain  prostrate. 
faith  made  thee  whole  —  not  as  the  others, 
merely  in  body,  but  in  that  higher  spiritual 
sense  with  which  His  constant  language  has 
so  familiarized  us. 

20-37.  Coming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God 
AND  OF  THE  Son  of  Man.  20-25.  When,  &c. 
—To  meet  the  erroneous  views  not  only  of 
the  Pharisees,  but  of  the  disciples  themselves,  j 
our  Lord  addresses  both,  announcing  the 
coming  of  the  kingdom  under  different  as- 
pects. " It  cometh  not  Mith  obs^ervation "— 
'with  watching' or  'lying  in  wait,'  as  for 
something  outwardly  imposing  and  at  once 
revealing  itself.  Lo  here!  lo  there!  — Shut 
up  within  this  or  that  sharply  defined  and 
visible  geograiihical  or  ecclesiastical  limit, 
within  you— is  of  an  internal  and  spiritual 
character  (as  contrasted  with  their  outside 
views  of  it).  But  it  has  its  external  side  too. 
the  r^-'ys— rather  '  days.'  will  come— as  ch.  19. 
43— when,  amidst  calamities,  &c  ,  you  will 
anxiously  look  for  a  deliverer,  and  deceivers 
will  put  themselves  forward  in  this  charac- 
ter, one  of  the  days  of  the  Son  of  Man— Hmi- 
self  again  amongst  them  but  for  one  day;  as 
we  say  when  all  seems  to  be  going  \vrong  and 
the  one  person  who  could  keep  them  right  is 
removed.  [Neander in  Stier,  &c.]  'This 
is  said  to  guard  against  the  mistake  of  sup- 
posing that  His  visible  presence  would  ac- 
company the  manifestation  and  establish- 
ment of  His  kingdom,  [w.  &  w.]  they  shall 
say.  See  here.. Go  not,  fee.—'  a  warning  to  all 
so-called  expositors  of  prophecy  and  their 
followers,  who  cry,  Lo  triere  and  see  here, 
every  time  that  war  breaks  out  or  revolutions 
occur.  [Alf.J  as  lightning.. so  the  Son  of 
Man— i.e.,  it  will  be  as  manifest.  '  The  Lord 
speaks  here  of  His  coming  and  manifestation 
in  a  prophetically  indefinite  manner,  and  in 
these  preparatory  words  blends  into  one  the 
distinctive  epochs.'  [Stier.]  "When  the  whole 
polity  of  the  Jews,  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
alike,  was  broken  up  at  once,  and  its  con- 
tinuance rendered  impossible,  by  the  de- 
struction of  Jerusalem,  it  became  as  mani- 
fest to  all  as  the  lightning  of  heaven  that  the 
Kingdom  of  God  had  ceased  to  exist  in  its 
old,  and  had  entered  on  a  new  and  perfectly 
different  form.  So  it  may  be  again,  ere  its 
final  and  greatest  change  at  the  personal 
coming  of  Christ,  of  which  the  words  in  their 
highest  sense  are  alone  true.  But  first., 
suffer,  &c.— This  shows  ihs.i  the  more  imme- 
diate reference  of  the  vrovious  verse  is  to 
an  event  soon  to  follow  the  death  of  Christ. 
It  was  designed  to  withdraw  the  attention  of 
**  his  disci)jies"  from  the  glare  in  which  His 
foregoing  words  had  invested  the  approach- 
ing establishment  of  His  kingdom.  26-30. 
eat.. married,  planted.  <S:c.— all  the  ordinary 
occupations  and  enioyments  of  life.  Though 
the  antediluvian  world  and  the  cities  of  the 
plain  were  awfully  wicked,  it  is  not  their 
wiclcdness,  but  their  icorhlliness,  their  un- 
belief aud  iudiiTei^nce  to  the  futiue,  their 
til* 


xuiprcfio redness,  that  is  here  held  up  as  a 
warning,  n.b.  Tliese  recorded  events  of  O.  T. 
history— denied  or  explained  away  now-a- 
days  by  not  a  few— are  referred  to  here-as/acfs. 
31-33.  to  take  it  away,  .remember,  &c.— a  warn- 
ing against  that  lingering  reludance  to  part 
with  pre.f^ent  treasures  which  induces  some  to 
remain  in  a  burning  house,  in  hopes  of  saving 
this  and  that  precious  article,  till  consumed 
and  buried  in  its  ruins.  The  cases  here  sup- 
posed, though  different,  are  similar.  Lot's 
wife— her  "  look  back,"  for  that  is  all  that  is 
said  of  her,  and  her  recorded  doom.  Her 
heart  was  in  Sodom  still,  and  the  "look"  just 
said,  '  And  must  I  bid  it  adieuV  whosoever, 
&c.— See  on  ch.  9.  23-27.  34.  two  in  one  bed— 
the  prepared  and  unpreiiared  mingled  in 
closest  intercourse  together  in  the  ordinary 
walks  and  fellowships  of  life,  when  the  mo- 
ment of  severance  arrives.  Awful  truth ! 
realised  before  the  desti-uction  of  Jerusalem, 
when  the  Christians  found  themselves  forced 
by  their  Lord's  directions  (ch.  21.  21/  at  once 
and  for  ever  away  from  their  old  associates; 
but  most  of  all  when  the  second  coming  of 
Christ  shall  burst  upon  a  heedless  world. 
37.  v/here— shall  this  occur?  wheresoever,  &c. 
As  birds  of  prey  scent  out  the  carrion,  so 
wherever  is  found  a  mass  of  incurable  moral 
and  spiritual  corruption,  there  will  be  seen 
alighting  the  ministers  of  Divine  judgment.' 
a  proverbial  saying  terrifically  verified  at 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  many 
times  since,  though  its  most  tremendous 
illustration  will  be  at  the  world's  linal  day. 
CHAiT'ER  XVIII. 
Ver.  1-8.  Parable  of  the  Importttnatb 
Widow.  1-5.  always— cf.r.  7,  "night  and  day." 
faint—'  lose  heart,  or  'slacken.'  feared  not . . . 
nor  regarded.— defying  the  vengeance  of  God 
and  despising  the  opinion  of  men.  widow- 
weak,  desolate,  defenceless,  (l  Ti.  5. 5,  which 
is  taken  from  this.)  came— 'kept  coming.' 
See.  17.  5  "  her  continual  coming."  avenge  me 
~-i.e.  rid  me  of  the  oppression  of.  continual 
coming — '  coming  for  ever.'  6-8.  the  Lord— a 
name  expressive  of  the  uuihoritative  style  in 
which  He  interprets  His  own  parable,  shall 
not  God  — not  unjust,  but  the  infinitely 
righteous  Judge,  avenge  —  redeem  from  op- 
pression, his  own  elect— not  like  this  widow, 
the  object  of  indifference  and  contempt,  but 
dear  to  Him  as  the  apple  of  the  eye  iZe.  2. 8.). 
cry  day  and  night  — whose  every  cry  enters 
into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth  (Ja. 
5. 4.),  and  how  much  more  their  incessant  and 
persevering  cries?  bear  long  with  them  — 
rather.  '  in  their  case,'  or  '  on  their  account. 
(as  Ja.  5.  7,  "  for  it").  [Grot.,  De  W.,&c.J 
speedily- as  if  pained  at  the  long  delay,  im- 
patient for  the  destined  moment  to  interpose, 
(cf.  Pr.  29.  1.)  nevertheless,  &c.  —  <z-  d.  'Yet. 
ere  the  Son  of  Man  comes  to  redress 
the  MTongs  of  His  Church,  so  low  will 
the  hope  of  relief  sink,  through  the  length 
of  the  delay,  that  one  \dW  be  fain  to, 
ask.  will  He  find  any  faith  of  a  coming 
avenger  left  on  the  earth?  From  this  we 
learn,  (1.)  That  the  primary  and  historical 
reference  of  this  parable  is  to  the  Church  in 
its  n-ifloived.  desolate,  oppressed,  defenceless 
condition  during  the  present  absence  of  her 
Lord  in  the  heavens ;  (2. )  That  in  these  circum- 
stances importunate,  persevering  prayer  for 
I  deliverance  is  the  Church's  fitting  exercise. 
(3.)  That  notwithstanding  every  encourage- 
ment to  this,  so  long  will  the  answer  bo 


The  PJuinsee  and  fJie  PuUkan. 


LITKE.  XVHX 


Tlierdch  Young  Fader. 


delayed,  while  the  need  of  relief  continues  the ' 
same,  that  all  hope  of  deliverance  will  have  ; 
nearly  died  out,  and  "faith"  of  Christ's  com- 1 
ing  scarcely  be  found.  But  the  application  of  i 
the  parable  to  prayer  in  general  is  so  obvious 
as  to  have  nearly  hidden  its  more  direct 
reference,  and  so  precious  that  one  cannot 
aUow  it  to  disappear  in  any  public  and  his- 
torical interpretation. 

9-14.  Parable  of  the  Pharisee  and 
THE  PuEUCAN.  11,  12.  stood— as  the  Jews 
in  prayer.  (JNIk.  11.  25.)  God,  <tc.— To  have 
"been  kept  from  gross  iniquities  was  un- 
doubtedly a  just  cause  of  thankfulness  to 
God;  but  instead  of  the  devoutly  humble, 
admiring  frame  which  this  should  inspire,  he 
arroirantly  severs  himself  from  the  rest  of 
mankind,  as  quite  above  them,  and  with  a 
contemptuous  look  at  the  poor  pulilican 
thanks  God  that  he  has  not  to  stand  afar  off 
like  him,  to  hang  down  his  head  like  a 
bulrush  and  beat  his  breast  like  him. 
But  these  are  only  his  moral  excellences. 
His  religious  merits  complete  his  prounds  for 
congratulation.  Not  confining  himself  to 
the  one  cUviiely  prescribed  annual  fast  (Le. 
16.  29),  he  was  not  beliind  the  most  rigid,  who 
fasted  on  the  2nd  and  5th  days  of  every  week 

ILft.],  and  gave  the  tenth  not  only  of  what 
he  law  laid  under  tithing,  but  of  "  all  his 
gains."  Tlius,  besides  doing  all  his  duty,  he 
did  works  of  sujjererogation;  while  sins  to 
confess  and  spiritual  wants  to  be  supplied  he 
seems  to  have  felt  none.  What  a  picture  of 
the  Pharisaic  character  and  reliu'ion !  13. 
etauding  afar  off— as  unworthy  to  draw  near; 
but  that  was  the  way  to  get  near.  (Ps.  34.  IS- 
Is.  57.  15.)  would  not  li!t  up—"  blushing  and 
ashamed"  to  do  so.  (Ezra.  9.  6.)  smote,  &c. 
— *  kept  smiting;'  for  anguish  (ch.  23.  48  ,  and 
self-reproach  (Je.  31.  it). ,  be  merciful—'  be 
propitiated,'  a  very  unusual  word  in  such  a 
sense,  only  once  else  used  in  the  N.  T.,  in  the 
sense  of  "  making  reconciliation"  by  sacrifice. 
He.  2. 17.  Tliereniay,  therefore,  be  some  allu- 
sion to  this  here,  though  not  likely,  a  sinner 
—literally,  'the  sinner:'  Q.d„  'If ever  there 
was  one,  I  am  he.'  14.  rather  than  the  other— 
the  meaning  is,  '  and  not  the  other ;'  for  the 
Pharisee  was  not  seeking  justification,  and 
I'elt  no  need  of  it.  This  great  law  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God  is,  in  the  teaching  of  Christ, 
inscribed,  as  in  letters  of  gold,  over  its 
entrance-gate.  And  in  how  many  different 
forms  is  it  repeated.  iPs.  138.  6;  147.  6;  ch.  1. 
63.)  To  be  self-emptied,  or  "  poor  in  spirit," 
is  the  fundamental  and  indispensable  prepa- 
ration for  the  reception  of  the  "  grace  which 
briugeth  salvation:"  wherever  this  exists, 
the  "  mourning"  for  it  which  precedes  "com- 
fort "  and  the  earnest  '"  hungerings  and 
thirstings  after  righteousness"  which  are 
rewarded  by  the  "  fulness"  of  it,  will,  as  we 
see  here,  be  surely  found.  Such  therefore, 
and  such  onlv,  are  the  ju.stified  ones.  (Job, 
33.  27,  28;  Ps.  34.  18;  Is.  57.  15.) 

15-17.  Little  Children  Brought  to 
Christ,  infants  —  showing  that  some,  at 
least,  of  those  called  in  M.  (19.  13  and  Mk. 
(10.  13!  simply  "  little"  or  "young  children" 
were  literally  "  babes."  touch  them  — or,  as 
more  fully  in  M.,  "  put  his  hands  on  them 
and  j/ray,"  or  invoke  a  "blessing"  on  them 
(Mk.  10.  16,)  according  to  venerable  custom 
(Ge.  48.  14,  15.).  rebuked  them— Eepeatedly 
the  disciples  thus  interposed,  to  save  anno.y- 
aiice  and  interruption  to  their  Master,  but, 
Oli 


as  the  result  showed,  alwaijs  against  the 
mind  of  Chrid.  M.  15.  2'. ;  ch.  18.  39,  40.) 
Here,  it  is  plain  from  our  Lord's  reply,  that 
they  thought  the  intrusion  a  useless  one,  as 
ivfants  were  not  capable  of  receiving  any- 
thing from  Him.  His  ministrations  were 
for  gro^vn  peop'e.  But  Je^us- "  muc/i  dis- 
pleased," says  jMk.  (10.  14' ;  an  invaluable  ad- 
dition, said—"  Suffer  the  little  chil- 
dren TO  COME  UNTO  Me"  — "  AND  FORBID 

THEM  NOT,"  is  the  important  addition  of  M. 
(19.  14)  and  Mk.  (10.  14).  What  words  are 
these  from  the  lips  of  Christ!  The  price  of 
them  is  above  rubies.  But  the  reason  as- 
signed, "  For  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  op 
God,"  or  "  of  heaven,"  as  in  M.  19.  14,  com 
plete.g  the  previous  information  here  con- 
veyed: especially  as  interpreted  by  what 
immediately  follows  :  — "And  He  took 
them  up  in  His  arm.s.  put  His  hands 
upon  them,  and  blessed  them,"  mk.  10. 
16.  It  is  surely  not  to  be  conceived  that  all 
our  Lord  meant  was  to  inform  us.  that  seehig 
grown  people  must  become  childlike  in  order 
to  be  capable  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,  there- 
fore they  should  not  hinder  infants  from 
coming  to  Him,  and  therefore  He  took  up 
and  blessed  the  infants  tfienuelves.  Was  it 
not  just  the  grave  mistake  of  the  disciples 
that  infants  should  not  be  brought  to  Christ, 
because  only  gro\vn  people  could  profit  by 
Him.  which  "  much  displeased"  our  Lord? 
And  though  He  took  the  irresistible  oppor- 
tunity of  lowering  their  pride  of  reason,  by 
informing  them  that,  in  order  to  enter  the 
Kingdom,  '  instead  oj  the  children  first  he- 
coming  like  them,  they  must  themselves  become 
like  the  children,'  [Richter  in  Stier]  this 
was  but  by  the  way-  and  returning  to  the 
children  themselves.  He  took  them  up  in  His 
gracious  arms,  put  His  hands  upon  them  and 
blessed  them,  for  no  conceivable  reason  but 
to  show  that  they  u-ere  thereby  made  capable. 
AS  infants,  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  And  if 
so,  then  "  Can  any  man  forbid  v:atcr  thai 
the>e  should  not  he  baptized  xvhich  fuive  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Ghost  as  well  as  we  ?"  (A.  10. 
47.)  But  such  application  of  the  baptismal 
water  can  have  no  warrant  here,  save  where 
the  infants  have  been  previously  brought  to 
Chi-ist  Himself  for  his  benediction,  and  only 
as  the  sign  and  seal  of  that  benediction. 

18-30.  The  Rich  Young  Kuler,  and 
Discourse  thereon.  This  case  presents 
some  remarkable  points.  (1.)  The  man  was 
of  irreproachable  moral  character;  and  this 
amidst  all  the  temptations  of  youth,  for  he 
was  a  "young  man' ;  M.  19. 22. ',  and  vealth,  for 
"he  was  very  rich"  {v.  2?.;  M.  19, 22;  Mk.  10.  22. ). 
But  (2.)  restless  notwithst.Hnding,  his  heart 
!  craves  eternal  life.  (3.)Unlike  the  "  rulers," 
ito  who.se  class  he  belonged  v.  18.),  he  .so  far 
i  believed  in  Jesus  as  to  be  persuaded  He 
I  could  authoritatively  direct  him  on  this 
1  vital  point.  (4.  So  earnest  is  he  that  he 
comes  "  running"  and  even  kneeling  before 
I  Him,"  and  that  when  He  was  gone  forth  into 
.the  way  (MJi.  10.  17.),— the  highroad,  by  this 
(time  crowded  with  travellers  to  the  Pass- 
I  over;  undeterred  by  the  virulent  opposition 
:  of  the  class  he  belonged  to  as  a  "  ruler"  and 
i  by  the  shame  he  might  be  expected  to  feel  at 
I  broaching  such  a  question  in  the  hearing  of 
I  a  crowd  and  on  the  open  road.  19.  "Why,  dfcc. 
—Did  our  Lord  mean  then  to  teach  that  C4od 
I  only  ought  to  be  called  "good  V"  Impossible; 
1  for  that  had  been  to  contradict  all  Scripture 


Of  Zacchetts  the  piCbliean. 


LUKE,  XIX.         ParaUe  of  the  ten  pieces  of  money. 


31  IT  Then  ""he  took  imto  him  the  twelve, 
and  said  unto  them,  Behold,  we  go  up  to 
Jerusalem,  and  all  things  ^  that  are  written 
by  the  prophets  conceruing  the  Son  ol"  man 
shall  be  accomplished. 

32  For  "  he  shall  be  delivered  unto  the 
Gentiles,  and  shall  be  mocked,  and  spite- 
fully entreated,  and  spitted  on: 

33  And  they  shall  scourse  him,  and  put 
him  to  death:  and  the  third  day  he  shall 
rise  again. 

34  And  *  they  understood  none  of  these 
things:  and  this  saying  was  hid  from  them, 
neither  knew  they  the  ttunga  which  were 
spoken. 

35  H  And  "  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  he  was 
come  nigh  unto  Jericho,  a  certain  blind 
man  sat  by  the  way-side  begging: 

3<j  And  hearing  the  multitude  pass  by,  he 
asked  what  it  meant. 

37  And  they  told  him,  that  Jesus  of 
JJazareth  passeth  by. 

38  And  he  cried,  saj-ing,  Jesus,  thou  son 
of  David,  have  mercy  on  me! 

39  And  they  which  went  before  rebuked 
him,  that  he  should  hold  his  peace:  but  he 
cried  so  much  the  more,  I'lum  son  of 
iJavid,  have  mercy  on  me! 

40  And  Jesus  *  stood,  and  commanded  him 
to  be  brought  unto  him:  and  when  he  was 
come  near,  he  asked  him, 

41  Saying,  What  wilt  thou  that  I  shall  do 
unto  thee?  And  he  said.  Lord,  that  I  may 
receive  my  sight. 

42  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Receive  thy 
sight:  ''thy  faith  hath  saved  thee. 

43  And  immediately  "^he  received  his 
sight,  and  followed  him,  *  glorifying  God: 
and  all  the  people,  when  they  saw  it,  gave 
praise  unto  God. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

1  0/  Zaeeheus  the  fmhlican.     11  The  ten  pieces  of 

money.     2ci    Christ  riiieth   into  Jerusalem:    41 

weepeth  over  it :  4i>  driveth  the  buyers  and  sellers 

out  0/  the  temple,  etc. 

AND  Jesus  entered  and  passed  through 
•'■     "Jericho. 

2  And,  behold,  there  was  a  man  named 
Zaeeheus,  which  was  the  chief  among  the 
publicans,  and  he  was  rich. 

3  And  he  sought  to  see  Jesus  who  he  was; 
and  could  not  for  the  press,  because  he 
was  little  of  stature. 

4  And  he  ran  before,  and  climbed  up  into 
a  sycamore  tree  to  see  him:  for  he  was  to 
pass  that  wai/, 

5  And  when  Jesns  came  to  the  place,  he 
looked  up.  and  saw  him,  and  said  unto  him, 
Zaeeheus,  make  haste,  and  come  down;  for 
to-day  1  must  abide  at  thy  house. 

6  Arid  he  made  haste,  and  came  down,  and 
received  him  joyfully. 

7  And  when  they  saw  it,  they  all  mvurour- 
ed,  saying,  ''That  he  was  gone  to  be  guest 
with  a  man  that  is  a  sinner. 

8  And  Zaeeheus  stood,  and  said  unto  the 
Lord;  Behold,  Lord,  the  half  of  my  goods 
1  give  to  the  poor;  and  il"  1  have  taken  any 
thing  from  any  man  by  'false  accusation, 
1  "^  restore  him  four-fold. 

9  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  This  d.ay  is 
salvation  come  to  this  house,  forsomuch 
as  ''  he  also  is  a  son  of  Abraham. 

10  for  /  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 

11 II  And  as  they  heard  these  things,  he 
added  and  spake  a  parable,  because  he  was 
liiiih  to  Jerusaltni.  and   because  ^  they 


CHAP.  18. 
Wfilat.  lG.:il. 

Alat.  17.22. 

Mat.  20.17. 

Mar.  10.B2. 
"  ft.  22. 

1».  53. 
V  Mat.  27.  2. 

ch.  23.  1. 

John  18.28. 

Acts  S.  13. 
»  Mark  9.  32. 

ch.  2.  &J. 

ch.  9.  45. 

John  10.  6. 

John  1216. 
a  Mat.  20.29. 

Mar.  10  4(j. 
fcHeb.  2. 17. 

Hob.  6.  2. 
e  ch.  17.  19. 
d  P».  33.  9. 

la.  35.  5. 
e  P«.  103. 1. 

ch.  5.  26 

Acts  4.21. 

Acts  11.18. 


34. 

t  Mat.  9.  11. 

ch.  5.  30. 
c  ch.  3.  14. 
d  Ex.  22. 1. 

1  Sa.  12.  3. 

2  Sa.  12.  K. 
2  Cor  7.11. 

•  ch.  13. 16. 

Kom.  4.  U, 

12,  16. 

Gal.  3.  7. 
/  Mat   10.  6. 

Mat.  15.  24. 

Mat.  18.11. 

1  Ti.  1. 15. 

0  Ads  1.  6. 
'I  Mat.  25.14. 

Mar.  13  34. 

1  Mina,  here 
translated 
a  Hound, 


a  half: 

cording  t« 
five  shil- 


poundstwo 

shillings 

pence. 
i  John  1.  lU 
2  silver. 
;ALit  25.21. 

ch.  16   10. 
k  Mat.  25.24. 

Rev.  21.  8. 
I  2  Sa.  I.  16. 

Job  15.  6. 

>Ut.  12.  37. 


Mark  4  25. 

ch.  8.  18. 
0  Mar.  10.:«. 
p  Mat.  21.  1. 

MarkU  1. 
q  Acts  10.36. 
r  2  Ki.  9.  13. 

Mat.  21.  7. 

Mark  11.  7. 

JoUa  12.14. 


thought  that  the  kingdom  of  God  should 
immediately  appear. 

12  He  'i  said  therefore,  A  certain  nobleman 
went  into  a  far  country  to  receive  for  him- 
self  a  kingdom,  and  to  return. 

13  And  ne  called  his  ten  servants,  and  de- 
livered them  ten  i  pounds,  and  said  unto 
them,  Occupy  till  I  come. 

14  But « his  citizens  hated  him,  and  sent  a 
message  after  him,  saying.  We  will  not 
have  this  man  to  reign  over  us. 

15  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  he  was 
returned,  having  received  the  kingdom, 
then  he  commanded  these  servants  to  be 
called  unto  him,  to  whom  he  had  given 
the  2  money,  that  he  might  know  how 
much  every  man  had  gained  by  trading. 

10  Then  came  the  first,  saying,  Lord,  thy 
pound  hath  gained  ten  pounds. 

17  And  he  said  unto  him.  Well,  thou  good 
servant:  because  thou  hast  been  J  faithful 
in  a  very  little,  have  thou  authority  over 
ten  cities. 

IS  And  the  second  came,  saying.  Loird,  thy 
pound  hath  gained  live  pounds. 

19  And  he  said  likewise  to  him,  Be  thou 
also  over  five  cities. 

20  And  another  came,  saving.  Lord,  be- 
hold,  hei-e  is  thy  pound,  which  1  have  kept 
laid  up  in  a  napkin: 

21  For  *  I  feared  thee,  because  thou  art 
an  austere  man:  thou  takest  up  that  thou 
layedst  not  down,  and  reapest  that  thou 
didst  not  sow. 

22  And  he  saith  unto  him, '  Out  of  thine 
own  mouth  will  I  judge  thee,  thou  wicked 
servant.  "*  Thou  knewest  that  1  was  an 
austere  man,  takin"  up  thai  1  laid  not 
down,  and  reaping  that  1  did  not  sow: 

23  Wherefore  then  gavest  not  thou  my 
money  into  the  bank,  that  at  my  coming  1 
might  have  reciuired  mine  owai  with  usury? 

24  And  he  said  unto  them  that  stood  by, 
Take  from  him  the  pound,  and  give  it  to 
him  that  hath  ten  pounds, 

25  (4nd  they  said  unto  him.  Lord,  he  hath 
ten  jiounds.) 

26  For  1  say  unto  you,  ^  That  unto  every 
one  which  hath  shall  be  given ;  and  from 
him  that  hath  not,  even  that  he  hath  shall 
be  taken  away  from  him. 

27  But  those  mine  enemies,  which  would 
not  that  1  should  reign  over  them,  brhig 
hither,  and  slay  thtm  before  me. 

28  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  "he 
went  before,  ascending  up  to  Jerusalem. 

29  11  And  i^  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was 
come  nigh  to  Bethphage  and  Bethany,  at 
the  mount  called  the  mount  of  Ohves,  he 
sent  two  of  his  disciples, 

30  Saying,  Go  ye  into  the  village  over 
against  yuu;  in  the  which  at  your  entering 
ye  shall  find  a  colt  tied,  whereon  yet  never 
man  sat:  loose  him,  and  bring  him  hitJicr. 

31  And  if  any  man  ask  you,  Why  do  ye 
loose  him?  thus  sliall  ye  say  unto  him. 
Because  «  the  Lord  hath  need  of  liim. 

32  And  they  that  were  sent  went  their 
way,  and  found  even  as  he  had  said  unto 
them. 

33  And  as  they  were  loosing  the  colt,  the 
owners  thereof  said  mito  them.  Why  loose 
ye  the  colt? 

34  And  they  said.  The  Lord  hath  need  of 
him. 

35  And  they  brought  him  to  Jesus:  ''and 
they  cast  their  garments  upon  the  colt,  and 
they  set  Jesus  thereon. 


Tlie  Llch  Young  TMlcr. 


teaching,  and  His  own  too.  (Ps.  112.  5 
25.  21 ;  Ti.  1.  8.)  Unless  therefore  we  are  to 
ascribe  captioiisness  to  our  Lord,  He  could 
have  had  but  one  object— to  raise  the  youth's 
ideas  of  Himself,  as  not  to  be  classed  merely 
with  other  "  good  masters,"  and  declining 
to  receive  this  title  apai-t  from  the  "One" 
who  is  essentially  and  only  "good."  This 
indeed  is  but  distantly  hinted:  but  unless 
this  is  seen  in  the  hack  grou  nd  of  our  Lord's 
words,  nothing  worthy  of  Him  can  be  made 
out  of  them.  (Hence,  Socinianism,  instead 
of  having  any  support  here,  is  only  baffled 
by  it.)  20.  Thou  knowest,  &c.— M.  is  more 
fuU  here:  "But  if  thou  wilt  enter  into  life, 
keep  the  conmiandments.  He  saith  unto 
him,  Which?— as  if  he  had  said,  'Point  me 
out  one  of  them  which  I  have  not  kept  ?— 
Jesus  said,  "  Thou  shalt,"  <fcc.  (M.  19. 17,  IS.) 
Our  Lord  purposely  confines  himself  to  the 
second  table,  which  he  would  consider  easy 
to  keep,  enumerating  them  all— for  in  ]Mk.  (lo, 
19.1  "Defraud  not"  stands  for  the  tenth  else 
the  eighth  is  twice  repeated  .  In  M.  the  sum 
of  this  second  table  of  the  law  is  added, 
"Thou  Shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself," 
as  if  to  see  if  he  would  venture  to  say  he  had 
kept  that.  21.  aU  these,  &c.  —  "what  lack  I 
yet,"  adds  ]M.  Ah  !  this  gives  us  a  glimpse  of 
Lis  heart.  Doubtless  he  was  perfectly  sin- 
cere; but  something  mthin  whispered  to 
him  that  his  keeping  of  the  command- 
ments was  too  easy  a  way  of  getting  to  heaven. 
He  felt  something  beyond  this  to  be  neces- 
sary; after  keeping  all  the  commandments 
he  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what  that  could  be; 
and  he  came  to  Jesus  just  upon  that  point. 
"Then,"  says  ]VIk.  (10.  21.),  "Je.sus  beholding 
him  loved him,"or'lo3kedlovinglyuponhim.' 
His  sincerity,  frankness,  and  nearness  to  the 
kingdom  of  God,  in  themselves  most  winning 
qualities,  won  our  Lord's  regard  even  though 
he  turned  his  back  upon  Him— a  lesson  to 
those  who  can  see  nothing  loveable  save  in 
the  regenerate.  22.  lackest  one  thing— Ah ! 
but  that  a  fundamental,  fatal  lack,  sell,  &c. 
—As  riches  were  his  idol,  our  Lord,  who 
knew  it  from  the  first,  lays  His  great  autho- 
ritative grasp  at  once  upon  it,  saying^  '  Now 
give  me  up  that,  and  all  is  right. '  5i  o  gene- 
ral direction  about  the  disposal  of  riches, 
then,  is  here  given,  .save  that  we  are  to  sit 
loose  to  them  and  lay  them  at  the  feet  of  Him 
who  gave  them.  He  who  does  this  with  all 
he  has,  whether  rich  or  poor,  is  a  true  heir 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  23-25.  was  very 
sorrowful— M.  more  fully,  "  v:ent  away  sor- 
rowful;" Mk.  still  more:  "  was  sad"  or  '  sul- 
len' at  that  saying,  and  "  went  away  grieved." 
Sorry  he  was,  very  sorry,  to  part  with  C'lnist; 
but  to  part  with  his  riches  would  have  cost 
him  a  pang  mpre.  When  Pdches  or  Heaven, 
on  Christ's  terms,  were  the  alternative,  the 
result  showed  to  which  side  the  balance  in- 
jclined.  Thus  was  he  shown  to  lack  the  one 
all-comprehensive  requirement  of  the  law— 
the  absolute  subjection  of  the  heart  to  God, 
and  this  want  vitiated  all  his  other  obedien- 
ces, when  Jesus  saw— Mk.  says,  He  "  looked 
round  about"— as  if  first  following  the  de- 
parting youth  with  his  eye—"  and  saith  unto 
his  disciples."  how  hardly.  &c.— with  what 
difficulty.    In  IVIk.  an  explanation  is  added 


LtTEE,  XYm 

M. 


Annoilncement  of  His  Death. 


the  word  "  children  "—sweet  diminutive  of 
affection  and  pity.  (J.  21.  5.)  easier  for  a 
camel,  &c.— a  proverbial  e.\pression  denoting 
literally  a  thing  impossible,  but  figuratively, 
very  difficult.  26,  27.  for,  &c.— '  At  that  rate 
none  can  be  saved:'  'Well,  it  does  pass  human 
power,  but  not  Divine.'  28-30.  Lo,  &c.— in 
the  simplicity  of  his  heart  (as  is  evident  from 
the  reply:,  conscious  that  the  required  sur- 
render had  been  made,  and  generously  taking 
in  his  brethren  with  him — "  we;"  not  in  the 
spirit  of  the  young  ruler,  "All  these  have  T 

— rt-— . J  ^„  kept,"  &c.    left  all— '  The  workmen's  little  ia 

hou  knowest,  &c.— M.  is  more  as  much  his  "all"  as  the  prince's  much.' 

•'■  -'  '■^ ■"■  —'—  -■-"-  '='-    TBeng.]    In  M.  il9.  27  he  adds,  "What  shall 

we  have  therefore';"  How  shall  it  fare  with 
us?  there  is  no  man,  &c.— graciously  acknow- 
ledging at  once  the  completeness  and  the 
acceptableness  of  the  surrender  as  a  thing 
akeady  made,  house,  Arc— the  specification 
is  still  more  minute  in  M.  and  JSIk.,  to  take 
in  every  form  of  self-sacrillce.  for  the  king- 
dom of  God's  sake— in  JVlk.,  "  for  my  sake  and 
the  Gospel's. "  See  on  ch.  6.  22.  manifold 
more  in  this  present  time— In  M.  (19.  29;  "  an 
hundred-fold,"  to  which  Mk.  iio.  30.)  gives 
this  most  interesting  addition,  'JN'owin  this 
present  time,  houses,  and  brethren,  and 
sisters,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and  lands, 
with  persecutions."  We  have  here  the 
blessed  promise  of  a  reconstruction  of  all 
human  relationships  and  affections  on  a 
Christian  ba<is  ami  in  a  Christian  state, 
after  being  sacrificed,  in  their  natural  form, 
on  the  altar  of  love  to  Chrut.  This  he  calls 
"  manilold  more  "— "  an  hundredfold  more" 
—than  what  they  sacrificed.  Our  Lord  was 
Himself  the  first  to  exemplify  this  neiv  ad' 
justmznt  of  His  own  relationships.  (See  on 
M.  12.  49,  50;  and  on  2  Co.  6.  14-18.1  But  this 
"  with  persecutions;"  for  how  could  such  a 
transfer  take  place  without  the  most  cruel 
^vrenches  to  flesh  and  blood  ?  but  the  perse- 
cution would  haply  follow  them  into  their 
new  and  liigher  circle,  breaking  that  up  tool 
But  best  of  all,  "  in  the  world  to  coine  Ufa 
everlasting."    And 

>Vhen  the  shore  is  won  at  last. 
Who  will  count  the  billows  past?— Jfe6fe. 
These  promises  are  for  every  one  who  for- 
sakes his  all  for  Christ.  But  in  M.  il9.  28.) 
this  is  prefaced  by  a  special  promise  to  the 
Twelve:  "Verily I  say  unto  you,  "That  ye 
which  have  followed  me  in  the  Begeneration, 
when  the  Son  of  Man  shall  sit  in  the  throne 
of  his  glory,  ye  also  shall  sit  on  12  thrones 
judging  the  12  tribes  of  Israel. "  Ye  who 
have  now  adhered  to  me  shall,  in  the 
new  kingdom,  rule,  or  give  law  to,  the 
great  Christian  world,  here  set  forth  in  Jew- 
ish dress  as  the  12  Tribes,  presided  over  by 
the  12  Apostles  on  so  many  judicial  thrones. 
In  this  sense  certainly  the  promise  has  been 
illustriously  fulfilled.  [Pal.,  Grot.,  Lft., 
<irc.]  But  if  the  promise  refer  to  the  yet 
future  glory  (as  may  be  thought  from  ch.  22. 
28-30,  and  as  most  take  it),  it  points  to  the 
high  personal  distinction  of  the  first  founders 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

31-34.  Fuller  Announcement  of  His 
Approaching  Death  and  Besurrection 
See  on  ilk.  10.  32-34.  31.  all  wiittea  by  the 
prophets  concerning  the  Son  of  Man  be  accom- 
plished—showing how  Christ  Himself  read 
and  would  have  us  to  read,  the  O.  T.,  in 
wliich  some  otherwise  evangelical  interpre- 
ters find  uo  prophecies,  cr  virtuaUy  none,  oi 


how  hardly 
ty.    in  jvlk.  an  expla 
"  How  hard  is    it  for  them  that  trust  in 


riches,"  kc.—i.e.,  with  what  difficulty  is  this 
idolatrous  trust  conquered,  without  which 
they  cannot  enter;  and  this  is  introduced  by 

63 


Chj'isfs  entry  into  Jerusalem. 


LUKE,  XX.        Parahle'of  the  wicked  husbandmen. 


36  And  •  as  he  went,  they  spread  their 
clothes  in  the  way. 

37  And  when  he  was  come  nigh,  even  now 
at  the  descent  of  the  mount  of  Olives,  the 
whole  multitude  of  the  disciples  began  to 
rejoice  and  praise  God  with  a  loud  voice 
for  all  the  mighty  works  that  they  had 
Been, 

38  Saying,  «  Blessed  be  the  King  that 
Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord:  "  peace 
Li  heaven,  and  glory  in  the  highest. 

39  And  some  of  the  Pharisees  from  among 
the  multitude  said  unto  him,  Master,  re- 
buke thy  disciples. 

40  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
I  tell  you  that,  if  these  should  hold  their 
peace,  "  the  stones  would  immediately  cry 
out. 

41  IT  And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  be- 
held the  city,  and  ""  wept  over  it, 

42  Saying,  If  thou  hadst  known,  even 
thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things 
which  belong  unto  thy  peace!  but  now  they 
are  hid  from  thine  eyes. 

43  For  the  days  shall  come  upon  thee,  that 
thine  enemies  shall  *  cast  a  trench  about 
thee,  and  compass  thee  romid,  and  keep 
thee  in  on  every  side, 

44  And  "  shall  lay  thee  even  with  the 
ground,  and  thy  children  within  thee ;  and 
they  *  shall  not  leave  in  thee  one  stone 
upon  another;  "  because  thou  knewest  not 
the  time  of  thy  visitation. 

45  And  *  he  went  into  the  temple,  and 
began  to  cast  out  them  that  sold  therein, 
and  them  that  bought; 

46  Saiing  unto  them,  *  It  is  written.  My 
house  is  the  house  of  prayer:  but  <*  ye  have 
made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 

47  And  he  taught  daily  in  the  temple.  B.ut 
the  *  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  and  the 
chief  of  the  people  sought  to  destroy  him, 

48  And  could  not  find  what  they  might 
do:  for  all  the  people  3  were  very  attentive 
to  hear  him. 

CHAPTER  XX. 
1  Christ  fileneeth  those  who  questioned  hit  author- 
ity    9   The  parable  of  the  vineyard.    '£1  Tlie 
Saiiducees  confuted,  etc, 

AND  "it  came  to  pass,  that  on  one  of 
•*■*■  those  days,  as  he  taught  the  people  in 
the  temple,  and  preached  the  Gospel,  the 
chief  priests  and  the  scribes  came  upon 
him  with  the  elders, 

2  And  spake  mito  him,  saying.  Tell  us,  by 
what  i authority  doest  thou  these  things? 
or  who  is  he  that  gave  thee  this  au- 
thority? 

3  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  I 
will  also  ask  you  one  tlung;  and  answer 
me: 

4  The  baptism  of  John,  was  it  from  hea- 
ven, or  of  men? 

5  And  they  reasoned  with  themselves. 
Baying,  If  we  shall  say.  From  heaven ;  he 
will  say.  Why  then  b'^lieved  ye  him  not? 

6  But  and  if  we  say.  Of  men;  all  the  peo- 
ple will  stone  us:  "for  they  be  persuaded 
tliat  John  was  a  prophet. 

7  And  they  answered.  That  <*  they  could 
not  tell  whence  it  was. 

8  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  «  Neither  tell 
1  you  by  what  authority  1  do  these  things. 

9  Then  began  he  to  speak  to  the  people 
this  parable :  /  A  certain  man  planted  a 
vineyard,  and  let  it  forth  to  husbandmen, 
and  went  into  a  far  cuimtrj  tor  a  long 


CHAP.  19. 

8  Mat,  21.8. 
t  Ps.  118.  26. 


Eph.  2  14. 

"  Hab.  2.  11. 

w  Ho8.  11.8. 

John  H. 

36. 

"la.  29.  3,4. 

Jer.  6.  3.  6. 

ch.  21.  20. 

V  1  Ki.  9  7,8. 


o  Dan.  9.  24. 

ch.  1.  68. 

1  Pet.  2.12. 
6  Mat.  21.12. 

Mar.  11.11. 

John  2.  14. 
e  Ps.  9a.  5. 

Is.  5(j.  7. 

Is.  G(J.  7. 
d  Jer.  7.  11. 
e  Mark  11.18. 


Acts  16.14. 


CHAP.  20. 
a  Mat.  21.2a. 
6  Acts  4.  7. 

Acts  7.  27. 
0  Mat.  14.  8 

Mat.  21.26. 

ch.  7.  29. 
d  Job  24.  13. 

Kom.1.18, 

21. 


e  Job  6. 12, 

13. 
/  Mat.  21.33. 

Mark  12.  1. 
g  2  Kin.  17. 

13,  14. 

2  Chr.  36. 

15,  16. 
A  Neh.  9.  iS, 

30. 
i  Is.  7.  14. 

John  3.  16. 

Bom.  8.  3. 

Gal.  4. 1. 
/Ps   2.6. 

Is.  9.  6. 

Coll.15,16. 

Phil  2.9-11. 

Heb.  1.  2. 
k  John  19. 

Acts  3.  15. 

1  Cor.  2.  8. 
J  Ps.  118.  22. 

Mat  21.42. 

1  Pot.  2.  7. 
m  U.  8. 15. 
Dan.  2.34, 
35. 

Mat.21.44. 
n  Mat.  22.15. 
o  Mat.  22. 16. 

Mar.  12.14. 

P  Mat.  18.23. 
q  Mat.  2J.2a. 

Mar.  12.18. 
r  Acts  23.  li. 
«  Gen.  38.  8. 

tieu.  •^.  6. 


10  And  at  the  season  ^  he  sent  a  servant 
to  the  husbandmen,  that  they  should  give 
him  of  the  fruit  of  the  ^'ineyard:  but  the 
husbandmen  beat  him,  and  sent  him  away 
empty. 

11  And  again  he  sent  another  servant : 
and  they  beat  him  also,  and  entreated  him 
shamefully,  and  sent  him  away  empty. 

12  And  h  again  he  sent  a  third:  and  they 
wounded  him  also,  and  cast  him  out. 

13  Then  said  the  lord  of  the  vinevard. 
What  shall  I  do?  I  will  send  »my  beloved 
son:  it  may  be  they  will  reverence  him 
when  they  see  him. 

14  But  when  the  husbandmen  saw  him, 
thej  reasoned  among  themselves,  saying. 
This  is  /the  heir:  come,  let  ns  kill  him, 
that  the  inheritance  may  be  ours. 

15  So  they  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard, 
and  *  killed  him.  What  therefore  shall  the 
lord  of  the  vineyard  do  unto  them? 

16  He  shall  come  and  destroy  these  hus- 
bandmen, and  shall  give  the  >'inej'ard  to 
others.  And  when  they  heard  it,  they 
said,  God  forbid. 

17  And  he  beheld  them,  and  said.  What 
is  this  then  that  is  written,  '  The  stone 
which  the  builders  rejected,  the  same  is 
become  the  head  of  the  corner? 

18  Whosoever  shall  fall  upon  that  stone 
shall  be  broken ;  but  "*  on  whomsoever  it 
shall  fall,  it  Mill  giind  him  to  powder. 

19  And  the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes 
the  same  hour  sought  to  lay  hands  on  him; 
and  they  feared  the  people:  for  they  per- 
cei^•ed  that  he  had  spoken  this  parable 
against  them. 

20  H  And  "  they  watched  him,  and  sent 
forth  spies,  which  should  feign  themselves 
just  men,  that  they  might  taike  hold  of  his 
words,  that  so  they  might  deliver  him 
unto  the  power  and  authority  of  the  gover- 
nor. 

21  And  they  asked  him,  sajing,  '  Master, 
we  know  that  thou  sayest  and  teachest 
rightly,  neither  acceptest  thou  the  person 
of  any,  but  teachest  the  way  of  God  i  truly: 

22^  Is  it  lawful  for  us  to  give  tribute  unto 
Cesar,  or  no? 

23  But  he  perceived  their  craftiness,  and 
said  unto  them.  Why  tempt  ye  me? 

24  Show  me  a  P  penny.  vVhose  image 
and  superscription  hath  it?  They  answered 
and  said,  Cesar's. 

25  And  he  said  unto  them.  Render  there- 
fore unto  Cesar  the  things  which  be  Cesar's, 
and  unto  God  the  things  which  be  God's. 

26  And  they  could  not  take  hold  of  his 
words  before  the  people:  and  they  mar- 
velled at  his  answer,  and  held  their  peace. 

27  IF  Then  «  came  to  him  certain  of  the 
Sadducees,  *■  which  deny  that  there  is  any 
resurrection;  and  they  asked  him, 

28  Saying,  Alaster,  *  Moses  wrote  unto  us. 
If  any  man's  brother  die,  having  a  wife, 
and  ne  die  without  children,  that  his 
brother  should  take  his  wile,  and  raise  up 
seed  unto  his  brother. 

29  There  were  therefore  seven  brethren: 
and  the  fii'st  took  a  wile,  and  died  without 
children. 

30  And  the  second  took  her  to  wife,  and 
he  died  childless. 

31  And  the  third  took  her;  and  in  like 
manner  the  seven  also:  and  they  left  no 
children,  and  died. 

32  Last  of  iill  the  woman  died  also. 

3'd  Therefore  in  the  resuirection  wbosa 


ZaccJicus  the  Puhlkan. 

the  sufferings  of  the  Son  of  Man.  tinderstood 
noue,  &c.— The  evangelist  seems  unable  to 
say  strongly  enough  how  entirely  hidden 
from  them  at  that  time  was  the  sense  of 
these  exceeding  plain  statements;  no  doubt 
to  add  weight  to  their  subsequent  testimony. 
which  from  this  very  circumstance  was 
prodigious,  and  with  all  the  simple-hearted 
irresistible. 

3&-4:5.  Blind  Man  Healed.  In  M.  20. 29, 
&c.,  they  are  two,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Demo- 
niac of  Gadara.  In  M.  andlNIk.  (10.  4:5,  &c. 
tlie  occurrence  is  connected  with  Christ's 
departure  from  Jericho ;  in  L.  with  his  ap- 
proach  to  it.  Many  ways  of  accounting  for 
these  slight  divergences  of  detail  have  been 
proposed.  Perhaps,  ifve  knew  all  the  facU, 
we  .should  see  no  difficulty:  but  that  we  have 
been  left  so  far  in  the  dark  shows  that  the 
thing  is  of  no  moment  any  way.  One  thing 
is  plain,  there  could  have  been  no  collusion 
among  the  authors  of  these  Gospels,  else 
they  would  have  taken  care  to  remove  these 
'  spots  on  the  sun.'  33.  Son  of  David,  &c.— See 
on  M.  12.  23.  39.  rebuked,  &c.— See  on  v.  15. 
BO  much  the  more— that  importunity  so  com- 
mended in  the  Syrophenician  woman,  and  so 
often  enjoined  (ch.  11.  5,  (fcc;  18.  1,  etc.).  40. 
commanded,  <fcc.— Mk.  has  this  interesting  ad- 
dition: "And  they  call  the  blind  man,  say- 
ing unto  him,  Be  of  good  comfort,  rise,  he 
calleth  thee"— just  as  one  earnestly  desiring 
an  interview  with  some  exalted  person,  but 
told  by  one  ofhcial  after  another  that  it  is 
vain  to  wait,  as  he  will  not  succeed  (they 
know  it),  yet  persists  in  waiting  for  some 
answer  to  his  suit,  and  at  length  the  door 
opens,  and  a  servant  appears,  saying,  *  You 
will  be  admitted— he  has  called  you.'  And 
are  there  no  oth^r  suitors  to  Jesus  ^cho  some- 
times fare  thus?  *'  And  he,  casting  away  his 
garment  "—how  lively  is  this  touch,  evidently 
of  an  eye-witness,  exi)ressive  of  his  earnest- 
ness and. jo;'— "came  to  Jesus."  (Mk.  10. 49  50.) 
41-43.  what  will  ye,  6zc.—to  try  them  ;to  deepen 
their  present  consciousness  of  need;  and  to 
draw  out  their  faith  in  Him.  Lord—"  Rab- 
bouni,"  Mk.  10.51;  an  emphatic  and  confiding 
exclamation.    (See  on  J.  9.) 

CHAFTEE  XTX. 

Ver.  1-10.  Zaccheus  the  I'ublican.  The 
name  is  Jewish.  2-4.  chief  among  the  pub- 
Leans— farming  a  considerable  district,  with 
others  under  him.  rich— Ill-gotten  riches 
some  of  it  certainly  was.  See  on  v.  8. 
who  he  was  — what  sort  of  person.  Cii^ 
riosity  then  was  his  only  motive,  thouuh 
his  determination  not  to  be  baulked 
was  overruled  for  more  than  he  sought, 
sycamore— the  Egyptian  fig,  with  leaves  like 
the  mulbeiTy.  5, 6.  looked  up,  Arc- in  the  full 
knowleilge  of  who  was  in  the  tree,  and  pre- 
paratory to  addressing  him.  Zaccheus,  &c.— 
whom  he  had  never  seen  in  the  fie.sn,  nor 
probably  heard  of.  "He  caUeth  his  own 
sheep  by  name  and  leadeth  them  out."  (J. 
10.  3.)    make  haste  and  come  down— to  which 


LTJKE,  XIX. 


Parable  of  the  Pounds. 


avaricious  publican  ?  The  internal  revolu- 
tion was  as  perfect  as  instantaneous.  "  He 
spake  and  it  was  done."  "Then  shall  the 
lame  man  leap  as  an  hart,  and  the  tongue  o( 
the  dumb  sing."  (Is.  35.  6.  to-day  abide— ,cf. 
J.  1.  39,)  probably  over  night.  7.  to  be  guest 
—or  lodge;  something  more  than  "eating 
with"  such  (ch.  15.  2.).  a  sinner— that  v:as  one 
but  a  minute  ago,  but  now  is  not.  This 
mighty  change,  however,  was  all  unknown 
to  them.  But  they  shall  know  it  presently. 
"  Sinner"  would  refer  both  to  his  office,  vilo 
in  the  eyes  of  a  Jew,  and  to  his  character 
which  it  is  evident  was  not  good.  8-10.  stcod 
—  before  all.  said  unto  the  Lord,  Behold,  Lord 
—Mark  how  frequently  L.  uses  this  title 
and  always  where  lordly  autJiority,  dignity, 
or  poicer  is  intended,  if  I  have— i.e.  '  so  far 
as  I  have,'  for  evidently  the  "  if"  is  so  used 
as  Ph.  4.  8.).  taken  by  false  accusation—'  de- 
frauded,' 'overcharged.'  (ch.  3. 12, 13.)  foiufoid 
—The  Eoman  law  required  this;  the  Jewish 
law,  but  the  principal  and  a  fifth  more.  (Nu. 
5.  7.)  There  was  no  demand  made  for  either; 
but,  as  if  to  revenge  himself  on  his  hithe'  'o 
reigning  sin  see  on  J.  20.  28.),  and  to  testiiy 
the  change  he  had  experienced,  besides  sur- 
rendering the  half  of  his  fair  gains  to  the 
poor,  he  voluntarily  determines  to  give  up 
all  that  was  ill  gotten,  quadrupled.  He 
gratefully  addressed  this  to  the  "Lord,"  to 
whom  he  owed  the  wonderful  change.  Jesus 
said  mito  him— but  also  before  all.  This  d?v, 
•kc- memorable  saying  !  Salvation  aheauy 
come,  but  not  a  day  old.  to  tliis  house— so  ex- 
pressed probably  to  meet  the  taunt  "He  is 
gone  to  be  guest,"  (tc.  The  house  is  no 
longer  polluted;  it  is  now  fit  to  receive 
Me.  But  salvation  to  a  house  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly precious  idea,  expressing  the 
new  air  that  would  hencetorth  breathe 
in  it,  and  the  new  impulses  from  its  head 
which  would  reach  its  members.  Ps.  118. 15; 
A.  16. 15, 16,  31. )  son  of  Abraham— He  was  that 
by  birth,  but  here  it  means  a  partaker  of  his 
faith,  bemg  mentioned  as  the  sufficient  expla- 
nation of  salvation  having  come  to  him.  10. 
lost— and  such  "lost'  ones  as  this  Zaccheus. 
See  on  ch.  15.  32.  "What  encouragement  is 
there  in  this  narrative  to  hope  for  unexpected 
conversions ! 

11-27.  Parable  of  the  Pounds.  A 
different  parable  from  that  of  the  Talents, 
M.  25. 14-30.  For,  (1.)  This  parable  was  spoken 
"when  He  was  nigh  to  Jerusalem,"  v.  11; 
that  one,  some  days  after  entering  it,  and 
from  the  Mount  of  Olives.  (2.)  This  parable 
was  spoken  to  the  promiscuous  crowd;  that, 
to  the  Twelve  alone.  Accordingly,  (3.)  Be- 
sides the  "servants". in  this  parable,  who 
profess  subjection  to  him,  there  is  a  class  of 
'citizens"  who  refuse  to  own  him,  and 
who  are  treated  differently;  whereas  in  the 
Talents,  spoken  to  the  former  class  alone, 
this  latter  class  is  omitted.  (4.)  In  the 
Talents,  each  servant  receives  a  difierent 
number  of  them  (5, 2, 1,);  in  the  Pounds  all  re- 
he  literally  responded  —  "  he  made  haste  ceive  the  same  one  pound,  which  is  but  about 
and  came  down."    for  to  day,  (fcc— Our  Lord  ]  the  cuth  part  of  a  talent;  also,  in  the  talents 


invites  himself,  and  in  royal  style,  which 
waits  not  for  invitations,  but  as  tne  honour 
is  done  to  the  subject,  not  the  sovereign, 
announces  the  purpose  of  royalty  to  partake 
of  the  subject's  nospitalities.  Manifestly  our 


each  shows  the  same  fidelity  by  doubling 
what  he  received  (the  5  are  made  10,  the  2. 4j; 
in  the  Pounds,  each,  receiving  the  same, 
renders  a  different  return  (one  making  his 
pound  10,  another  5.  i    Plainly  therefore,  tuo 


Lord  speaks  as  knowing  how  the  privilege  intended  lesson  is  different;  the  one  iUustra- 

would   be   appreciated,     joyfully— Whence,  ting  eqita^  fideUti/  with  difftrmt  degrees  of 

this  so  sudden.";oy"  in  the  cold  bosom  ol'  aa  I  advantage;  the  pther,  diJieraU  degrees  of  im- 

6J.  ^       ^. 


Of  the  remrrcctim  of  the  dead. 


LUKE,  XXT. 


Signs  of  Christ's  cominff. 


wife  of  them  is  she?  for  seven  had  her  to 

wife. 

r.^  ■'^"•.^  Jesas  answering  said  unto  them, 

1  be  children  of  this  world  marry,  and  are 

given  in  marriaw: 

35  But  they  which  shall  be  <acconnted 
worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  and  the  re- 
surrection trom  the  dead,  neither  marry, 
Dor  are  given  in  marriage: 

36  Neither  can  they  die  any  more:  for 
they  "are  equal  unto  the  angels;  and  are 
the  children  of  God,  "being  the  children  of 
the  resmrection. 

37  Now,  that  the  dead  are  raised,  *"  even 
Woses  showed  at  the  bush,  when  he  calleth 
the  Lord  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God 
of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob. 

38  For  "^  he  is  not  a  God  of  the  dead,  but 
of  the  living:  for  y  all  live  unto  him. 

30  Then  certain  of  the  scribes  answering 
said.  Master,  thou  hast  well  said. 

40  And  after  that  they  durst  not  ask  him 
any  question  at  aU. 

41  11  And  he  said  unto  them,  '  How  say 
they  that  Christ  is  Band's  son? 

42  And  David  himself  saith  in  the  book  of 
Psalms, "  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
thou  on  my  right  hand, 

43  Till  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool. 

44  Dand  therefore  calleth  him  Lord,  how 
is  he  then  his  son? 

45  ^  Then,  *  in  the  audience  of  all  the 
people,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 

4G  Beware  "  of  the  scribes,  which  desire 
to  walk  in  long  robes,  and  <^  love  greetings 
in  the  markets,  and  the  highest  seats  in 
the  synagogues,  and  the  chief  rooms  at 
feasts; 

47  Which  •  devour  widows'  houses,  and  for 
a  show  make  long  prayers:  /the  same  shall 
receive  greater  damnation. 

CHAi'TER  XXL 

1  Christ  commendetfi  the  poor  widota.    6Hefore- 

tellcth  the  destruction  of  the  temple,  and  of  the 

eity  of  Jerusalem:  lii  the  signs  also  which  shall 

be  before  the  l^xst  dat/,  etc. 

A  ND  he  looked  up,  "  and  saw  the  rich 

•^^  men  casting  their  gilts  into  the  treas- 

ury. 

2  And  he  saw  also  a  certam  poor  widow 
casting  in  thither  two  mites. 

3  And  he  said.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you, 
that  *this  noor  widow  hath  cast  in  more 
than  they  all: 

4  For  all  these  have  of  their  abundance 
cast  in  unto  the  oflerings  of  God:  but  she  of 
her  penury  hath  cast  in  all  the  living  tiiat 
she  had. 

5  H  And  *  as  some  spake  of  the  temple, 
how  it  was  adorned  with  goodly  stones  and 
gifts,  he  said, 

6  As  for  these  things  which  ye  behold,  the 
days  will  come,  in  the  which  <*  there  shall 
not  be  left  one  stone  upon  another,  that 
shall  not  be  tlirown  down. 

7  And  they  asked  him,  saying.  Master,  but 
when  shall  these  things  be?  and  what  sign 
will  there  be  when  these  things  shall  come 
to  pass? 

8  And  he  said,  •  Take  heed  that  ye  be  not 
deceived:  for  many  shall  come  in  my  name, 
saying,  I  am  Christ;  l  and  the  time 
draweth  near;  go  ye  not  therefore  after 
them. 

a  But  when  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and 
commotions,  be   not  tenilied:   for   these 
things  must  iirst  come  to  pass;  but  the 
end  vs  not  by  and  by. 
til 


Kev.  S.  4. 
M  1  Cor.  15. 
42.  49.  52. 
1  John  3.2. 

V  Horn.  8.  23. 
WEi.  3.  6. 

Acts  7.  32. 

Heb.  11. 9, 

35. 
B  John  11.25. 
Kom.  4.  17. 
Col.  S.  3,4. 

V  Kom.  6. 10, 

n. 

»  Mat.  22.42. 

Mar.  12.35. 
oPa.  110.1. 

Act«  2.  34. 

1  Cor.  15. 

25. 
6  Mat.  23.  1. 

Mar.12.38. 
e  Mat.  23.  5. 
dch.ll.  43. 
»  Mat.  23. 14. 
/  J>Ut.  11.22, 

ch!  10.  10- 


CHAP.  21. 
a  Mar.  12.41. 
b  Pro.  3.  9. 

Pro.  11.24, 

25. 

2  Cor.  8.12. 

2  Cor .9  6,7. 
c  Mat.  24. 1. 

Mark  13. 1. 
d  1  Ki.  9.  7. 

Jer.  5.  10. 

Mic.  3. 12. 

ch.  19.  44. 
e  M»t.  24.  4. 

Blar.  13.  5. 

Eph.  5.  6. 

2The».  2.3. 
1  Or,  and. 

The  time. 

Mat.  3.  2. 

JUt.  4  17. 
f  Mat.  •-4.  7. 
g  Rev.  2.  10. 
h  Acta  4.  3. 

Acts  5.  18. 

Acts  12.  4. 

Acts  16  24. 
i  Acts  25.  23. 
}  1  Pet.  2.13. 

*  Phil.  1.  28. 
2Thes.l.5. 

I  Slat.  1U.19. 
m  Acts  6.  10. 
n  Mic.  7.  6. 
0  Acta  7.  69. 

Acts  12.  2. 
P  Mat.  10.22. 

2  Ti.  3.  12. 
9  Mat.  24.15. 
r  Dan.  9.  26, 

27. 

Zach.ll.l. 
«  Dan.  9.  27. 

Rom.  11.25. 
(  2  Pet.  3.10, 

12. 
«  Mat.  24.29. 
V  Acts  1.11. 

Kev.  1.  7. 

Rev.  14.14 
w  Mar.13.28. 

*  Rom.  13.13. 
1  i-et.  4.  7. 


10  Then /said  he  unto  them.  Nation  shall 
rise  against  nation,  and  kingdom  against 
kingdom: 

11  And  great  earthquakes  shall  be  in 
divers  places,  and  famines,  and  pestilences; 
and  fearful  sights  and  great  signs  shall 
there  be  from  heaven. 

12  But  ^  before  all  these,  they  shall  lay 
their  hands  on  you,  and  persecute  you,  de- 
livering you  up  to  the  synagoCTies,  and 
into ''  prisons, » being  brought  before  kings 
and  rulers  >  for  my  name's  sake. 

13  And  *  it  shall  turn  to  you  for  a  testi- 
mony. 

14  Settle  fit  therefore  in  your  hearts, 
not  to  meditate  before  what  ye  shall 
answer: 

15  For  I  will  give  you  a  month  and  wis-  • 
dom,  "•  which  all  your  adversaries  shall  not 
be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 

16  And  "ye  shall  be  betrayed  both  by 
parents,  and  brethren,  and  kinsfolks,  and 
friends;  and  "some  of  you  shall  they  cause 
to  be  put  to  death. 

17  And  P  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for 
my  name's  sake. 

18  But  there  shall  not  an  hair  of  yonr  head 
perish. 

19  In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls. 

20  And  «when  ye  shall  see  Jerusalem 
compassed  with  aimies,  then  know  that 
the  desolation  thereof  is  nigh. 

21  Then  let  them  which  are  in  Judea  flee 
to  the  mountains ;  and  let  them  which  are 
in  the  midst  of  it  depart  out;  and  let  not 
them  that  are  in  the  countries  enter  there- 
into. 

22  For  these  be  the  days  of  vengeance, 
that  *■  all  things  which  are  written  may  be 
fulfilled. 

23  But  woe  unto  them  that  are  with  child, 
and  to  them  that  give  suck,  in  those  days! 
for  there  shall  be  great  distress  in  the  land, 
and  wrath  upon  this  people. 

24  And  they  shall  fall  by  the  edge  of  the 
sword,  and  shall  be  led  away  captive  into 
all  nations:  and  Jerasalem  shall  be  trodden 
down  of  the  Gentiles,  •imtil  the  times  of 
the  Gentiles  be  fulJilleii 

25  H  And  « there  shall  be  signs  in  the  stm, 
and  in  the  moon,  and  in  the  stars;  and 
upon  the  earth  distress  of  nations,  with 
perplexity:  the  sea  and  the  waves  roaring; 

26  Men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  and 
for  looking  after  those  things  which  are 
coming  on  the  earth:  "  for  the  powers  of 
heaven  shall  be  shaken. 

27  And  then  shall  they  seethe  Son  of  man 
coming  "  in  a  cloud,  with  power  and  great 
glory. 

28  And  when  these  things  begin  to  come 
to  pass,  then  look  up,  and  lift  up  your 
heads;  for  your  redemption  draweth  nigli. 

29  And  ""  he  spake  to  them  a  parable;  Be- 
hold the  fig  tree,  and  all  the  trees; 

30  When  they  now  shoot  forth,  ye  see  and 
know  of  your  own  selves  that  siunmer  is 
now  nigh  at  hand. 

31  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  see  these 
things  come  to  pass,  know  ye  that  the 
kingdom  of  God  is  nigh  at  hand. 

32  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  This  generation 
shall  not  pass  away  till  all  be  fidtUled. 

33  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away;  but 
my  words  shall  not  pass  away. 

34  H  And  *  calie  heed  to  yourselves,  lest  at 
any  time  your  hearts  he  overcharged  with 
surfeiting,  and  diuDkem;ess,  and  cares  aS 


Christ s  Entry  into  Jerusalem. 


LUKE,  XX. 


The  Wicked  Hnsbandmcn, 


provementofthe  same  opportiivifics:  yet  with 
all  this  difference,  the  parables  are  remark- 
ably similar.  12.  a  far  country— said  to  put 
down  the  notion  that  He  was  just  on  His  way 
to  set  up  His  kingdom,  and  to  inaugurate  it 
by  His  personal  presence,  to  receive  a  king- 
dom—be invested  with  royalty:  as  when 
Herod  went  to  Rome  and  was  there  made 
king;  a  striking  expression  of  what  our  Lord 
went  away  for  and  received,  "sitting  down 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  majesty  on  high."  to 
return— at  His  second  coming.  13.  Occupy— 
'negotiate,' '  do  business,'  with  the  resources 
entrusted.  14.  his  citizens  —  his  proper  sub- 
jects: meaning  the  Jews,  who  expressly 
repudiating  our  Lord's  claims  said,  "We 
liave  no  king  but  Cesar."  (J.  19.  15.)  In 
Christendom,  these  correspond  to  infidel 
rejecters  of  Christianity,  as  distinguished 
from  professed  Christians.  15-26.  See  on  M. 
25.  19-29.  ten  .  .  .  five  cities  —  different  de- 
grees of  future  gracious  reward,  propor- 
tioned to  the  measure  of  present  fidelity. 
27.  bring  hither,  &c.—  cf.  1  Sa.  15.  .32,  3.3.)— re- 
ferring to  the  awful  destniction  of  Jerusalem: 
but  pointing  to  the  final  destruction  of  all 
that  are  found  in  open  rebellion  against 
Christ. 

28-44.  Christ's  TRitnyrpHAL  Entry  into 
Jerusalem,  and  Tears  over  it.— See  on 
M.  21. 1-11.  29-38.  Bethphage— "house  of  figs," 
a  village  which  with  Bethany  lay  along  the 
further  side  of  mount  Olivet,  E.  of  Jerusalem, 
whereon,  drc- See  on  J.  19.  41.  the  Lord  hath 
need,  fcc. — He  both  knew  all  and  had  the  key 
of  the  human  heart.  See  on  v.  5.  Perhaps  the 
owner  was  a  disciple,  set  Jesus  on— He  al- 
lowing this,  as  befitting  the  state  He  was  for 
the  first  and  only  time  assuming,  whole 
multitude,  &c.  —  The  language  here  is  very 
grand,  intended  to  express  a  burst  of  admi- 
ration far  ^vider  and  deeper  than  ever  had 
been  witnessed  before,  blessed  be  the  king, 
&c.— Mk.  more  fully,  "Hosanna"— i.e.,  'save 
noiv'  the  woids  of  Ps.  118.  25,  which  were 
understood  to  refer  to  IMessiah;  and  so  they 
add,  "  to  the  Son  of  David,  blessed  is  he  that 
Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  Ps.  118.  26,) 
Hosanna  in  the  highest."  This  was  the  very 
loftiest  style  in  wliich  He  could  be  saluted 
the  promised  Deliverer,  peace,  &c.— See  on 
ch.  2. 13, 14.  40.  the  stones,  &c.— Hitherto  the 
Lord  had  discouraged  all  demonstrations  in 
his  favour;  latterly  He  had  began  an  opposite 
course  •  on  this  one  occasion  He  seems  to 
yield  His  whole  soul  to  the  wide  and  deep 
acclaim  with  a  mysterious  satisfaction,  re- 
garding it  as  so  necessary  a  part  of  the  regal 
dignity  in  which  as  Messiah  He  for  this  last 
time  entered  the  city,  that  if  not  offered  by 
the  vast  multitude,  it  would  have  been 
wrung  out  of  the  stones  rather  than  be  with- 
held! (Ha.  2.  11.)  41-44.  when  beheld,  wept, 
&c. — cf.  La.  3.  51,  "Mine  eye  affecteth  mine 
heart; '  the  heart  again  affecting  the  eye. 
Under  this  sympathetic  law  of  the  relation 
of  mind  and  body  Jesus,  in  His  beautiful, 
tender  humanity,  was  constituted  even  as 
we.  What  a  contrast  to  the  immediately 
preceding  profound  joy!  He  yielded  Himself 
alike  freely  to  both.  See  on  M.  23.  37.  at 
least  in  this,  <S:c.— even  at  this  moving  mo- 
ment. See  on  ch.  13.  9.  thv  peace—'  glancing 
f)erhaps  at  the  name  of  tlie  city,'  He.  7.  2. 
w  &  w.]  How  much  is  included  in  this 
word!  now  hid— It  was  His  among  His  last 
Open  efforts  to  "gather  tljein,"  out  their  J 


eyes  were  iu<liciaLly  closed,  a  trench— ram- 
part: first  of  wood,  and  when  this  was  burnt, 
a  built  wall,  4  miles  circuit,  buUt  in  3  days— 
so  determined  were  they.  This  "  cut  off  all 
hope  of  escape,"  and  consigned  the  city  to 
unparalleled  horrors.  (See  Joseph.  J.W.  v. 
C.  2;  and  12.  3,  4.)  All  here  predicted  was 
\vith  dreadful  laterality  fulfilled. 
45-48.  Second  Cleansing  oftheTemplg, 

AND  SUBSEQUENT  TEACHING.     45,  46.  As  the 

first  cleansing  was  on  His  first  visit  to  Jerusa- 
lem J.  2. 13-22,) , so  this  .second  cleansing'was  on 
His  last,  den  of  thieves— banded  together  for 
plmider,  reckless  of  principle.  The  mild 
term  "  house  of  merchandise,"  used  on  the 
former  occasion,  was  now  unsuitable,  sought 
— '  continued  seeking"- i.  e.,  "  daily,"  as  Ho 
taught,  were  very  attentive  to  hear  him— 
•  hung  upon  His  words.' 

CH.\PTEE  XX. 
Ver.  1-19.  The  Authoritt  of  Jestts 
Questioned,  and  His  Eeply— Parable 
OF  THE  Wicked  Husbandmen.— See  on  M. 
21. 23.  2.  these  things— particularly  the  clear- 
ing of  the  temple.  4.  baptism  of  John— his 
whole  ministry  and  mission,  of  which  bap- 
tism was  the  seal,  why  then  believed  ye  L.m 
not  1— i.e.,  in  his  testimony  to  Jesus,  the  sum 
of  his  whole  ^vitness.  7.  could  not  tell— 
crooked,  cringing  hypocrites  !  No  wonder 
Jesus  gave  you  no  answer.  iM.  7,  6.)  But 
what  dignity  and  composure  does  our  Lord 
display  as  He  turns  their  question  upon 
themselves!  9-13.  vineyard— See  on  ch.  13.  6. 
In  M.  21.  3.3,  additional  points  are  given, 
taken  literally  from  Is.  5.  2,  to  fix  down  the 
apjiUcation  and  sustain  it  by  O.  T.  authority, 
husbandmen— the  ordinary  spiritual  guides  of 
the  people,  under  whose  care  and  culture 
the  fruits  of  rlu'hteousness  might  be  .  ielded. 
went,  (fee— leaving  it  to  the  laws  of  the  spirit- 
ual husbandry  during  the  whole  length  of 
the  Jewish  economy.  (See  on  Mk.  4.  26.) 
beat,  fee- M.  21.  35:  i.e.,  the  prophets,  extra- 
ordinary messengers  raised  up  from  time  to 
time.  See  on  M.  23. 37.  my  beloved  son— Mk. 
;i2.  6,)  still  more  affecting: ly,  "  Having  yet 
therefore  one  son,  his  weil-beloved ;"  our 
Lord  thus  severing  Himself  from  all  merely 
Miman  messengers,  and  claiming  Sonship  in 
its  loftie.st  sense,  (cf.  He.  3. 3-6.)  it  may  be— 
'  surely;'  implying  the  almost  unimaginable 
guilt  of  not  doing  so.  14.  said  among  them- 
selves, (fee- cf.  Ge.  37. 18-20;  J.  11.  47-53.  the 
heii— sublime  expression  of  the  great  truth, 
that  God's  inheritance  was  destined  for.  and 
in  due  time  to  come  into  the  possession  of. 
His  Son  in  our  nature.  (He.  1.  2.)  inherit- 
ance ours— and  so  from  mere  servants  we  may 
become  loras;  the  deep  aim  of  the  depraved 
heart,  and  literally  "  i/i€  root  of  all  evil."  cast 
him  out  of  the  vineyard— cf.  He.  13.  11-13;  1  Kl. 
21.  13;  J.  19.  17.  16.  He  shall  come,  &c.— This 
answer  was  given  by  the  Pharisees  them- 
selves, (M.  21.  41,'  thus  pronouncing  their 
own  righteous  doom.  M.  alone '21. 43,  gives 
the  naked  application,  that  "  the  kingdom 
of  God  should  be  taken  from  them,  and  given 
to  a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof 
—  the  great  evangelical  community  of  the 
faithful,  chiefly  Gentiles.  God  forbid -His 
whole  meaning  now  bursting  upon  them. 
17-19.  written— in  Ps.  118.  22,  23.  (See  on  ch. 
19.  38.)  The  Eangdom  of  God  is  here  a 
lomple,  in  the  erection  of  which  a  certain 
stone,  rejected  as  unsuitable  by  the  spi- 
ritual builders,  is,  jjy  the  great  Lord  of 


^  Ofispiracy  against  ChHst. 


LUKE,  XXII. 


Jhstitution  of  the  Lord's  supper. 


this  life,  aud  so  that  day  come  upon  you 
unawares. 

35  For  J'  as  a  snare  shall  it  come  on  all 
them  that  dwell  on  the  face  of  the  whole 
earth. 

36  Watch  *  ye  therefore,  and  "  pray  al- 
ways, that  ye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to 
escape  all  these  things  that  shall  come 
to  pass,  and  i>  to  stand  before  the  Son  of 
man. 

37  And  '  in  the  day-time  he  was  teaching 
in  the  temple ;  and  <*  at  night  he  went  out, 
aud  abode  in  the  mount  that  is  called  the 
mount  of  Olives. 

33  And  all  the  people  came  early  in  the 
morning  to  him  'm  the  temple,  for  to  hear 
him. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

1  The  Jews  conspire  against  Christ  s  3  Judas 
covenanteth  to  betray  him:  19  he  instituteth  his 
holy  supper;  42  his  agony  in  the  garden/  60 
he  healeth  Jlalchus's  ear,  etc. 

"NJOW  "the  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
•^^  drew  nigh,  which  is  called  the  Pass- 
over. 

2  And  6  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  sought 
how  they  might  kill  him;  for  they  feared 
the  people. 

3  H  Then  "  entered  Satan  into  Judas  sur- 
named  Iscariot,  being  of  the  number  of  the 
twelve. 

4  Aud  he  went  his  way,  and  communed 
with  the  chief  priests  and  captains,  how  he 
might  betray  him  unto  them. 

5  And  they  were  glad,  and  ''covenanted 
to  give  him  money. 

6  And  he  promised,  and  sought  opportu- 
nity to  betray  him  unto  them  l  in  the 
absence  of  the  multitude. 

7  H  Then  *  came  the  day  of  unleavened 
bread,  when  the  passover  must  be  killed. 

8  And  he  sent  Peter  and  John,  saying.  Go 
and  prepare  ua  the  passover,  that  we  may 
eat. 

9  And  they  said  unto  him,  Where  wilt 
thou  that  we  prepare? 

10  And  he  said  unto  them.  Behold,  when 
ye  are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  a 
man  meet  you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water; 
follow  him  into  the  house  where  he  euter- 
eth  in. 

11  And  ye  shall  say  unto  the  goodman  of 
the  house.  The  Master  saith  unto  thee. 
Where  is  the  guest-chamber,  wliere  I  shall 
eat  the  passover  with  my  disciples? 

12  And  he  shall  show  you  a  large  upper 
room  fm-nished:  there  make  ready. 

13  And  they  went,  and  found  as  he  had 
said  unto  them:  and  they  made  ready  the 
passover. 

14  And  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat 
down,  and  the  twelve  apostles  with  him. 

15  And  he  said  unto  them,  2  With  desire  I 
have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you 
before  I  suiter: 

16  Por  1  say  unto  yon,  I  will  not  any 
more  eat  thereof,  /  until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

:  17  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks, 
and  said.  Take  this,  and  divide  it  among 
yom-selvcs: 

18  For  "  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  drink 
of  the  fiTiit  of  the  vine,  until  the  kingdom 
of  God  shall  come. 

1\)  H  And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks, 
and  brake  it,  and  gave  mi  to  them,  saying, 
This  is  my  body,  which  is  given  for  you: 
this  ^  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 


CHAP.  21. 

y  lThos.6.2. 

2  Pet.  3.10. 

Kev.3.  3. 
»  Mat.  25.13. 

Mar.  13  33. 
o  ch.  18.  1. 
6  Pi.  1.  5. 

Bph.  6. 13. 

lJohn2.28. 
«  John  8. 1,2. 
d  ch.  22.  39. 
*  Hag.  2.  7. 

May.  3.  1. 


CHAP.  22. 

a  Mat,  26.  2. 

Mark  14.1. 
b  Pa.  2.  2. 

John  11.47. 

Acts  i  27. 
c  Mat.  26. 14. 

Mar.  14.10. 

John  13.  2, 

27. 
d  Zech  11.12. 

1  Ti.  6.  10. 

1  Or, 
without 
tumult. 

e  Mat.  26. 17. 
Mar.  14.12. 

2  Or,  I  have 
heartily 

/•ch.  14.15. 

Acts  10.41. 

Rev.  19.  9. 
p  Mat.  26.29. 

Mar.  14.25. 
h  1  Cor.  11. 

24. 
i  1  Cor.  10. 

16. 
;•  Pa.  41.  9. 

Mark  14.18. 

Jolui  13. 21, 

25. 

*  Acts  2.  23. 
Act.  4.  28. 

I  Mark  9.  34. 

ch.  9.  46. 
m  Mat.20.25. 
n  Jam  4.  6. 

1  Pet.  5. 3. 
0  ch.  9.  48. 

P  John  13.13. 

Phil.  2.  7. 

9  Heb.  4.  15. 

2  Cor."  I.  7. 
2  Ti,  2.  12. 

»  ch.  14,  15. 

K«v.  19.  8. 
t  Ps.  49.  14. 

Mat.  19.28. 

1  Cor.  6.  2. 
Bev.  3.  21. 

w  1  Pet.  5,  8. 
"  Amos  9.  9. 
«»  John  17.9, 

U,  15. 
X  Ps  61.  13. 
John  21.15. 

2  Cor.  1.  4. 
y  John  13^8. 
«  Mat,  10. 9. 

ch,  9.  3. 
a  U  53. 12. 

Mur. 15,28. 
6  Alat.  6,  13. 

Mar.  14.38. 

3  willing  to 

c  John  6.  38. 
dMat.  4.  U. 

•  Jol.n  12  27. 
U«b.  6.  7. 


20  Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  say- 
ing, » This  cup  15  the  new  testtunent  in  my 
blood,  which  is  shed  for  you. 

21 1i  But,  i  behold,  the  hand  of  him  that 
betrayeth  me  is  with  me  on  the  table. 

22  And  truly  the  Son  of  man  goeth,  as  *  it 
was  determined:  but  woe  unto  that  man  by 
whom  he  is  betrayed! 

23  And  they  began  to  enquire  among 
themselves,  which  of  them  it  was  that 
should  do  this  thing. 

24  U  And  '  there  was  also  a  strife  amon.» 
them,  which  of  them  should  be  accounted 
the  greatest. 

25  And  "» he  said  unto  them.  The  kings  of 
the  Gentiles  exercise  lordship  over  them; 
and  they  that  exercise  authority  upon  them 
are  called  benefactors. 

26  But  "  ye  shaU  not  be  so:  "but  he  that 
is  greatest  among  you,  let  him  be  as  the 
younger;  and  he  that  is  chief,  as  he  that 
doth  sen-e. 

27  For  whether  is  greater,  he  that  sitteth 
at  meat,  or  he  that  sen'eth?  is  not  he  that 
sitteth  at  meat?  but^I  am  among  you  as 
he  that  sen'eth. 

28  Ye  are  they  which  have  continued  with 
me  in  ^  my  temptations. 

29  And  *■  I  appoint  unto  you  a  kingdom, 
as  my  Father  hath  appointed  unto  me ; 

30  That  *  ye  may  eat  and  drink  at  my  table 
in  my  kingdom,  'and  sit  on  thrones  judging 
the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 

31  IT  And  the  Lord  said,  Simon,  Simon, 
behold,  "  Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you, 
that  he  may  "  sift  you  as  wheat: 

32  But  ""  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy 
faith  fail  not:  '  and  when  thou  art  con- 
verted, strengthen  thy  brethren. 

33  And  he  said  unto  him,  Lord,  I  am  ready 
to  go  with  thee,  both  mto  prison,  and  to 
death. 

34  And  J'he  said,  I  tell  thee,  Peter,  the 
cock  shall  not  crow  this  day,  before  that 
thou  shalt  thrice  deny  that  thou  knowest 
me. 

35  IT  And  *  he  said  unto  them.  When  I  sent 
you  without  purse,  and  scrip,  and  shoes, 
lacked  je  any  thing?  And  they  said.  No- 
thing. 

3G  Then  said  he  mito  them.  But  now,  he 
that  hath  a  purse,  let  him  take  it,  and  like- 
wise his  scrip:  and  he  that  hath  no  sword, 
let  him  sell  his  garment,  and  buy  one. 

37  For  I  say  imto  you,  that  this  that  is 
written  must  yet  be  accomplished  in  me. 
And  "  he  was  reckoned  among  the  trans- 
gressors: for  the  things  ooncermng  me  have 
an  end. 

38  And  they  said.  Lord,  behold,  here  are 
two  swords.  And  he  said  imto  them.  It  is 
enough. 

39  H  And  he  came  out,  and  went,  as  he 
was  wont,  to  the  mount  of  Olives;  and  hia 
disciples  also  followed  him. 

40  And  *  when  he  was  at  the  place,  he  said 
unto  them,  Pray  that  ye  enter  not  into 
temptation. 

41  Aud  he  was  withdrawn  from  them 
about  a  stone's  cast,  and  kneeled  down,  and 
prayed, 

42  Saying,  Father,  if  thou  be  3  willing,  re- 
move this  cup  from  me:  nevertheless  "not 
my  will,  but  thine,  be  done. 

43  And  there  appeared  <»  an  an^el  unto 
him  from  heaven,  strengthening  him. 

44  And  *  bemg  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more 
earnestly:  aud  his  sweat  was  as  it  wera 


Q\t(&t'o''.xs dbmit frieJtesumctlon.       LTJEE.  XXL 


the  House,  inade~the~l«y-stone  of  The 
«nw  ^.•.  f«n'^  *^.^'  ^Pl^  the'^buiWersMere 
?Ti  ..^^ng-;  and  being  "broken"  (Is 
».  lo),  sustainmg  great  spiritual  hurt-  hut 
soon  that  stone  should  "fall  nvonthem''  and 
erind  them  to  powdei-"  (Da.  2. 34  "5  Ze  l-'^O 
ri^.^^  H^^f  ^^7-'^''"*^/^^^acity  in  the  tremen- 
aflv  as  uXViP^.^^  Jferusalem.  but  p.fslt 
c/in'  ^f.unoehevers  in  a  more  awful  sense 
theiiTa|l'^"''^°'^~^^'^y*We  to  restrSi^ 

tI?;! ?4.1  ^^'^'^-^^^^^^^  Questions  about 
Tribute  and  the  Eesukrectiov-Thp 

uu.  ^^.  15.)  on  the  best  plan,  spies—"  of  tli? 
thanseesandHerodians."  (M£  12  13  )  Sel 
onMk.  3.6  we  know,  <fcc.-hoping  by  flattery 
to  throw  ilim.  off  his  guard,  tribute-sle  o^ 
ini^^^^•  t^in?s  which  be  Cffisar's-Puttin" 
It  m  this  general  form,  it  was  impossible  fn? 
ffi'.r./^'*^'^*°  ^«l^"te  it,  aTd^ylt  it  dis- 
solved the  snare,  and  to  God-How  miu-h 
there  is  in  this  profound  but  to  them  start 
ling  addition  to  the  maxim,  and  how  incom 

Sess^'we^hf.^^l^^^^-f^^"^^^^^^^ 
ness  \\eiylit!  .27-34.  no  resurrection—"  nor 
angel  nor  .spirit,"  A.  23.  8;  the  materiamTof 
the  day.  said  unto  them-fn  M.  22  "rtherenfv 
dn°p"ri?  TK^^''  important  statement^l'-^i^ 
fna^f'h^iV^f  ^"^'^'"'S  "le  Scriptures."  regard- 
ing the  future  state,  "nor  the  powef  of  God  " 


TheWklow's  Two  Mites. 


v^,    -,  .     CHAPlER  XXI. 

ing  up  he  saV-as  in  Zacclieus' ^se    nnf 

sif/v  aidmnnv';;^*  '^'^^^y  ^'^to  the  trea- 
sury, anti  many  rich  cast  in  much  "  i  e  info 
chescs  deposited  in  one  of  the  courts  of  Hi « 

fnwi'^H  ^^,  ^^^^^^'^  the  Offerings  of  tKpeop  I 
.*P„Yl^^.?3ts niamtenance.    (2 Ki.  12. 9;/!. To  ) 


rtu?Efe;c^!^ir^^^ 


the  human  ^fvrmil^;rt"aT?h?e  SiSe'n'o' 
breaches  by  death  in  the  future  state  tWs 
ordinance  will  cease,  equal-or  '  like  •-unto 
the  augels-^.  e.,  in  the  mimortal it y  of  thei? 
nature  children  of  God-uct  in  respect  of 
chamder  hut  nature;  "  beinVthe  Siren 
ence  ^rT^?*'.^,"/  ^?  ^"  "n^tecayinV  exist 
o^thPir  pJi.5  ^•^•'  And  thus  the  chUdren 
?«  B3i«  M^h^'^^s  immortality,  1  Ti.  6. 16.  37 
00.  even  Mnsps — ivVim-n  f),«„i,„j  .•   "i         ,  ' 


^a  o^;«  tS  '  *  immoiTauty,  1 11.  6. 16.  37 
tn'pnTo^  Moses-whom  tliey  had  just  quoted 
to  entangle  Him.  not  of  the  dead,  for  ail  &c 
wni\^T  pOi^^i^nan  being  is  dekd.  or  ever 
wiU  be;  but  all  sustains  an  abiding  conscious 
reJation  to  Him.  But  the  "  all "  &re  meant 
'those  who  shall  be  accounted  worUiyS 
obtain  that  world."  niese  sustain  aaracwus 

aissot^ueo.  in  this  sense  our  Lord  affirms 
hifiT-^^°l^^to  caU  the  Lord  the  "God"^f 
his  patriarchal  seiwants  if  at  that  nioment 
J^Vul^  ""S  e^.  stence,  would  be  unworthy 
cLkdThPir  PnH  ''f  w^\^^  ashamed  to  be 
themacftv'^HP  ^fHehad  not  prepared  for 
uiemacity.   He.  11.  16.     How  precious  are 

scnoes    .     well  said— enjoying  his   victory 
over  the  riadducees.    they  durst  not-neither 
^Ti^^r^^'r  4^°'  the  time  utterly  foK    ^ 
41-47.    Christ  Baffles  the  PHART«!T-Ti'=! 

s*AH,  AM)  Denounces  the  Scribes  41 
said,  &c-"\Vhat  think  ye  of  Christ  the 
promised  and  expected  Messiah  /\kosl 
son  IS  He  (to  be  ?  Tliey  say  unto  Him  Th| 
H?.?>?^^^>'i^--  ^?  ''^i"!  unto  them,  How'then 
^oth  David  in  spirit  (by  the  Holy  {>host  Mk 
i^%-?6-\paU  him  LoRDV"  M.  22.  42  43  Tjfp 
difficulty  can  only  be  solved  by  the  /iiier 
Ivx  te-Sf  f  1'f  ,  n<?  /^f  rni;.  natifr^s  of 

e•^^5fan^•i.4^ff.^ar.fe-SK 


%^t'^:  Jhoni  hi  ';calledTo'him^ 
lof         •  ^"^'  to  teach  from  it  a  great  futum 

mS  WhtV^^^  9-'^  PropoS  o  le? 
mean.s,  which  is  God's  standard,  2  Cor  8  12 

?hey 'h.f  ^'^^"'°-' ^heir  superjliiitt?  what 
needed  nflf.r'r''^'  or.  beyond  what  they 
neetied.  of  her  penury— "  or  want."  (Itfk  1? 
44.)-  her  deMiencv:  of  what  was  le^tt'hiA 

that  shP  ii^H*^  if  till  more  emphaticallyr '  all 
uiat  she  had  her  whole  subsistence.^l^ote 

the  ^rr7>rf/*'rfe"^^"^^  '"^'"^'^  «<^«.  for 
uic  service  oj  Christ  at  home  and  abroad  <tn 
Jookmgdmvii"  now,  as  th^n''up/H^'fce7' 
ly^^  casf  w"  and'hm^-  much  \2)ChHsh 
standard  ojcommeiulohle  ojjcrinais  no^olt 
^IPerMity  hut  our  dejiciency~not  what  wiS 
sacrifice  SinW^f*  what  costs  us  sonTer^^ 
tive  amAn?t  .^^^.^  ^?  proportion  to  the  rela- 
tive  amount  of  that  sacrifice.    (See  2  Co.  8^ 

5-38.     Christ'.s  Prophecy  of  thp  Bt!- 
to""  PR^p-LT  i^^^^^^^^^-  AND  wISni?^ 

24  1-3.    8.  the  time-of  the  KingdonT  in  it4 

AH  these  are  tlie  be=iiinins  of  sirroii,  "  ni 

Bj  testimony     19.  not  a  Kiir  perisL-He  hS 
i  olfn»  ."hi"'  ,""''  '''"."'O  W  •■■"■t  to  death- 

shall  wax  cow."    But  L  that  enclu?etE  to 


Jxidai  hetrayeth  Christ, 


LUKE,  xxm. 


Jems  accused  before  Pilate. 


great  drops  of  blood  falliug  down  to  the 
ground. 

45  And  when  he  rose  up  from  prayer,  and 
was  come  to  his  disciples,  he  fouiid  thum 
sleepintc  for  sorrow, 

4f)  And  said  unto  them,  Why  sleep  ye?  rise 
and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into  temptation. 

47  If  And  while  he  yet  spake,  behold  a 
nuiltitude,  and  he  that  was  called  Judas, 
one  of  the  twelve,  went  before  them,  and 
drew  near  unto  Jesus /to  kiss  him. 
.  48  liut  Jesus  said  uuto  him,  Judas,  betray- 
est  thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss? 

49  When  they  wliich  were  about  him  saw 
what  would  follow,  they  said  unto  him. 
Lord,  shall  we  smite  with  the  sword? 

50  H  And  *  one  of  them  smote  a  senant 
of  the  high  priest,  and  cut  off  his  right 
ear. 

51  And  Jesus  answered  and  said.  Suffer  ye 
thus  far.  And  he  touched  his  ear,  and 
healed  him. 

52  Then  Jesus  said  unto  the  chief  priests, 
and  captains  of  the  temple,  and  the  elders, 
w  hich  were  come  to  him,  lie  ye  come  out, 
as  against  a  thief,  with  swords  and  staves? 

53  When  I  was  daily  with  you  in  the  tem- 
ple, ye  stretehed  forth  no  hands  ai^aiiist 
me:  '<■  but  this  is  your  hour,  and  the  power 
of  darkness. 

54  H  Then  » took  they  him,  and  led  him, 
and  broutiht  him  into  the  high  priest's 
bouse.    J  And  Peter  followed  afar  off. 

55  And  *  when  they  had  kindled  a  fire  in 
the  midst  of  the  hall,  and  were  set  down 
together,  Peter  sat  down  among  them. 

5()  But  a  certain  maid  beheld  him  as  he 
sat  by  the  fire,  and  earnestly  looked  upon 
him,  and  said,  Tliis  man  waa  alao  with 
him. 

57  And  he  denied  him,  saying.  Woman,  1 
know  him  not. 

58  And. '  after  a  little  while,  another  saw 
him,  and  said,  Thou  art  also  of  them.  And 
Ptter  said,  Alan,  I  am  not. 

6U  And  about  the  space  of  one  hour  after, 
another  confidently  affirmed,  saying,  Of  a 
truth  this  fellow  also  was  with  him;  for  he 
is  a  Galilean. 

00  And  Peter  said,  Man,  I  know  not  what 
thou  sayest.  And  immediately,  while  he 
yet  spake,  the  cock  crew. 

61  And  the  Lord  turned,  and  looked  upon 
Peter.  "*  And  Peter  remembered  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  how  he  had  said  unto  him, 
Before  "the  cock  crow,  thou  shall  deny 
me  thrice. 

62  And  Peter  went  out,  and  *  wept  bitterly. 

63  IT  And  ^  the  men  that  held  Jesus 
mocked  him,  and  smote  him. 

64  And  when  they  had  blindfolded  him, 
they  struck  him  on  the  face,  and  asked 
him,  saying.  Prophesy,  who  is  it  that  smote 
thee? 

65  And  many  other  things  blasphemously 
spake  they  against  him. 

66  IF  And  'as  soon  as  it  was  day,  ""the 
elders  of  the  people,  and  the  chief  priests, 
and  the  scribes,  came  together,  and  led 
him  into  their  council, 

;  67  Saying,  Art  "thou  the  Christ?  tell  us. 
And  he  said  unto  them.  If  1  tell  you,  ye 
will  not  believe: 

68  And  if  1  also  ask  yoit,  ye  will  not  answer 
me,  nor  let  me  go. 

6i>  Hereafter  'shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on 
the  rkht  hand  of  the  power  of  God. 

70  Iheii  said  they  all.  Art  thou  then  the 


,  D.  33. 


CHAP.  22. 

/  a  !■».  'JO.  9. 

1/  Mat.  26  51. 

Mar.  14.47. 

John  18.IU. 

2  Cor.  10.4. 
h  Gen.  3.  15. 

John  12. 

27. 

Acti  2.  23. 

Acts  4.  27. 

i  Mat.  26. 67. 

Acts  8.  32. 

j  John  18.15. 

A  Mat.  26.69. 

Mar.  14.titJ. 

John  18.17, 

18. 
{  Alat.  26.71. 
Mar.  14  09. 
John  IS.  '.>6. 
m  Mat.':6.7D 

Mar.14.72. 
n  John  13.33. 
o  Is.  liti.  2. 

E».  7.  16. 

2  Cor.  7  10. 
p  Ps.69  1-21. 

Is  50.  6. 

Is.  52.  1*. 

Mat.  26. 

67,  68. 

Mar.  14.06. 
q  Mat.  27.  1. 
r  Fs.  2.  1. 

P«.  22.  12, 

16. 

Acts  4.  26. 

Acts  22.  5. 

«Mat.2ii.63. 

Mar.  14.61. 

t  H»  no.  1. 

Dan.  7.  13, 
14. 

Acts  1.  11. 
Acta  3.  21. 
1  ThesB.  1. 


I  Slat.  26.64. 

Mar.  14  62. 
'  Mat.  26.05. 

Mar.  14.63. 


CHAP.  23. 
a  Mat.  27.  2. 

Maik  15.1. 

John  18.28. 
6  Dan.  3.  12. 

Acta  17.  7. 

Acts  24. 6. 
e  Mat.  17.  27. 

Mat.  i;2. 21. 

Mar.  12.17. 
d  John  19  12. 
e  Mat.  27. 11. 

1  Ti.  6.  13. 
f  2  Cor.  5.21. 

1  Pet.  2.22. 
ff  ch  3  1. 
li  ch.  9.  9. 
t  Mat.  14.  1. 

Mark  6.  14. 
/  Is  53.  3. 
k  Acts  4.  27. 

Jam.  4.  4. 
{  Mat.  27  23. 

Mark  15.14. 

John  18.38. 
m  D.-»n.  6.  4. 
»  Jlat.  27.26. 

John  19.  1 
0  Mat.  27.15. 

John  18.39. 

p  A«u  a.  11. 


Son  of  God?    And  he  said  unto  them,  "  Ya 

say  that  I  am. 
71  And  '  they  said.  What  need  we  any 

further  witness  ?   for  we  ourselves  have 

heard  of  his  own  mouth. 

CHAPTEU  XXIIL 

1  Jfsus  is  accused  before  I'ilate,  7  and  tent  to 
Herod. ■  U  he  is  mo<-ked,  and  lent  back  to 
i'ilate:  'Jo  he  it  delivered  to  be  crucijied,  34 
prayeth  for  his  enemies,  etc. 

A  ND"the  whole  multitude  of  them  arose, 

"'•*  and  led  him  unto  Pilate. 

2  And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying. 
We  found  this  fellow  '  perverting  the  na- 
tion, and  *  forbidding  to  give  tribute  to 
Cesar,  saying  <*  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a 
king. 

3  And  '  Pilat«  asked  him,  saying.  Art  thou 
the  King  of  the  Jews?  And  he  answered 
him  and  said.  Thou  sayest  it. 

4  Then  s;iid  Pilate  to  the  chief  priests 
and  to  the  people,  / 1  find  no  fault  in  this 
man. 

5  And  they  were  the  more  fierce,  saying. 
He  stin-eth  up  the  people,  teaching  through- 
out all  Jewry,  beginning  from  Galilee  to 
this  place. 

6  When  Pilate  heard  of  Galilee,  he  asked 
whether  the  man  were  a  Galilean. 

7  And  as  soon  as  lie  knt w  that  he  belonged 
nnto"  Herod's  jurisdiction,  he  sent  him  to 
Herod,  who  himself  also  was  at  Jerusalem 
at  that  time. 

8  II  And  when  Herod  saw  Jesus,  he  waa 
exceeding  glad:  for  *he  was  desirous  to 
see  him  of  a  long  season,  because  » he  had 
heard  many  things  of  him;  and  he  hoped 
to  have  sren  some  miracle  done  by  him. 

9  Then  he  questioned  with  him  in  many 
words;  but  he  answered  him  nothing. 

10  And  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  stood 
and  vehemently  accused  him. 

11  And  }  Herod  with  his  men  of  war  set 
him  at  nought,  and  mocked  hivi,  and  ar- 
rayed him  in  a  gorgeous  robe,  and  sent  him 
again  to  Pilate. 

12  1[  And  the  same  day  *  Pilate  and 
Herod  were  made  friends  together :  lot 
before  they  were  at  enmity  between  them- 
selves. 

13  %  And '  Pilate,  when  he  had  called  to- 
gether  the  chief  priests  and  the  rulers  and 
the  people, 

14  Said  unto  them.  Ye  have  brought  this 
man  unto  me,  as  one  that  perverteth  the 
people:  and,  behold,  I,  having  examined 
ftim  before  you,  have  '"found  no  lault  in 
this  man  touching  those  things  whereof  ye 
accuse  him: 

15  J^o,  ncr  yet  Herod:  for  I  sent  you  to 
him ;  and,  lo,  nothing  worthy  of  death  is 
done  unto  him. 

16  1 "  win  therefore  chastise  him,  and  re- 
lease him. 

17  (For  "  of  necessity  he  must  release  one 
unto  them  at  the  feast.) 

18  And  J"  they  cried  out  all  at  once,  saying. 
Away  with  this  inan,  and  release  unto  us 
Barabbas: 

19  (Who  for  a  certain  sedition  made  in 
the  city,  and  for  murder,  was  cast  into 
piisoii.) 

20  Pilate  therefore,  willing  to  release 
Jesus,  spake  again  to  them. 

21  But  they  cried,  sajuig.  Crucify  him, 
crucify  him. 

22  And  he  said  unto  them  the  third  time. 
Why,  what  cvU  hath  he  doimi   1  hav* 


Signs  of  ChrisVs  Second  Comin  ff.  LTJKE.  XXII.  Conspiracy  of  tlie  Jcv^ish  A uth orities, 
ever  since,  (He.  10.  38.  39  ;  Re.  2.  10.)  something  distinct  from  Himself,  mentioned 
"And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  immediately  after.  What  this  was  intended 
preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  witness,  to  mean,  interpreters  are  not  agreed.  But 
and  then  shall  the  end  come,"  (M.  24.  14.)  as  before  Christ  came  to  destroy  Jerusalem 
God  never  sends  judiTiient  without  previous  some  appalling  portents  were  seen  in  the  air, 
wamiug;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  so  before  His  Personal  appearing  it  is  likely 
Jews,  already  dispersed  over  most  known  that  something  analogous  will  be  witnessed, 
countries,  had  nearly  all  heard  the  gospel  though  of  what  nature  it  is  vain  to  conjec- 
'*  as  a  witness,"  before  the  end  of  the  Jewish  ture.  32.  this  generation— not  '  this  nation.' 
state.  The  same  principle  was  repeated  and  as  some  interpreters,  which,  though  admis- 
will  repeat  itself  to  the  end.  20,  21.  by  ar-  sible  in  itself,  seems  very  unnatural  here.  It 
mies— '  encami;ed  armies,' i.e.,  besieged;  ''and  is  rather  as  in  ch.  9.  27.  34-37.  surfeiting  anl 
the  abomination  of  desolation  (meaning  the  dnmkenness— all  animal  excesses,  quenching 
Eoman  ensigns,  as  the  symbols  of  an  idola-  spirituality,  cares  of  this  life— See  on  ]\Ik.  4. 
trous.Pagan.  unclean  power  spoken  ofby  Da-  7,  19.  watch. .pray,  &c.— the  two  great  duties 
niel  the  prophet  (Da.  9.  27,)  stand  in  the  holy  which  in  prospect  of  trial  are  constantly  en- 
place— ("  where  it  ought  not,"  Mk.  13.14,' — joined.  These  waming.s,  suggested  by  tlie 
whoso  readeth  (that  prophecy)  let  him  under- 1  need  of  preparedness  for  the  tremendous 
etand,"  M.  24.  15.  Then  flee,  Szc.—Eusebius ;  calamities  approaching,  and  the  total  wreck 
says  the  Christians  fled  to  Fella,  at  the  N.  of  the  existing  state  of  things,  are  the  gene^ 
extremity  of  Perea,  being  "prophetically  ra?  improvement  of  the  wliole  discourse, 
directed ;"  perhaps  by  some  prophetic  inti- 1  carrying  the  mind  forward  to  Judgment  anil 
mation  still  more  explicit  than  this,  which  Vengeance  of  another  kind  and  on  a  gran- 
Btill  would  be  their  chart.  23.  woe  unto—  der  and  more  awful  scale— not  ecclesias- 
'  alas  for.'    with  child,  &c.— from  the  greater  tical  or  political  but  personal,  not  temporal 


suffering  itwoiild  involve;  as  also  "flight  in 

winter,  and  on  the  Sabbath 

were  to  "  pray"  against  iM.  24. 


I  but  eternal— when  aUsafety  and  blessedne.^s 
which  they  |  will  be  found  to  lie  in  being  able  to  "  stand 
' ,  the  one  as  |  before  the  Son  of  ]\L4.n  "  in  the  glory  of 


more  trying  to  the  body,  the  other  to  the  I  His  Personal  appearing.    37,  38.  in  the  'day 
■'For  then  shall  be  tribulation  such  "'  '- •   -- 


soul 

as  was  not  since  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
nor  ever  shall  be"— language  not  unusual  in 
the  O.  T.  for  tremendous  calamities,  though 
of  this  it  may  perhaps  be  literally  said.  "And 
except  tho.se  days  should  be  shortened,  there 
should  no  flesh  be  saved,  but  for  the  elects' 
sake  those  days  shall  be  shortened."  (M.  24. 
21,22.)  But  for  this  merciful  "shortening," 
brought  about  by  a  remarkable  concurrence 
of  causes,  the  whole  nation  would  have  per- 
ished, in  which  there  yet  remained  a  rem- 
nant to  be  afterwards  gathered  out.  (Here 
in  M.  and  Mk.  are  some  particulars  about 
"false  Christs,"  who  should,  ""  if  possible,"— 
a  precious  clau.?e—"  deceive  the  very  elect." 
cf.  2  Th.  2.  9-11;  Re.  13. 13.)  24.  Jerusalem,  trod- 
den down  until,  &c. :— implying  l.Jthat  one  day 


time— of  this  His  last  week,  abode  iu  the  mount 
—i.e.,  at  Bethany.  M.  21. 17.) 
CHAPTER  XXn. 
Ver.  1-6.  Conspiracy  of  the  Jewish 
Authorities  to  Put  Jesus  to  Death- 
Compact  WITH  Judas.  1,  2.  See  on  M.  2G, 
1-5.  3.  Then  entered  Satan,  &c.— but  not  yet 
in  the  full  sense.  The  awful  stages  of  it  were 
these:  (l.i  Covetousness  being  his  master- 
passion,  the  Lord  let  it  reveal  itself  and 
gather  strength  by  entrusting  him  with  "the 
bag"  I  J.  12.  6,),  as  Treasurer  to  Himself  and 
the  TTivelve.  (2.)  In  the  discharge  of  that 
most  sacred  trust  he  became  "a  thief,"  appro- 
priating its  contents  from  time  to  time  to 
his  own  use.  Satan,  seeing  this  door  into 
his  heart  standing  wide  open,  determines  to 
enter  by  it.  but  cautiously  (2  Co.  2.  11.);  first 


Jerusalem  shall  cease  to  be  "trodden  down  j  merely  "putting  it  into  his  heart  to  betray 
by  the  Gentile-'^'  [Re.  11.  2,\asthenby  Pagan  Him"  (J.  13.  2,),  suggesting  the  thought  to 


so  now  by  Mohammedan  unbelievers ,  ,_ 
that  this  shall  be  at  the  "completion"  of 
"  the  times  of  the  Gentiles,"  which  from  R. 
11.  25,  (taken  from  this)  we  conclude  to  mean 
till  the  Gentiles  have  had  their  full  tune  of 
that  place  in  the  Church  which  the  Jews  in 
their  time  had  before  them— after  which, 
the  Jews  being  again  "  graffed  into  their  own 
olive  tree,"  one  Church  of  Jew  and  Gentile 
together  shall  fill  the  earth.  (R.  11.)  What 
a  vista  this  opens  up!  25-28.  signs,  (fee- 
Though  the  grandeurof  this  language  carries 
the  mind  over  the  head  of  all  periods  but 
that  of  Christ's  second  coming,  nearly  every 
expression  will  be  found  used  of  the  Lord's 
coming  in  terrible  national  judgments,  as  of 
Babylon,  drc. ;  and  from  v.  28-32,  it  seems  un- 
deniable that  its  immediate  reference  was  to 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  though  its 
tiltimatereference  beyond  doubt  is  to  Christ's 
final  coming,  redemption— from  the  oppres- 
sion of  ecclesiastical  despotism  and  legal 
bondage  by  the  total  subversion  of  the  Jew- 
ish state  and  the  tirm  establisliment  of  the 
evangelical  kingdom,  (v.  31.)  But  the  words 
are  of  far  wider  and  more  precious  import. 
M.  (24.  30,)  says,  "  And  then  shall  appear  the 
sign  of  the  Son  of  I^Ian  in  heaven,"  evicleutly 

tiC 


him  that  by  this  means  he  might  enrich 
himself.  '3.)  This  thought  was  probably  con- 
verted into  a  settled  purpose  by  what  took 
place  in  Simon's  house  at  Bethany.  See  oa 
M.  26. 6,  and  J.  12.  4-8.  (4. ;  Starting  back  per- 
haps, or  mercifully  held  back,  for  some  time, 
the  detennination  to  carry  it  into  immedi- 
ate effect  was  not  consummated  till,  sitting  at 
the  Paschal  suppei,  "Satan enteredinto him," 
See  on  J.  13.  27.),  and  conscience,  effectually 
stifled,  only  rose  again  to  be  his  tormentor. 
What  lessons  in  all  this  for  every  one  (Eph. 
4.  27;  Ja.  4.  7;  1  Pe.  6.  8.  9.)  5.  money—"  thirty 
pieces  of  silver"  (LL  26.  15.);  30  shekels,  the 
fine  payable  for  man  or  maid-servant  acci- 
dently  killed  (Ex.  21.  32.),  and  equal  to 
between  four  and  five  poimds  of  our  money 
—"a  goodly  price  that  I  was  prized  at  of 
them  !"  Ze.  ll.  13.1.  See  on  J.  19.  16.  6.  in 
the  absence,  (fee— See  on  M.  26.  5. 

7-38.  Last  Passover  — Institution  of 
THE  Supper  — Discourse  at  the  Table. 
7.  the  day  of  unleaveued  bread— strictly  the 
loth  Nisan  (part  of  our  JIarch  and  April) 
after  the  Paschal  lamb  was  killed;  but  here, 
the  14th  .Thursday).  Into  the  difficult  ques-. 
tions  raised  on  this  we  cannot  here  enter. 
10-13.  wheu  ye  enter  the  city— He  himself 


77k«  <?rM«t/f.rioiw 


LUKE,  XXIV. 


The  rcmrrectioTU 


found  no  cause  of  death  in  him:  1  will 
therefore  chastise  him,  and  let  him  go. 

23  And  thi'j-  were  instant  with  loud  voices, 
requirint;  that  he  might  be  cnicitied:  and 
the  voices  of  them  ^d  of  the  chief  priests 
prevtuled. 

'2i  And  Pilate  i  gave  sentence  that  it 
should  be  as  they  required. 

i'5  And  9  he  released  unto  tSem  him  that 
for  sedition   and   murder  was    cast  iJito 

Srison,  whom  they  had  desired;  but  he 
elivered  Jesus  to  their  will. 

26  H  And  ''as  they  led  liim  away,  they 
laid  hold  upon  one  Simon,  a  CjTenian, 
coming  out  of  the  country,  and  on  him 
they  laid  the  cross,  that  he  might  bear  it 
after  Jesus. 

27  And  there  followed  him  a  great  com- 
pany of  oeople,  and  of  women,  which  also 
bewailed  and  lamented  him. 

28  But  Jesus,  turning  unto  them,  said. 
Daughters  of  Jerusalem,  weep  not  for  me, 
but  weep  for  yourselves,  and  for  your 
children. 

29  For,  '  behold,  the  days  are  coming,  in 
the  which  they  shall  say.  Blessed  are  the 
barren,  and  the  wombs  that  never  bare, 
and  the  paps  which  never  gave  suck. 

30  Then  *  shall  they  begin  to  say  to  the 
mountains,  Fall  ou  us;  and  to  the  hills, 
Cover  us. 

31  For  "  if  thev  do  these  things  in  a  green 
tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry! 

32  ^  And  "there  were  also  two  others, 
malefactors,  led  with  him  to  be  put  to 
death. 

33  And  ""when  they  were  come  to  the 
place  which  is  called  2  Calvary,  there  they 
crucified  him,  and  the  malefactors,  one  ou 
the  richt  hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left. 

34  Tlien  said  Jesus,  Father,  "forgive 
them :  for  "  they  know  not  what  they  do. 
And  *they  paited  his  raiment,  and  cast 
lots. 

35  And  "the  people  stood  beholding. 
And  the  rulers  also  with  them  derided 
him,  saying.  He  saved  others;  let  him  save 
himself,  if  he  be  Christ,  the  chosen  of  God. 

36  And  the  soldiers  also  mocked  him, 
coming  to  him,  and  otleriug  him  >'inegar, 

37  And  sajing.  If  thcu  be  the  King  of  the 
Jews,  save  thyself. 

38  And  *a  superscription  also  was  written 
over  him  in  letters  of  Greek,  and  Latin, 
and  Hebrew,  THIS  IS  THE  KLNG  OF 
THE  JEWS. 

39  H  And  "  one  of  the  malefactors  which 
were  hanged  railed  on  him,  saying.  If  thou 
be  Christ,  save  thyself  and  us. 

40  But  the  other  answering  <*  rebuked  him. 
Baying,  Dost  not  thou  fear  God.  seeing  thou 
art  in  the  s;tme  condemnation ; 

41  And  we  indeed  justly:  for  we  receive 
the  due  reward  of  our  deeds:  but  this  man 
hath  d'  'ue  nothing  amiss. 

42  And  he  said  unto  Jesuu,  Lord,  remem- 
ber me  when  thou  comest  into  *  thy  king- 
dom. 

43  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Verily  I  say 
unto  thee.  To-day  shalt  thou  be  vnth  me 
in /paradise. 

44  H  And  0\t  was  about  the  sixth  hour, 
and  there  was  a  darkness  over  all  the 
8  earth  until  the  ninth  h^'ur. 

45  And  the  sun  was  darkened,  and  "the 
veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  the  midst. 

46  And  when  Jesus  had  cried  with  a  loud 
voice  he  said,  •  Father,  into  thy  hands  I 

67 


A.  D.  33. 


CHAP.  23. 

1  Or, 
assented. 
Ei  '23.  2. 
John  19. 
16. 

9  Pro.  17.15. 
J"  John  19.17. 

•  ch.  21.  Zi. 
t  U,  2.  19. 

Hos.  10.  8. 

Rev.  e  10. 

B«T.  0.  6. 

U  Pro.  11.31. 

Jer.  25.  29. 

Eie.  21147 

Ete.21.3,4. 

1  Pet.  4.17. 

V  U  53.  12. 
Mat.  27.38. 

«"  JIar.15.22. 
Johnl9.17. 

2  Or.  the 
place  of  a 
skull. 
Heb.  13.12. 

X  Mat.  6.  44. 
Acts  7.  W). 
1  Cor.  4.12. 

V  Acts  3.  17. 

*  John  19.2.3. 
o  Ps.  22.  17. 

Zech.  12. 
10. 
b  John  19.19. 


h.  5.  U. 


d  £) 

•  Heb.  1.  3. 
Heb.  8  1. 

/  Kev.  2.  7. 
g  Mar.  15  33. 
3  Or,  land. 
h  M.it.  27 .51. 

2  Cor.  3.14. 

Erh.  2.  14. 

Hob.  6.  19. 
t  P..  31.  6. 

1  Pet.  2.23. 
}  John  19.30. 

Phil.  2.  8. 

*  Mat.  27  54. 
{  Ps.  38.  11. 

John  19.25. 
m  Mat  27.57. 
n  1  Ti.  6.  22. 
"  ch.  2.  26, 

P  M^t.  27.59. 
9  13.63.9. 
r  ch.  8.  2. 
«  JUr.  15.47. 
t  Mar.  16.  1. 
«t  Ex.  20.  10. 

Is.  56.  2,6. 

a.  58.  13. 

Jer.  17.24. 


CHAP.  24. 
a  Mat.  28. 1. 

Mark  16.1. 

John  20. 1. 
6  ch.  23.  66. 
e  Mark  16.  6. 
d  John  20.12. 
AeU  1.  10. 
1  Ur,  Him 

that 

livothT 

lTi.1.17. 

Rev.  1.  18. 

«Mat.  16.21. 

Mark  8.  31. 

ch.  9.  22. 

f  John  2.  22. 

g  Mat.  28.  8 

Mar.  16.10. 
■ft  oh.  8.  ; 
i  Jatm  ao.  3. 


commend  my  spirit:  J  and  having  said  thus, 
he  gave  up  the  ghost. 

47  H  Now  *  when  the  centurion  saw  what 
was  done,  he  glorified  God,  saying.  Cer- 
tainly this  was  a  righteous  man. 

48  And  all  the  people  that  came  together 
to  that  si^'ht,  beliolding  the  things  which 
were  done,  smote  their  breasts,  and  re- 
turned. 

49  And  'all  his  acquaintance,  and  the 
women  that  folk>wed  him  from  Galilee, 
stood  afar  off,  beholding  these  things. 

60  H  And,  "*  behold,  there  was  a  maa 
named  Joseph,  a  counsellor;  and  he  was  a 
good  man,  and  a  just: 

51  (The  same  "  had  not  consented  to  the 
counsel  and  deed  of  them:)  he  was  of 
Arimathea,  a  city  of  the  Jews:  "who  also 
himself  waited  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

52  This  man  went  unto  Pilate,  and  begged 
the  body  of  Jesus. 

53  And  *  he  took  it  down,  and  wrapped  it 
in  linen,  and  laid  it  in  '  a  sepulchre  that 
was  hewn  in  stone,  wherein  never  mau  be- 
fore was  laid. 

54  And  that  day  was  the  preparation,  and 
the  sabbath  drew  on. 

55  H  And  the  women  also,  ''which  came 
with  him  from  Galilee,  followed  after,  and 
beheld  *  the  sepulchre,  and  how  his  body 
was  laid. 

56  And  they  returned,  and  *  prepared 
spices  and  ointments ;  and  rested  the  sab- 
b.-ith  day,  "according  to  the  command- 
ment. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

1  Christ's  resurrection  declared  to  the  women :  9 

thty  report  it  to  others.     I'i  Christ  himself  ap^ 

peareth:  49  he  promiseth  the  Holy  Ghosts  61  At* 

aseeitsion  to  heaven. 

"fyJOW  "upon  the  first  day  ot  the  week, 

•^^  very  early  in  the  morniiig,  they  came 

unto  the  sepulchre,  *brindng  the  spices 

which   they   had   prepared,   and   certain 

others  with  them. 

2  And  they  found  the  stone  rolled  away 
from  the  sepulchre. 

3  And  '  ihey  entered  in,  and  found  not  the 
body  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

4  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  were  much 
perplexed  thereabout,  <*  behold,  two  men 
stood  by  them  in  shining  garments: 

5  And  as  they  were  afraid,  and  bowed 
down  t)teir  faces  to  the  earth,  they  said 
unto  them,  Why  seek  ye  i  the  living  among 
the  dead? 

6  He  is  not  here,  but  is  risen:  *  remember 
how  he  spake  unto  you  when  he  was  yet  iu 
GaUiee, 

7  Saving,  The  Son  of  man  must  be  d©- 
livered  into  the  hands  of  sinful  men,  and  be 
cmciHed,  and  the  third  day  rise  again. 

8  And /they  remembered  his  words, 

9  And  *'  retiumed  from  the  sepulchre,  and 
told  all  these  things  unto  the  eleven,  and 
to  all  the  rest. 

10  It  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and  '•  Joanna, 
and  Alary  the  motlitr  of  James,  and  other 
women  that  were  with  them,  which  told 
these  things  unto  the  apostles. 

11  And  their  words  seemed  to  them  as  idle 
tales,  and  they  believed  them  not. 

12  Then  » arose  Peter,  and  ran  unto  the 
sepulchre;  and  stooping  do«Ti,  he  behelti 
the  Unen  clothes  laid  by  themselves,  and 
departed,  wondering  in  himsell"  at  that 
which  Wiis  come  to  pass.  ^  ^,    . 

13  H  And,  behold,  two  of  them  went  that 


InsUMlan  bfihe  Sitpptr. 


■LUKE,  XXH. 


'Agdny  in  the  Garden. 


stayed  at  Bethany  probably  during  the  day.  ten.    have  au  end— are  rarddly  drawing  to  a 
there  shall  a  mau,  itc— See  on  ch.  19.  29-S2.  I  close,    two  swords  ,, ,  enough— they  thinking 


14-18.  the  hour— about   six  p.m.     Between  t  he 


three  and  this  hour  the  lamb  was  killed. 
(Ex.  12.  6,  marg.)    with  desire  ...  desired - 


referred  to  present  defence,  while  Jhia 


answer  showed  He  meant  sometliins  else. 
""  ■"      Agony  in  thje  GARDE>r 


'earnestly  have  I  longed'  (as  Ge.  31.  30,  "sore  wout— See  J.  18.  2.    the  place— the  Garden  of 
lon^edst").     Why?._lt  was  to  be  Hisja.st  Gethsemane,  on  the  w.  or  city  side  of  the 


mount.    Comparing  all  the  accounts  of  tliis 
mysteriousscene,  the  facts   appear  to  b 


"before  He  suffered"— and  so  became  "Christ 

our  Fasxover  sacrificed  for  v^'  1  Co.  5.  7.),'...^., „ ^,  ,,,^  ,„^,.,   ,.i.,....v.    iv,  .o 

when  it  was  "fulfilled  in  the  Kingdom  of  these:  1.)  He  bid  9  of  the  12  remain  "here" 
Ood,"  the  typical  ordinance  thenceforth '  while  He  went  and  prayed  "  yonder."  i2.) 
disappearing,  took  the  cup— the  first  ofjHe  "took  the  other  3,  Peter,  James,  and 
several  partaken  of  in  this  service,  divide  it,  j  John,  and  began  to  be  sore  amazed  appalled', 
for,  &c.— Q.  d.  'It  is  to  be  1/our  last  as  well  as  i  sorrowful,  and  very  heavy  .'oppressed  ,  and 
Mine,'"untUtheKingdomof  God  come;"  or  said.  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful  even 
as  it  is  "beautifully  given  in  M.  26.  29,  "  until  I  unto  death"—'  I  feel  as  if  nature  would  sink 
that  day  when  I  shall  drink  it  new  with  you  in  !  under  this  load,  as  if  life  were  ebbing  out, 
my  Father's  kingdom."  It  was  th^.  point  of  and  death  coming  before  its  time'—"  tarry 
transitionbctweentv:o€conoiniesandtheirtwo  ye  here,  and  watch  with  me;"  not,  'Witness 
if/reoi/esfirafo,  the  one  about  to  close  for  ever.  Ifor  me,  but.  'Bear  me  company.'  ItdidHim 
the  otlier  immediately  to  open  and  run  its !  good,  it  seems,  to  have  them  beside  Him. 


luajestic  cai-eer  until  from  earth  it  be  trans 

ferred  to  heaven.  21,  22.  8ee  on  J.  13.  21,  d'c.  I  Illm:  He  must  be  aloiie. 
24  30.  there  was— or  'had  been,'  referring '  drawn  from  them  about 
probably  to  some  symptoms  of  the  fonner  ' ' 
strife  which  had  re-appeared,  perhaps  on 
seeing  the  whole  paschal  arrangements  com- 
mitted to  two  of  the  Twelve.  See  on  Mk. 
10.  42-45.  benefactors  —  a  title  which  the 
vanity  of  princes  easerly  coveted,  but  ye 
not— of  how  little  avail  has  tliis  condemna- 
tion of  "lordship"  and  vain  titles  been 
a,:,'ainst  the  vanity  of  Christian  ecclesiastics  ? 
continued,  <fec.— attecting  e\idence  of  Christ  s 
tender  susceptibility  to  human  sympathy 
and  support  J  See  on  J.  6.  66,  67  ;  16.  32.)  I 
appoint,  &c.— "WTio  is  this  that  dispenses 
kuigdoras,  nay,  the  Kingdom  of  kingdoms, 
within  an  hour  or  two  of  his  apprehen- 
sion, and  less  than  a  day  of  his  shameful 
death?  These  sublime  contrasts,  however, 
lierpetually  meet  and  entrance  us  in  this 
matchless  History,  eat  and  drink,  <tc.— 
«ee  on  v.  16,  and  on  ch.  18.  28,  &c.  31-.34, 
Simon,  Simon— See  on  ch.  10.  41.  desired 
to  have— rather,  'hath  obtained  you,'  pro- 
perly 'asked  and  obtained;'  alluding  to 
Job  (1.  6-12;  2.  1-6),  whom  he  solicited  and 
obtained  that  he  might  sift  him  as  wheat, 
insinuating  as  "the  accuser  of  the  brethren 
(lie.  12.  10.)  that  he  would  find  chaff  enough 
in  his  religion,  if  indeed  there  was  any  wheat 
at  aU.  to  have  you— not  Peter  only,  but  them 
all.  but  I  have  prayed— have  been  doing  it 
already,  for  thee— as  most  in  danger.  (See 
out'.  61,  62.)  fail  not— i.e.,  entirely,  for  par- 
tially it  did  fail,  converted— brought  back 
afresh  as  a  penitent  disciple,  strengthen, 
icc.—q.d.,  make  use  of  thy  bitter  experience 
for  the  fortifying  of  thy  tempted  brethren. 
1  am  ready,  &c.  —  honest-hearted,  warmly- 
attached  disciple,  thinking  thy  present  feel- 
ings inunoveable  as  a  rock,  thou  shalt  find 
them  in  the  hour  of  temptation  unstable 


(3  )  But  soon  even  they  were  too  much  for 
■'He  was  with- 
stone's-cast" — 
though  near  enoui^h  for  them  to  be  competent 
witnesses— and  kneeled  down,  uttering  that 
most  affecting  prayer  iMk.  14.  3U,),  that  if 
possible  "the  cup,"  of  His  approaching 
death,  "  might  pass  from  Him,  but  if  not. 
His  Father's  will  be  done:"  implying  that  in 
itelf  it  was  so  purely  revoltins^  that  only  its 
being  the  Father's  wiU  would  induce  Him  to 
taste  it.  but  that  iit,  that  view  of  it  He  was 
perfectly  prepared  to  drink  it  up.  It  is  no 
struggle  between  a  reluctant  and  a  compliant 
will,  but  betweeen  two  views  of  one  event— 
an  abstract  and  a  relative  view  of  it,  in  the 
one  of  which  it  was  revoking,  in  the  other 
welcome.  By  signifying  how  it  felt  in  the  om 
view.  He  shows  his  beautiful  oneness  with 
ourselves  in  nature  and  feeling;  by  express- 
ing how  He  regarded  it  in  the  other  Ught.  He 
reveals  his  absolute  obediential  subjection 
to  His  Father.  (4.)  On  this,  having  a  mo- 
mentary relief,  for  it  came  upon  Him,  we 
imagine,  by  surges.  He  returns  to  the  3,  and 
finding  them  sleeping,  He  addresses  them 
afiectingly,  particularly  Feter,  as  in  Mk.  14. 
37,  S8.  Be  then  i5.)  goes  back,  not  now  to 
kneel, but  feU  on  his  face  on  the  ground,  saying 
the  same  words,  but  with  this  turn,  "  If  this 
cupwaj,'«o<pass,"<fcc.  M.  26.  Y>.]—q.d.,  'Yes.I 
understand  this  my.sterious  silence'Ps.:22.l-6) ; 
it  may  not  pass;  I  am  to  drink  it,  and  I  wUl— 
"  Thy  wiU  be  done!"  (6.)  Again,  for  amoment 
relieved,  he  returns  and  finds  them  "  sleep- 
ing for  sorrow,"  warns  them  as  before,  but 
puts  a  loving  construction  upon  it,  separating 
between  the  "  willing  spirit'  and  the  "  weak 
flesh."  i7.  Once  Uiore,  returning  to  his  soli- 
tary spot,  the  surges  rise  higher,  beat  more 
tempestuously,  and  seem  ready  to  overwhelm 
Him.  To  fortify  Him  for  this,  "  there  ap- 
peared an  angel  unto   Him   from  heaven 


„„  water:  "I  have  been  praying  for  i  strengthening  Him"— not  to  minister  light 
thee,"  therefore  thy  faith  shall  not  perish; lor  comiort,  iHe  was  to  have  none  of  that, 
but  thinking  this  superfluous,  thou  shalt :  and  they  were  not  needed  nor  fitted  to  con- 
find  that  "  he  that  tmsteth  in  his  own  heart  1  vey  it./  but  purely  to  sustain  and  brace  up 
is  a  fool."  iPr.  28.  26.)  cock  crow—"  twice."  i  sinking  nature  for  a  yet  hotter  and  fiercer 
Mk.  14.  30.  35-38.  but  now— that  you  are  j  struggle.  And  now,  He  is  "in  an  agony,  and 
going  forth  not  as  before  on  a  temporary  ,  prays  more  earnestly— even  Christ  s  prayer, 
mission,  provided  tor  without  purse  or, it  seems,  admitted  of  and  now  dem-auded 
scrip,  but  into  scenes  of  continued  and  i  such  increase— and  His  sweat  was  as  it  were 
Severe  trial,  your  mef/tods  must  be  difierent; '  great  diops  (literally  clots)  of  blood  faUirg 
for  purse  and  scrip  will  now  be  needed  for  i  down  to  the  ground. '  What  was  this ?  hot 
support,  and  the  usual  means  of  defence. !  His  proper  sacrificial  offering,  though  esscn- 
tlie  things  coLcemug  me— decreed  and  writ- 1  tial  to  it.  It  wau  just  tiie  internal  gtruggle. 


'  Jesus  Wore  Eerod. 


LUTCE,  xxm. 


He  is  led  away  to  he  Crucified., 


apparently  hushing  itself  before,  but  now 
swelling  up  a^ain,  convulsing  His  whole  in 
ner  man,  and  this  so  afiecting  His  animal 
nature  that  the  sweat  oozed  out  from  every 
pore  in  thick  drops  of  blood,  falling  to  the 
ground.  It  was  just  slutddering  nature  and 
indomitable  will  struggling  together.  But 
again  the  cry.  If  it  must  be.  Thy  will  be  done, 
issues  from  His  lips,  and  all  is  over.  "  The 
bitterness  of  death  is  past."  He  has  antici- 
pated and  rehearsed  His  final  conflict  and 
won  the  victory— now  on  the  theatre  oi  an 
invincible  will,  as  then  on  the  arena  of  the 
Cross.  '  I  will  sufler,'  is  the  grand  result  of 
Gethsemane;  "It  is  finished"  is  the  shout 
that  bursts  from  the  Cross.  The  Will  with- 
out the  Deed  had  been  all  in  vain;  but  His 
work  was  consummated  when  He  carried  the 
now  manifested  Will  into  the  palpable  Deed, 
•*  by  the  which  will    we    are    sanctified 

THKOUGH  THE  OFFERING  OF  THE  BODY  OF 

Jesus  Christ  once  for  all."  (He.  10.  10. ' 
(8.)  At  the  close  of  the  whole  scene,  finding 
them  still  sleeping  (worn  out  with  continued 
sorrow  and  racking  anxiety).  He  bids  them, 
with  an  irony  of  deep  emotion,  "  sleep  on 
now  and  take  their  rest,  the  hour  is  come, 
the  Son  of  Man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of 
simiers,  rise,  let  us  be  going,  the  traitor  is  at 
hand."  And  while  He  spake,  Judas  ap- 
proached with  his  armed  band.  Tims  they 
proved  "  miserable  comfortei-s, "  broken 
reeds  ;  and  thus  in  His  whole  work  He  was 
alone,  and  "  of  the  people  there  was  none 
with  Him." 

47-54.  Betrayal  and  Apprehension  of 
Jesus— Flight  of  His  Disciples. 

55-62.  Jesus  Before  Caiaphas  — Fall 
OF  Peter.  The  particulars  of  these  two 
sections  require  a  combination  of  all  the 
nan-atives,  for  which  see  on  J.  18.  1,  &c. 

63-71.  Jesus  Condemned  to  Die  and 
Shamefully  Entreated.— See  on  Mk.  14. 
53-6^;  J.  IS.  10,  (fee.    i^ee  on  55-G2.J 

C^IAFTER  XXIII. 
'   Ver.  1-5.    Jesus  before  Pilate    See  on 
Mk.  15.  1-5;  and  J.  IS.  28,  <fec. 

6-12.  Jesus  before  Herod.  See  on  Mk. 
15.  6.  sent  him  to  Herod— hoping  thus  to 
escape  the  dilemma  of  an  unjust  condemna- 
tion or  an  unpopular  release,  at  Jerusalem . . 
at  that  time— to  keep  the  Passover,  some  mir- 
acle—Fine sport  thouexpectest,  as  the  Philis- 
tines with  Samson  (Ju.  16.  25.),  O  coarse, 
crafty,  cruel  tyrant!  But  thou  hast  been 
baulked  before  (see  on  ch.  13.  31-33,)  and 
Shalt  be  again,  answered  nothing— See  M.  7. 
6.  stood  and  vehemently  accused  him— no  doubt 
both  of  treason  before  the  king,  and  of  bias- 
plu'.niy,  for  the  king  was  a  Jew.  and  his  men 
of  war— his  body-guard,  set  him  at  nought, 
A^c. —stung  with  disappointment  at  His  re- 
fusal to  amuse  him  with  miracles  or  answer 
any  of  his  questions,  gorgeous  robe—'  bright 
robe.'  If  this  mean  as  sometimes)  of  shining 
white,  this  being  the  royal  colour  among  the 
Jews,  it  may  have  been  in  derision  of  His 
claim  to  be  "  King  of  the  Jews."  But  if  so, 
'he  in  reality  honoured  Him,  as  did  Pilate 
vith  His  true  title  blazoned  on  the  cross.' 
[Beng.]  sent  him  again  to  Pilate— instead  of 
releasing  Him  as  He  ought,  having  esta- 
blished nothing  against  Him  (v.  14, 15.)  '  Thus 
he  implicated  himself  with  Pilate  in  all  the 
guilt  of  His  condemnation,  and  with  him 
accordingly  he  is  classed,  A.  4.  27.'  [Beng.] 
at  e^raity- i)erliaps  about  some  point  of  dis- 


puted jurisdiction,  which  this  exchange  of 
the  Prisoner  might  tend  to  heal. 

13-38.  Jesus  again  before  Pilate— 
Delivered  up— Led  away  to  be  Cruci- 
fied. See  on  Mk.  15.  6-15;  and  J.  19.  2,  <Sjc. 
26.  Cyrenian— of  CjTene,  in  Libya,  on  the  N. 
coast  of  Africa,  where  were  many  Jews  who 
had  a  synagogue  at  Jerusalem  (A.  6.  9,  and 
see  2.  10.)  He  was  "  the  father  of  Alexander 
and  Rufus,"  (Mk.  15.  21j)  probably  better 
known  afterwards  than  hmiself,  as  disciples. 
See  E.  16.  13.  out  of  the  country— and  casu- 
ally drawn  into  that  part  of  the  crowd,  laid 
the  cross— "him  they  compel  to  bear  his 
cross,"  (M.  27.  32,)— sweet  compulsion,  if  it 
is.su ed  in  him  or  his  sons  voluntarily  "tak- 
ing up  their  cross. I"  It  would  appear  that 
our  Lord  had  first  to  bear  his  own  cross  (J. 
19.  17,),  but  being  from  exhaustion  miable  to 
proceed,  it  was  laid  on  another  to  bear  it 
"after  him."  27-31.  women— not  the  precious 
Galilean  women  [v.  49,1  but  part  of  the  crowd. 
not  for  me,  Arc— noble  spirit  of  compassion, 
rising  above  His  own  dread  endurances,  in 
tender  commiseration  of  sufferings  yet  in 
the  distance  and  far  lighter,  but  without  His 
supiwrts  and  consolations!  mountains. .  .hills, 
&c.— (Ho.  10.  8,  fljing  hither  and  thither  as 
they  did  in  despair  for  shelter,  during  the 
siege;  a  very  slight  premonition  of  cries  of 
another  and  more  awful  kind.  (Is.  2.  10,  19, 
21;  Re.  6.  16,  17.)  green  tree— that  naturally 
resists  the  fire,  the  dry— that  attracts  the 
fire,  being  its  proper  fuel.  The  proverb  here 
plainly  means  :  '  If  such  sufferings  alight 
upon  the  innocent  One,  the  very  Lamb  of 
God,  what  must  be  in  store  lor  those  who  are 
provoking  the  flames?" 

32-38,  44-46.     CRUCIFIXION  AND  DeATH  OF 

the  Lord  Jesus.    See  on  J.  19. 17-30. 

39-43.  The  Two  Thieves.  39.  railed  on 
him— catching  ui3  the  universal  derision,  but 
with  a  turn  of  his  own.  Jesus,  "  reviled,  re- 
viles not  again:"  but  another  voice  from  the 
cross  shall  nobly  wipe  out  this  dishonour 
and  turn  it  to  the  unspeakable  glorv  of  the 
dying  Redeemer.  Dost  not  thou—"  Thou"  is 
emphatic  :  '  Let  others  jeer,  but  dost  thouf 
fear  God:— 'Hast  thou  no  fear  of  meeting 
Him  so  soon  as  thy  righteous  Judge?'  Thou 
art  within  an  hour  or  two  of  eternity,  and 
dost  thou  spend  it  in  reckless  disregard  of 
coming  judgment  ?  in  the  same  condemnation 
— '  He  has  been  condemned  to  die,  but  is  it 
better  with  thee?  Doth  even  a  common  lot 
kindle  no  sympathy  in  thy  breast?  we  justly, 
&c.— He  owns  the  worst  of  his  crimes  and 
deserts,  and  would  fain  shame  his  fellow  into 
tlie  same,  notliing  amiss— lit.  '  out  of  place;' 
hence  'unnatural:'  a  striking  term  here. 
Our  Lord  was  not  charged  with  ordinary 
crime,  but  only  with  laying  claim  to  office 
and  honours  which  amounted  to  blasphemy. 
The  charge  of  treason  had  not  even  a  show  of 
truth,  as  Pilate  told  His  enemies.  In  this 
defence  then  there  seems  more  than  meets 
the  eye.  'He  made  Himself  the  promised 
IVlessiah,  the  Son  of  God;  but  in  this  He 
"did  nothing  amiss:"  He  ate  with  publicans 
and  sinners,  and  bid  all  the  weary  and  hea^^r 
laden  come  and  rest  under  His  wing;  but  in 
tliis  He  "  did  nothing  amiss:"  He  claimed  to 
be  Lord  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,  to  shut  it 
at  will,  but  also  to  open  it  at  pleasure  even 


to  such  as  we  are;  but  in  this  He  "did  nothing 
"  Does  his  next  speech  imply  less  than 
this  i   Observe  (1.)  His  frauk  confession  ancj 


TJie  Two  Thieves. 


LtJKE.  XXIV. 


Chrisfs  Resximdion  Declared. 


genuine  self-oonrtemnation.    (2.)  His  aston- 
ishment and  horror  at   the  very 
state  of  his  fello\\^s  mind.    (3.)  His  anxiety 


to  bring  him  to  a  better  mind  while  yet 
there  was  hope.  (4,!  His  noble  testimony 
not  only  to  the  innocence  of  Jesus,  but  to  all 
that  this  implied  of  the  rightfulness  of  His 
claims.  Said  to  Jesus,  &c.— Observe  here 
(1.)  The  "kingdoiu"  referred  to  was  one  be- 
yond the  grave;  for  it  is  inconceivable  that 
he  should  have  exijected  Him  to  come  down 
from  the  cross  to  erect  any  temporal  king- 
dom. (2.)  ITiis  he  calls  Christ's  own  (thy 
kingdom.  (3.1  As  such,  he  sees  in  Christ  the 
absolute  right  to  dispose  of  that  kingdom 
to  whom  He  pleased.  (4.)  He  does  not 
presume  to  ask  a  place  in  that  kingdom 
though  that  is  what  he  means,  but  with 
a  humility  quite  affecting,  just  says  "  Lord, 
remember  me  when,"  &c.  Yet  was  there 
mighty  faith  in  that  word.  If  Christ  wiD 
but  "tliink  upon  him"  CNe.  5.  19.),  at  that 
august  moment  when  He  "  comeih  into  his 
kingdom,"  it  will  do.  *  Only  assure  me  that 
then  Thou  wilt  not  forget  such  a  wretch  as  I, 
that  once  hung  by  thy  side,  and  I  am  content. 
Now  contrast  with  this  bright  act  of  faith 
the  darkness  even  of  tlie  apostles'  minds, 
who  could  hardly  begot  to  believe  that  their 
Master  would  die  at  all,  who  now  were 
almost  despairiug  of  Hun,  and  who  when 
dead  had  almost  buried  their  hopes  in  His 
giave.  Consider  too  the  man's  previous 
aisadvardcKjes  and  bad  life.  And  then  mark 
how  his  faith  comes  out— not  in  protesta- 
tions, 'Lord  I  cannot  doubt,  I  am  firmly 
persuaded  that  Thou  art  Lord  of  a  kingdom, 
that  death  cannot  disannid  thy  title  nor  im- 
pede the  assumption  of  it  in  due  time,' 
<ta— but  as  having  no  shadow  of  doubt,  and 
rising  above  it  as  a  question  altogether,  he 
just  says  "  Lord  remember  me  when  thou 
comest,"  &c.— Was  ever  faith  like  thLs  ex- 
hibited upon  eaith'?  It  looks  as  if  the 
brightest  crown  had  been  reserved  for  the 
Saviour's  head  at  His  darkest  moment ! 
Jesus  said,  &c.— The  dying  Redeemer  speaks 
as  if  He  Himself  viewed  it  in  this  light.  It 
was  a  "song  in  the  night."  It  ministered 
cheer  to  His  spirit  in  tlie  midnight  gloom 
tliat  now  enwrapt  it.  verily  I  say  unto  thee— 
'teince  thou  speakest  as  to  the  king,  with 
kingly  authority  speak  I  to  thee.'  to-day— 
*  lliou  art  prepared  for  a  long  delay  before 
I  come  into  my  Kingdom,  but  not  a  day's 
delay  shall  there  be  tor  thee,  thou  shalt  not 
be  parted  from  me  even  for  a  moment,  but 
togetlier  we  shall  go,  and  with  JMe,  ere  this 
day  expire,  shalt  thou  be  in  paradise'  future 
bliss,  2  Co.  12.  4;  Ke.  2.  7.),  Learn  (1.)  How 
"  One  is  taken  and  another  lelt.-"  (2.)  How 
easily  divine  teaching  can  raise  the  rudest 
and  worst  above  the  best  instructed  and 
most  devoted  servants  of  Christ ;  (;<.)  How 
prebXimption  and  desiKiir  on  a  death  hour 
'  are  equally  discountenanced  here,  the  one  in 
the  impenitent  thief,  the  other  in  his  peni- 
tent ieUow. 

47  50.  SlGisrS  AND  CTRCtTMSTAJICES  FOL- 
LOWING His  Death— His  JbJuEXAi.  See  on 
M.  27.  61-iiC,  Cu-{>0;  J.  19.  31-42. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Ver.  1-12.  ANiKLIC  ANNOtrNCEMENT  TO 
THE  WoiNfEN  THAI  CllKiST  IS  illSEN — 
VetER's  ViblT  TO  THE  IlJirTY  SEPULCHRE. 

See  O"  Mk.  13.  1-8 ;  and  M.  28.  l-o.    6.  why, 

4c  — Astouishiug  ciucstion  I  uot '  the  rtsan,' 

67: 


but  '  the  Living  One"  (cf.  He.  1. 18);  and  tha 
surprise  expressed  in  it  imrilies  an  incon- 
gruitij  in  His  being  there  at  all,  as  if,  though 
He  miglit  mbmit  to  it,  "  it  was  impossible 
He  should  be  holdcn  of  it."  (A.  2.  1.4.  6.  in 
Galilee— to  whicli  these  women  themselves 
belonged,  ch.  23.  55.  7.  saying,  &c.— How  re- 
markable it  is  to  hear  angels  quoting  a  whole 
sentence  of  Christ's  to  the  disciples,  mention- 
ing where  it  lyas  uttered,  and  wondering  it 
was  not  fresh  on  their  memory,  as  doubtless 
it  was  in  their's!  (1  Ti.  3.  16,  *'  seen  of 
angels,"  and  l  Pe.  1. 12.)  10.  Joanna— See  oa 
ch.  8.  1-3.  12.  Peter.  &a— See  on  J.  20.  1.  &c. 
13-35.  Christ  Appears  to  the  Tw^o 
Going  to  Ejvijiaus.  13.  two  of  them— one 
was  Cleopas  18  ,  who  the  other  was  is  mere 
conjecture.  Emmaus— about  "^  miles  from  Je- 
rusalem. They  probably  lived  there  and  were 
going  home  after  the  Passover.  14-16.  com- 
muned and  reasoned— exchanged  views  an4 
feelings,  weighing  afresh  all  the  facts,  as  de- 
tailed in  V.  18-24.  drew  near— coming  up  be- 
hind them,  a  from  Jenisalem.  eyes  holden— 
Partly,  He  was  ' '  in  another  form"  i  Mk.  16. 12,) 
and  partly  there  seems  to  have  been  an  opera- 
tion on  their  own  vision;  though  certainly, 
as  they  did  uot  believe  that  He  was  alive. 
Wis  company  as  a  fellow-traveller  was  the 
last  thing  they  would  expect.  17-24.  commu- 
nications, &c.— The  words  imply  the  earnest 
discussion  that  liad  appeared  in  their  man- 
ner. 18.  knowest  not.  Arc— If  he  knew  not  the 
events  of  the  last  few  days  in  Jerusalem,  he 
must  be  a  mere  sojourner;  il'  he  did,  now 
could  he  suppose  they  would  be  talking  of 
anything  else  y  How  artless  all  this  !  con- 
cerning Jesus,  &c.— As  if  feeling  it  a  relief  to 
have  some  one  to  imburdeii  his  thoughts 
and  feelings  to,  this  disciple  goes  over  the 
main  facts,  in  his  ovmi  desponding  stvle,  and 
this  was  just  what  our  Lord  wished,  we 
trusted,  &c.— Tiiey  expected  the  promised. 
Deliverance  at  His  liand,  but  in  the  current 
sen»e  of  it,  not  by  His  death,  besides  aU  this 
—not  only  did  his  death  seem  to  give  the 
fatal  blow  to  their  hoi)es,  but  He  had  been 
two  days  dead  already,  and  tins  was  the 
third.  It  is  true,  they  add,  some  of  our 
women  gave  us  a  surprise,  telling  us  of  a 
vision  of  angels  they  liad  at  the  emijty  grave 
this  morning  that  said  He  was  alive,  and 
some  of  ourselves  who  went  thither  con- 
firmed their  statement ;  but  then.  Himself 
they  saw  not.  A  dolctul  tale  truly,  told  out 
of  the  deepest  despondency.  25-27.  fools — 
senseless,  without  understanding,  ought 
not  Christ—'  the  Christ,'  '  the  Messiah.'  to 
suffer  . .  .  and  enter--i.e.,  through  the  gate  of 
sulTering  (and  suffering  *'  thei'e  things,"  or 
such  a  death)  to  enter  into  his  glory.  '  Ye 
believe  in  the  glory-  but  these  very  suffer- 
ings are  the  predicted  gate  of  entrance  into 
it.'  Moses  and  all  the  prophets,  <i:c.— Here 
our  Lord  both  teaches  us  tne  reverence  due 
to  O.  T.  Scripture,  and  the  great  burden  of 
it—"  Him.self."  28-31.  made  as  though,  <kc.— 
cf.  Mk.  6.  48;  Ge.  18.  3,  5;  32.  24-l6.  con- 
strained, &c.— But  lor  this,  the  whole  design 
of  the  intense w  had  been  lo.st;  butii  vxisnot 
to  be  lost,  tor  He  who  only  wished  to  be  con- 
strained had  kindled  a  longing  in  the  hearts 
of  his  travelling  companions  which  was  not 
to  be  so  easily  put  off.  And  does  not  this 
still  repeat  itself  in  the  interviews  of  the 
Saviour  with  his  loving,  longing  disciples  I 
Else  why  do  they  say. 


Christ  appears  to  Ids  disctples. 


LUKE,  XXIV. 


His  ascension  to  heaven. 


same  day  to  a  rilli^e  called  Enimaus, 
which  was  from  J  erusalem  about  threescore 
furlongs. 

14  And  they  ^"talked  together  of  all  these 
things  wiiich  had  happened. 

15  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  while  they 
communed  together  and  reasoned,  *  Jesus 
himself  drew  near,  and  went  with  them. 

16  But '  their  eyes  were  holdeu  that  they 
should  not  know  him. 

17  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  manner 
of  communiwxtions  are  these  that  ye  have 
one  to  another,  as  ye  walk,  and  are  sad? 

18  And  the  one  of  them,  "*  whose  name 
was  Cleopas,  answering  said  unto  him,  Art 
thou  only  a  stranger  in  .Jerusalem,  and 
hast  not  known  the  things  which  are  come 
to  pass  there  in  these  days? 

19  And  he  said  imto  them.  What  things? 
And  they  said  unto  him,  Concerning  Jesus 
of  Nazareth, "  which  was  a  prophet "  mighty 
in  deed  tod  word  before  God  and  all  the 
people: 

20  And  P  how  the  chief  priests  and  our 
rulers  delivered  him  to  be  condemned  to 
death,  and  have  crucified  him. 

21  But  we  trusted  « that  it  had  been  he 
which  shiiuld  have  redeemed  Israel:  and 
besides  all  this,  to-day  is  the  thii-d  day 
since  these  things  were  done. 

22  Yea,  and  certain  women  also  of  our 
company  made  us  astonished,  which  were 
early  at  the  sepulchre ; 

23  And  when  they  found  not  his  body,  they 
came,  saying,  that  they  had  also  seen  a 
vision  of  angels,  which  said  that  hewas  alive. 

24  And  certain  of  them  which  were  with 
US  went  to  the  sepulchre,  and  found  it  even 
so  as  the  women  bad  said:  but  him  they 
saw  not, 

25  Then  he  said  unto  them,  O  fools,  and 
slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  pro- 
phets have  spoken! 

26  Ought  "^not  Christ  to  have  suffered 
these  things,  and  to  enter  into  his  glory? 

27  And  beginning  at  *  Moses  and  *  all  the 
I'rophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all 
the  Scriptures  the  things  concerning  him- 

6df. 

28  And  they  drew  nigh  unto  the  village 
whither  they  went:  and  ''he  made  as 
though  he  would  have  gone  farther. 

29  But  they  constrained  him,  saying. 
Abide  with  us;  for  it  is  toward  evening, 
and  the  day  is  far  spent.  And  he  went  m 
to  tarry  with  them. 

oO  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sat  at  meat 
with  them,  he  took  bread,  and  blessed  it, 
and  brake,  and  gave  to  them. 

31  And  then-  eyes  were  opened,  and  they 
knew  hku;  aud  be  -  vanished  out  of  their 
sight. 


cuaP.  u. 

}  Deu.  6.  7. 

Mai.  3  16. 

k  Mat  IS  20. 

1  John  al.  4. 
♦»  John  19. 

n  Acts  2.  22 
o  AcU  7.  2-J. 
P  Acts  13.27. 
Q  Acts  1.  6. 
r  Acts  17.  a, 
Fl.il.  2. 

e-u. 

1  Fet.  1.11 
»  Gen.  3. 15. 

Gen.  22.1S. 

Gen,  2-3.  4, 

Gen.  49.10. 

Nu  21.  9. 

Deu.  18  15. 
t  l'«.  10.  9. 

P«.  22. 

Ps.  132.11. 

Is.  7.  14. 

Is.  9.  6. 

Is.  41).  10. 

Is.  60.  6. 

U  53. 

Jer.  23.  6. 

Jer.  Si  14. 

Eze.  H  21. 

Eza.37  26 

Dan.  9.  24 

Mic.  7.  20. 

Mai.  3.  1. 

Mai.  4.  2. 

John  1.45. 
"  Geo.  32  2a. 

2  Or,  ceased 
to  be  seen 


ch.  4.  30. 
"  1  Cor.  16.5. 
u>  Acts  10.41. 
■t  Mat.  10.21. 
V  Acts  1G.14. 

2  Cor.  4.  G. 
s  Dan.  9.  24. 

Acta  13.33. 

IJolin  2.12. 
a  Gen.  12.  3. 

Pa.  22.  27. 

Is.  49.  6. 

Jor.  31.  34. 

Hos.  2.  23. 

Mic.  4.  2. 

Mai.  1.  II. 

Gal.  S.  28. 
*  John  16.27. 

Acts  1.  22. 
«  Is.  44.  3. 

Joel  2.  28. 

Acts  2.  1. 
d  2  Ki.  2. 11. 

Eph.  1.  20. 

Eph.  4.  8. 

e  Acts  2.  40. 

Acta  5.  42. 


S2  And  they  said  one  to  another.  Did  not 
our  heart  burn  within  us,  while  he  talked 
with  us  by  the  way.  and  while  be  opened 
to  us  the  Scriptures? 

33  Aud  they  rose  up  the  same  hour,  and 
returned  to  Jerusaleni,  and  found  the 
eleven  gathered  together,  and  them  that 
were  with  thorn, 

'di  Saying,  The  Lord  is  risen  indeed,  and 
hath  *  appeared  to  Simon. 

35  And  they  told  what  things  were  done 
in  the  way,  and  how  he  was  known  of  them 
in  breaking  of  bread. 

36  H  And  as  they  thus  spake,  Jesus  him. 
self  stood  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  saith 
unto  them,  Peace  be  unto  you.  e 

37  But  they  were  teriitied  and  affrighted,  I 
and  supposed  that  they  had  seen  a  spirit.     " 

38  And  he  said  unto  them.  Why  are  ye 
troubled?  and  why  do  thoughts  arise  iu 
your  hearts? 

39  Behold  my  hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  is 
1  myself:  handle  me,  and  see;  for  a  spirit 
hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me  have. 

40  And  when  he  had  thiis  spoken,  he 
showed  them  his  hands  and  his  teet. 

41  And  while  they  yet  believed  not  for  joy, 
and  wondered,  he  said  unto  them.  Have  je 
here  any  meat? 

42  And  they  g.ave  him  a  piece  of  a  broiled 
fish,  and  of  an  honey-comb. 

43  And  **  he  took  it,  and  did  eat  before 
them. 

44  And  he  said  unto  them,  'These  are 
the  words  which  I  spake  unto  you,  while  I 
was  yet  with  you,  that  all  things  must  be 
fullilled  which  were  written  iu  the  law  of 
Moses,  and  in  the  i'rophets,  aud  in  the 
I'salms,  concerning  me. 

45  Then  "  opened  he  their  understanding, 
that  they  might  understand  the  Scriptures, 

46  And  said  unto  them.  Thus  it  is  written, 
and  thus  it  behoved  Christ  to  sutler,  and  to 
rise  from  the  dead  the  third  day: 

47  And  that  repentance  and  *  remission  of 
sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name  among 
all  "  nations,  beginnuig  at  Jerusalem. 

48  And  i- ye  are  witnesses  of  these  things. 

49  H  And,  *  behold,  I  send  the  promise  of 
my  Father  upon  you:  but  tarry  ye  in  the 
city  of  J  erusalem,  until  ye  be  endued  with 
power  from  on  high. 

50  II  And  he  led  them  out  as  far  as  to 
Bethany;  and  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and 
blessed  them. 

51  And  "f  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed 
them,  he  was  parted iioin  them.and  cairied 
up  nito  heaven. 

52  And  they  worshipped  him,  and  returned 
to  Jerusalem  with  great  joy: 

63  And  were  contmually '  in  the  temple, 
praising  and  blessing  God.    Ameii. 


THE    GOSPEL    ACCORDING    TO 

S.    JOHN. 


CHAPTER  L 

1  The  divinity  of  Christ.  14  The  in«amafion  of 
the  Word.  15  John's  testimoni/  of  Christ.  39 
The  euiting  of  Andrew,  feter,  etc. 

[N  the  beginning  "  was  the  Word,  and  the 

*•  Word  was  'with  God,  'and  the  Word 

was  God. 


CHAP.   1. 

a  Rev.  19.13. 
b  Ze.  h.  13.  7. 
c  la.  9.  6. 

ch.  10.  30. 

Phil.  2.  6. 

Tit.  a.  13. 

1  Jobs  6.7. 


2  The  same  was  in  the  beginning  with 
God. 

3  All  things  were  made  by  him;  and  with- 
out him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  waa 
made. 

4  In  him  waa  life;  and  the  lile  was  the 
light  of  men. 


Je37is  appenrs  to  iJie  Phnp^ei. 


■LUKE,  XXIV. 


A'>ide  with  me  from  morn  to  eve, 
Tor  without  Thee  I  cannot  live: 
Abide  with  me  when  nipcht  is  nigh, 
Tor  without  Thee  I  canaot  die.— Kcble. 

he  took  .  .  and  blessed  . ,  .  and  their  eyes  were 
opened— The  ,stran;;er  first  startles  them  by 
taking  the  place  of  master  at  their  own  table, 
but  on  proceeding  to  that  act  which  repro- 
duced the  whole  scene  of  the  last  Supper,  a 
rush  of  associations  and  recollections  dis- 
closed their  Guest,  and  He  stood  confessed 
before  their  astonished  gaze— their  risen 
Lord!  They  were  going  to  gaze  on  Him, 
perhaps  embrace  Him,  but  that  moment  He 
IS  gone  !  It  was  enough.  32-34.  They  now 
tell  each  to  the  other  how  their  hearts  burned 
—were  fired— within  them  at  his  talk  and 
his  expositions  of  Scripture.  *  Ah  !  this  ac- 
counts for  it :  We  could  not  understand  the 
glow  of  self-evidencing  light,  love,  glory  that 
ravished  our  hearts;  but  now  we  do.'  They 
cannot  rest— how  could  they?— they  must  go 
straight  back  and  teU  the  news.  They  find 
the  eleven,  but  ere  they  have  time  to  tell 
their  tale,  their  ears  are  saluted  with  the 
thrilling  news,  "The  Lord  is  risen  indeed, 
and  hath  appeared  to  Simon."  Most  touch- 
ing and  precious  intelligence  this.  The  only 
one  of  the  Eleven  to  whom  He  appeared  alotte 
was  he.  It  seems,  who  had  so  shamefully  de- 
nied Him.  What  passed  at  that  interview 
we  shall  never  know  here.  Probalily  it  was 
too  sacred  for  disclosure.  See  on  Mk.  16.  7. 
llie  two  from  Emmaus  now  relate  what  had 
happened  to  them,  and  while  thus  comparing 
notes  of  their  Lord's  appearances,  lo!  Himself 
stands  in  the  midst  of  them.  What  encour- 
agement to  doubting,  dark,  true-hearted 
disciples ! 

36-63.  JE.SUS  APPEAB.S  TO  THE  ASSEMBLED 

Disciples— His  Ascension  36.  Jesus  stood 
-  See  on  J.  20.  19.  37.  38.  a  spirit  — the 
ghost  of  their  dead  Lord,  but  not  Himself  in 
the  body.  (A.  12.  15;  M.  14.  26.),  thoughts  — 
rather  'reasonin.  s ;'  i.e.  whether  He  were  risen 
or  no,  and  whether  this  was  His  very  self. 
39  43.  Behold,  <fcc. —lovingly  offering  them 
both  ocular  and  tangible  demonstration  of 


His  Ascension'. 

Christ's  immediate  access  to  the  hnman  spirit 
and  absolute  power  over  it.  to  the  adjustment 
of  its  vision,  and  permanent  rectification  for 
spiritual  discernment  (than  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  conceive  a  stronger  evidence  of 
His  proper  d;  viiiity ) ;  and,  on  the  other  hand, 
making  it  certain  that  the  manner  of  inters 
pretatiiig  the  0.  T.  which  the  apostles  after~ 
yards  employed  see  the  Acts  and  Epistles) 
has  the  direct  sanction  of  Christ  himself,  be- 
hoved Christ— See  on  v.  26.  beginning  at 
Jenisalem— (1.)  As  the  metropolis  and  heart 
of  the  then  existing  kingdom  of  God:— "to 
the  Jew  first"  R.  1.  16:  A.  13.  46;  Is.  2.  3  ; 
see  on  M.  lO.  6.).  (2.'  As  the  great  reservoir 
and  laboratory  of  all  the  sin  and  crime  of 
the  nation,  thus  proclaiming  for  all  time  that 
tliere  is  mercy  in  Christ  for  the  chief  of 
sinners.  (See  on  M.  23.  37.)  witnesses— cf. 
A.  1.  8,  22.  I  send— the  present  tense,  to  inti- 
mate its  nearness,  promise  of  my  Father— i.e., 
'  what  my  father  hath  promised;'  the  Holy 
Ghost,  of  which  Christ  is  the  authoritative 
Dispenser.  (J.  14.  7;  Ee.  3.  1:  5.  6.  endued— 
'invested'  or  'clothed  with;'  implying,  as  the 
p;irallelsshow(R.  13. 14;  iCo.  1.5.  .53;  Ga.  3.  27: 
Co.  3. 9,10,)  their  being  so  penetrated  andacteil 
upon  by  conscious  supernatural  "poiver''  (in 
the  fuU  sense  of  that  word)  as  to  stamp  vntfi 
divine  authority  the  whole  exercise  of  their 
apostolic  office,  including,  of  course,  their  pen 
as  well  as  their  mouth.  50-53.  to  Bethany— 
not  to  the  village  itself,  but  on  the  descent  to 
it  from  Mount  Olivet,  while  he  blessed.... 
parted,  <tc.— Sweet  intimation!  Incarnate 
Love,  Crucified  Love,  Risen  Love,  no>v  on 
the  wing  for  heaven,  waiting  only  tlmse 
odorous  gales  which  were  to  waft  Him  to  the 
skies,  goes  away  in  benedictions,  that  in  the 
character  of  Glorified,  Enthroned  Love.  He 
might  continue  His  benedictions,  but  in  yet 
higher  form,  until  He  come  again!  And  O 
if  angels  were  .so  transported  at  His  birth 
into  this  scene  of  tears  and  death,whatmust 
have  been  their  ecstacy  as  they  welcomed 
and  attended  Him  "  far  above  all  heavens" 
into  the  presence-chamber,  and  conducted 
Him  to  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on 
High!    l1iou  hast  an  everlasting  right  O 


the  reality  of  His  resurrection,  a  spirit  i  my  Saviour,  to  that  august  place.  I'h 
hath  not— an  important  statement  regarding  Brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  enshrined 
"spirits."  flesh  and  bcnes— He  says  not  "flesh  '  in  our  nature,  hath  won  it  well,  for  He 
and  blood:"  for  the  blood  is  the  life  of  the  poured  out  His  soul  unto  death,  and  led 
animalandcorruptiblebodyiGe.  9.  4.),  which  captivity  captive,  receiving  gifts  for  men, 
"cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God,"  1  Co.  yea  for  the  rebellious,  that  the  Lord  God 
15.  60:  but  "flesh  and  bones,"  implying  the  i  might  dwell  among  them.     'TTiou  art  the 


identitv,  but  with  diversity  of  laws,  of  ine 
resurrection-body.  See  on  J.  20.  24  28.  be- 
lieved not  for  joy,  <frc.— They  did  believe,  else 
they  had  not  rejoiced.'  [Beno.]  But  it 
seemed  too  good  to  be  true.  Ps.  126.  1.  2.) 
honeycomb  — common  frugal  fare,  anciently, 
eat  before  them— i.e.  let  them  see  Him  doing 
it;  not  for  His  own  necessity,  but  their  con- 
Tiction.  44-49.  These  are  the  words,  &c.— q.  d. 
"  Nov/  you  w  ill  understand  wh;/  seemed  so 
dark  to  you  when  I  told  you  about  "the 


King  of  glory,  O  Christ.'  Lift  up  your  heads, 
O  ye  gates,  be  lifted  up,  ye  everlasting  doors, 
that  the  King  of  glory  may  come  in!  Even 
so  wilt  thou  change  these  vile  bodies  of 
ours,  that  they  may  be  like  unto  thine  own 
glorious  body:  and  then,  with  gladness  and 
rejoicing  shall  the_y  be  brought,  thev  shall 
enter  into  the  King's  palace!  wcrshipped 
him— certainly  in  the  strictest  sense  of  adora- 
tion, returned  to  Jerusalem— as  instructed  to 
do:  but  not  till  after  gazing,  as  if  entranced. 


Son  of  Man  being  put  to  death  and  rising  i  up  into  the  blue  vault  in  which  He  had  dis 


again."  (ch.  18.  31-34.)  while  yet  with  you— a 
striking  expression,  implying  that  He  was 
now,  as  the  dead  and  risen  Saviour,  virtually 
dissevered  from  this  scene  of  mortality,  ana 
from  all  ordinary  intercourse  with  His  mor- 
tal disciples,  law  ..nrophets.. j)salms— The 
three  Jewish  divisions  of  the  O.  T.  Scriptures, 
then  opened  he,  &c.— a  statement  of  unspeak- 
able value    expressing,  oa  the  one  hand. 


appeared,  they  were  gently  checked  by  two 
shining  ones,  who  assured  them  He  would 
come  again  to  them  in  the  like  manner  as 
He  had  gone  into  heaven.  (Seci  on  A.  1.  10 
11.)  This  made  them  return,  not  with  disap- 
pointment at  His  removal,  but  "  with  great 
joy."  were  continually,  in  the  temple— i.e._ 
every  day  at  the  regular  hours  of  prayer  till 
the  day  of  Pentecost. 


The  wcarimfion  of  the  Word. 


JOim.  n.     Andrew,  Peter,  and  Nattiatmel  called. 


5  And  d  the  light  shiueth  in  darkness;  and 
^he  darkness  comprehended  it  not. 

6  H  There  'was  a  man  sent  Irom  God, 
whose  name  ivas  John. 

7  The  same  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear 
witness  of  the  Lii^ht,  that  all  men  through 
him  mi.^it  believe. 

8  He  /was  not  that  Lisrht,  hxxt  was  sent 
to  bear  witness  of  that  LiH'ht. 

9  That »  was  the  true  Liirht,  which  li?ht- 
eth  every  man  that  conietn  into  the  world. 

10  He  was  in  the  world,  and  '>  the  world 
was  made  by  him,  and  the  world  knew  hun 
not. 

11  He  <  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own 
received  him  not. 

12  But  J  as  many  as  received  him,  to 
them  gave  he  i  power  to  become  the  sons 
of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name: 

13  Which  *  were  bom,  not  of  blood,  nor  of 
the  will  of  the  Hesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 
but  of  Gtid. 

14  And  !■  the  Word  "'was  made  "flesh,  and 
dwelt  among  us,  (and  "  we  beheld  his  glory, 
the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the 
Father.)  P  full  of  grace  and  truth. 

15  %  J  ohn  bare  witness  of  him,  and  cried, 
saying,  This  was  he  of  whom  1  snake,  He 
that  Cometh  after  me  is  preferred  before 
me:  9for  he  was  before  me. 

16  And  of  his  ''  fulness  have  all  we  re- 
ceh'ed,  and  grace  for  grace. 

17  For  the  *  Law  was  given  by  Moses,  *  but 
grace  and  "  truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ. 

18  iSo  *  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time; 
the  ""  only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  *  the 
bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared 
him. 

19  ^  And  this  is  the  record  of  John,  when 
the  Jews  sent  priests  and  Levites  from 
Jerusalem  to  ask  him,  Who  art  thou? 

20  And  he  confessed,  and  denied  not;  but 
confessed,  I  am  not  the  Christ. 

•21  And  they  asked  him.  What  then?  Art 
thouyElias?  And  he  saith,  =^  1  am  not.  Art 
thou  2  that  prophet?  And  he  answered,  No. 

-'2  Then  said  they  mito  him.  Who  art 
thou?  that  we  may  give  an  answer  to  them 
that  sent  us.  What  sayest  thou  of  thy 
Bclf? 

Zd  He  said,  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crjing 
in  the  mlderness,  Make  straight  the  way  of 
the  Lord,  as  "  said  the  prophet  Esaias. 

24  And  they  which  were  sent  were  of  the 
Pharisi  es. 

25  And  they  asked  him,  and  said  unto 
him,  W  hy  baptizest  thou  then,  if  thou  be 
not  that  Christ,  nor  Elias,  neither  that 
prophet? 

2G  J  ohn  answered  them,  saying,  I  baptize 
wth  water:  *  but  there  staudeth  one  among 
jou,  whom  ye  know  not; 

27  He  it  is,  who  coming  after  me,  is  pre- 
ferred before  me,  whose  shoe's  latchet  I 
am  not  worthy  to  unloose. 

28  These  things  were  done  in  Bethabara 
Deyond  Jordan,  where  John  was  baptizing. 
_29  H  The  next  day  Jonn  seeth  Jesus  com- 
ing unto  him,  and  saith,  Behold  '  the  Lamb 
ot  God  d  ^iiich  3  taketh  away  the  sin  of 
the  world! 

30  This  is  he  of  whom  I  said,  After  me 
Cometh  a  man  which  is  preferred  before 
tne:  tor  he  was  betbre  me. 

31  And  I  knew  him  not:  but  that  he 
Jhouid  be  made  maiiiitst  to  Israel,  there- 
lore  am  1  come  baptizmg  with  water. 

by 


CHaP     1. 

d  th.  3.  19. 

e  M»l.  3. 1. 

I>uke  3.  2. 

/  Acta  Vi.  25, 

0  la.  49.  6. 
1  John  2.8. 

h  Pi.  33.  G. 

1  Cor.  8  6. 
Eph.  3.  9. 
Col.  1. 17. 
Heb.  1.  2. 
Heb.  11.3. 
Key.  4.  11. 

t  Lu.  19.  11. 

Acts  3.  26. 

Acti  13.16. 
j  Is.  50.  5. 

Horn.  8. 15. 

Gal.  3.  26. 

2  Fet.  1.  4. 
1  John  3.1. 

1  Or,  ihe 
right,  or, 
privilege. 

k  Deu.  3U.  6. 
«h.  3.  5. 
Jam.  1. 18. 
1  Pet.1.23. 

1  Mat.  1.  20. 
1  Ti.  3.  16. 

1  John  1. 1. 
m  Kom.  1.  3 

Gal.  i.  4. 
«  Heb.  2. 14. 
0  Is.  40.  8. 
Mat.  17.  2. 

2  Pel.  1.17. 
p  Col.  2.  3,9. 
9  Col.  1.  17. 
r  Eph.  1,  6. 

Col.  2.  9. 
8  Ex.  20.  1. 
t  Rom.  5.  21. 
"  ch.  14.  6. 
"  Ex.  33.  20. 

ch.  6.  46. 

1  T    6.  16. 

1  John  4. 

12.  i:u. 
«"  1  John  4.9. 
*  Pro.  8.  30. 
V  Mai.  4.  5. 

2  Lu.  1.  17. 

2  Or,  a 
prophet. 

a  Is.  4(1.  3. 
i  Mai,  3.  1. 
c  Ex.  12  3. 

Is.  63.  7. 

1  Pet.  1.19. 

Kev.  6.  6. 
d  1  Cor.15.3. 

Gal.  1.  4. 

Heb.  1.3. 

Heb.  2. 17. 

Heb.  9.28. 

1  Pet.  2. 

24. 

1  John  2.2. 

Key.  1.  6. 

3  Or, 
beareth. 

e  Acts  2.  4. 

4  Or, 
abideet. 

5  That  was 
two  hours 

right. 

6  Or.  the 
Anointed. 
Ps.  2.  2. 
Dan  9.25. 

7  Or,  Peter. 
/Deu.  18.18. 
y  Is.  9  6. 

Mic.  6.  2. 
Zi'ch.6. 12. 


IDmi. 


:i2  AiidJohn  bare  record,  saymg,  1  saw 
the  Spirit  descending  from  heaven  like  a 
diive,  and  it  abode  upon  him, 

;>3  And  1  knew  him  not:  bnt  he  that  sent 
me  to  baptize  with  water,  the  same  said 
unto  me,  Upon  whom  thou  shalt  see  the 
Spirit  descending,  and  remaining  on  him, 
the  •  same  is  he  which  baptizeth  with  the 
H..1.V  Ghost. 

34  And  1  saw,  and  bare  record  that  this  is 
the  Son  ot  God. 

35  H  Again,  the  next  day  after,  John  stood, 
and  two  of  his  disciples; 

oG  And  looking  upon  Jesus  as  he  walked, 
he  saith,  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God! 

37  And  the  two  discii)les  heard  him  speak, 
and  they  followed  Jesus. 

38  Then  Jesus  turned,  and  saw  them  fol- 
lowing,  and  saith  unto  them.  What  seek 
ye?  They  said  unto  him,  Kal)bi,  (which  ig 
to  say,  being  interpreted,  Master,)  where 
*dwellest  thou? 

39  He  saith  unto  them.  Come  and  see. 
They  came  and  saw  where  he  dwelt,  and 
abode  witu  him  that  day:  for  it  was  5about 
the  tenth  hour. 

40  Oue  of  the  two  which  heard  John 
st)eak,  and  followed  him,  was  Andi'ew, 
Simon  Peter's  brother. 

41  He  first  lindeth  his  own  brother  Simon, 
and  saith  unto  him.  We  have  found  the 
Messias,  which  is,  being  interpreted,  6  the 
Christ. 

42  And  he  brought  him  to  Jesus.  And 
when  Jesus  beheld  him,  he  said.  Thou  art 
Simon  the  son  of  Jona:  thou  shalt  be 
called  Cephas,  which  is,  by  interpretation, 
'  A  stone. 

43  H  The  day  following  Jesus  would  go 
forth  into  Galilee,  and  tindeth  Thilip,  and 
saith  unto  him,  Follow  me. 

44  A'ow  I'hilip  was  of  Bethsaida,  the  city 
of  Andrew  and  I'eter. 

45  rhihp  tindeth  Nathanael,  and  saith 
unto  him.  We  have  Ibimd  him  of  whom 
Moses  /in  the  Law,  and  the  "  Frophets, 
did  write,  Jesus  of  isazareth  the  son  or 
Joseph. 

46  And  Nathanael  said  unto  him,  Can 
there  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth? 
Fluiip  saith  unto  liun,  Come  and  see. 

47  Jesus  saw  Nathanael  coming  to  him, 
and  saith  of  him.  Behold  an  Israelite  in- 
deed, in  whom  is  no  guilel 

48  Nathanael  saith  unto  him,  Whence 
knowest  thou  me?  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  him,  Before  that  Philip  called  thee, 
when  thou  wast  under  the  hg  tree,  I  saw 
thee. 

49  Nathanael  answered  and  saith  unto 
him,  Kabbi,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God;  thou 
art  the  King  of  Israel. 

50  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
Because  1  said  unto  thee,  I  saw  thee  mider 
the  fig  tree,  believest  thou?  thou  shalt  see 
greater  things  than  these. 

51  And  he  saith  unto  him.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  ''Hereafter  ye  shall  see 
heaven  open,  and  the  angels  of  God  a,scend- 
ing  and  descending  upon  ^the  Son  of  man. 

CHAPTER  II. 

1   Christ  tumeth  water  tnio  tvine,  i'Z  goeth  info 

Captrnaum,  and  to  Jeru$alem,  14  pwgeth  tlit 

temple,  li)  foi-eteUeth  his  death  and  resurrectiy/it, 

etc. 

A  ND  the  third  day  there  was  a  marriage 
■^^  in  Cana  of  Galilee;  and  the  mother  ot 

Jesus  was  there; 


THE   GOSPEL   ACCORDING   TO 

S.  JOHN. 


_  CHAPTEHT. 

Ver.  1-14,   The  Word  JNIade  Flesh.    1. 
In,  the  beginnuig— of  all  time   and  created 
existence,  for  this  Word  gave  it  being  iv 
3,  10.)  ;  therefore,  "  before  the  world  was'' 
iyT-  OT-  /•  %'  °h  ^^P^.  «^^  eternity,     was 
tlie  Word  — He  v;ho  ts  to  God  what  man's 
word  ts  to  himseiy,  the  manifestation  or  ex- 
pression of  himself  to  those  without  him    (See 
on  I'.  18.)    On  the  origin  of  this  most  lofty 
and  now  for  ever  consecrated  title  of  Christ 
this  IS  not  the  place  to  speak.  It  occurs  only 
l^}^%  V^l'""?  "*"  ^^"s  seraphic  apostle,    was 
WitH  (rod— having  a  conscious  personal  exist- 
ence distinct  from  God,  (as  one  is  from  the 
person  he  is  "with")  but  inseparable  from 
mm  and  associated  with  Him.,  {v.  IS  •  ch 
17.  6: 1  J.  1.  2,]  where  "the  Father"  is  used 
in  the  same  sense   as   "God"   here,     was 
tod— m    substance  and   essence  God  ;  or 
was   possessed  of  essential   or  proper  di- 
vinity    Thus,  each  of  these  brief  but  preg- 
nant statements  is  the  complement  of  the 
£u-^^    correcting     any    misapprehensions 
?ir    J  *S?  others  might  occasion.    Was  the 
'Zu^'^J^it^'^^l  ?*-  ^jas  not  the  eternity  of 
trie  J'ather,    hut  of  a  conscious  personal 
exiSi,ence  d%4%nct  from  Him  and  associated 
with  Him    Was  the  Word  thus  "with  God:" 
It  was  not  the  distmctness  and  the  fellowship 
ol  another  being,  as  if  there  were  more  Gods 
t/mnone,  but  of  One  who  was  HimsrlfGod- 
m  such  sense  that  the  absolute  unity  of  the 
Godhead,  tne  great  principle  of  all  religion 
IS  only  transferred  from  the  re-ion  of  sha^ 
dowy  abstraction  to  the  region  of  essential 
Jile  and  love.    But  why  all  this  definition? 
?K     f^  W^   "'^   ^-"y.  <-^stra(t  ih formation 
about  certain  mvstenous  distinctions  in  the 
Godhead,  but  solely  to  let  the  reader  know 
Who  xt  tvastlmtm  the  fulness  of  time  "was 
mad^  flesh.      After  each  verse,  then,  the 
reader  must  say,  "It  was  He  who  is  thus, 
and  thus    and  thus  described,   Who  was' 
made  flesh."    2.  The   same.    kc.  —See  what 
property  of  the  Word  the   stress   is   laid 
upon  — His   eternal  distinctness,   in  unity, 
from    God -the  Father.      (J.  l!  2.)     3.  ali 
things    <tc.-all  things  absolutely,  as  is  evi- 
dent from  V  10:  l  Co.  8.  6:  Co.  1.  16.  ir :  but 
R  w-*5'^-^'?"^T.  question    by    what    foUows. 
(brought  into  being)  that  was  made."    This 
iL^^.*^*^"<!^^    P/    the    «?e.7if<v    and    non- 
^i.^i^'^V^^'^*"*^'  '5^,^"ch  was  held  by  the 
«i<7r;.l5'/"'''"f  world   o«fett7e  of  Judaism 
and  Chrtstiamty:  or  rather,  its  prober  crea- 
;^!^T^•^"^^^  *  ^^  ^^^P^,  as  dreamt  of  save  by 
the  children  of  revealed  relinion.    4  in  Him 
was  his— essentially  and  originally,  as  the 
show  to  be  the  i 


ness  and  the  .shadow  of  death  "  mm  «/» 
ability  to  find  the  v-ap  eitl^roftrmflorof 
hohness.^  In  this  thick  darknesl  and  con4. 
3Hv,°*  ,.^"J^^"^<^t»al  and  mora  oblimUtv 
the  bght  of  the  Word"  .shineth-^^  S 
ths  rays  whether  of  natural  or  revealed 
n^ttnn^nf'ff.'^  me«  (apart  from  the  Inca,- 
?^}a  1.^^  *'*®  ^°rf^'  "'■«  favoured  with 
/iL^v'^^"'"'  comprehended  it  not  -  '  did  not 
inHhi  "^- . a. bnef  summary  of  the  effect  of 
tillnL^'*1\l"-^^  ^^"''«  «/'incamate  Word 
throughout  this  wide  world  from  the  be<-in- 
ning,  and  a  hint  of  the  necessity  of  His 

to,.t>e  effected.  (]  Co.  1.  21.)  6-9.  The  evan- 
geh-st  here  approaches  his  grand  thesis  so 
paving  his  way  for  the  full  statement  of  ,'t  IS 
ul\'  "f '\^  '^^"?¥  ^.^  ^.''le  to  bear  the  bright 
i'^^*/*^  It  and  take  in  its  length  and  breadth 

^ot'^tte^T,-^!!?  ^t?^''*-  ^1^5:°"^^  him-Tol  n. 
not  that  Light --See  on  ch.  5.  35.  Wliat  a 
testimony  to  John,  to  have  to  explain  that 
"  he  was  r?o<  that  Light  -  Yet  was  he  but 
a  foil  to  set  It  off,  his  night-taper  dwindHn'^ 
before  the  Day.spring  from  ok  high  (ch! 
3.  30.1  Lghteth  every  man,  (tc. --rather 
which,  coming  into'  the  world,  enl  gbtl 
eneth  every  man;'  or.  is  "  the  Light  of 
H'liT.?''^^  (ch.  9  6.  "Coming  info  the 
world 'is  a  superfluous  and  quite  unusual 
description  of  "evervman"  h'nt  u  it  "I  „ii 


description  of  Y^eif  man?  i^nlTt  is'of^[ 
of  Cnrist   amongst   the   most 


^w'^wl  ^^  «^''  ^^^'^^  *a.be  the  meaning. 
£iPi "®,  V^  "'^  -^^^"'3  ^^ord,  or.  as  He  fs 
called  in  1 J  i  i.  2.  "  the  Word  of  Life."    the 

f /l^,!>^/^\*/°^i"''"T^J*  t^^^t  i"  men  which 
is  e>  we  /,<//( ^-knowledge,  integrity,  intelii- 

ffimrnH'?^*^"^^^^'^"  ^'^  God.  love  to 
Mim  and  to.  their  fellow-creatures,  wisdom. 
^'Y^.^:*'  ?°'y-',?^  rational  happiness-all  this 
or  i-lf -"i  ^f"-  'V^?./^^  ^"iPntain  in  the  essential 
original  life  of  theWord."  (ij  i  5-7-  Ps  30 
Ip'n^l^HH*^  "^  darkness.  &c.-in  this  dark,  fall 
len  world,  or  m  mankind     sitting  in  dark- 


descriptions  w.  v.i.ii;m,  an 
farniliar.  especially  n  the  writings  of  this 
evangelLst.  (tlr  12  4(r  16.  28;  18.37;  1  J.  4.  <J;  1 
Th}]}^'  "^^•'  i^-^^-.  ^^  ^^s  in  the  world,  *c.- 
thP  fi,nf.,ii^P  ^^A^  ^^  "^^'''y  as  wonderful  as 
the  thought.  Observe  its  compact  simpli- 
city.its  sonorousness-"  the  world"  resound- 
inl.n^nn'i^^*^^  "^-  three  members-and  the 
enigmatic    form   m   which   it   is   couched 

I  woJki^?to  "^'l"''  T^,^  -'f  ""S !}'« ingenuity 
a-^ofKing.  to  solve  the  stupendous  enigma 
of  Christ  tf/nored  in  His  mon  worW.  "^he 
^Z^^"  f^}'^  first  two  clauses,  plain  y  meant 
the  created  world,  "  Into  which  he  came  '* 
?i7?  V  9;  •  w  it  he  was, "  says  this  verse.  I!y 
His  Incarnation.  He  became  an  Inhabitant 
of  it,  and  bound  up  with  it.  Yet  it 
was  made  by  him.  >'     {v.  3,  4.  5.)    Here 

SX'Vm,™^'?^^  ^""•*^^-  *«•  i°  contra^ 
partly  with  His  bemg  in  it,  but  still 
more  with  he  recention  He  met  with  from 
TO  ,-^  ^7orld•that"  knew  him  not"  (J 
iv^nni-i^H  01  course  the  intelligent  world  of 
mankind,  (bee  on  ?;.  11, 12.)  Taking  the  first 
two  clauses  as  one  statement,  we  try  to  ap- 
prehend it. by  tJiinking  of  the  Infant  Christ 
conceived  m  the  womb  and  borne  in  the 
arms  of  his  own  creature,  and  of  the  Man 
Christ  Jesus  breathing  His  own  air,  treadinjf 
^hVhv-^^^'\^'^'  supported  by  substances  to 
w  hich  Himself  gave  being,  and  the  CYeator  of 
the  very  men  whom  He  came  to  save.  But  th« 
most  vivid  commentary  on  this  entire  verse 
r^V-  oe  got  by  tracing  in  his  matchless  his- 
n?i  \>,?"'?  ^^  whom  It  speaks  walking  amidst 
^\U^^  ^^T^."u*s.  of,nature.  the  disea.ses  of 
men  and  death  itself,  the  secrets  of  the  hu- 
nf  /v,^.^'i^•l^.^*^  "the  rulers  of  the  darkness 
ot  thi.s  world  in  ali  their  number,  subtietr 
ana  malignity,  not  only  with  absolute  easo 
as  their  conscious  Lord,  but,  as  we  mieht 


Christ  purgeth  the  temple. 


JOHN,  III. 


Ee  teacheth  NicoJemtis. 


2  And  both  Jesus  was  called,  and  his  dis- 
ciples, to  the  marriage. 

3  And  when  they  wanted  wine,  the  mother 
of  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  They  have  no 
irine. 

4  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  "  Woman,  *  what 
have  I  to  do  with  theel  "mine  hour  is  not 
yet  come. 

5  His  mother  saith  unto  the  servants, 
Whatsoever  he  saith  unto  you,  do  it. 

6  And  there  were  set  there  six  water-pots 
of  stone,  <*  after  the  manner  of  the  purifying 
of  the  Jews,  containing  two  or  three  liikins 
apiece. 

7  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Fill  the  water- 
pots  with  water.  And  they  Med  them  up 
to  the  brim. 

8  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Draw  out  now, 
and  bear  unto  the  governor  of  the  feast. 
And  they  bare  it. 

9  When  the  ruler  of  the  feast  had  tasted 
the  *  water  that  was  made  wine,  and  knew 
not  whence  it  was,  (but  the  servants  which 
drew  the  water  knew,)  the  governor  of  the 
feast  called  the  bridegroom, 

10  And  saith  unto  him.  Every  man  at  the 
beginning  doth  set  forth  good  wine;  and 
when  men  have  well  drunk,  then  that  which 
is  worse:  but  thou  hast  kept  the  good  wine 
until  now. 

11  This  beginning  of  miracles  did  Jesus 
in/Cana  of  Galilee,  «'and  manifested  forth 
his  glory;  and  his  disciples  believed  on 
him. 

12  IT  After  this  he  went  down  to  Caper- 
naum, he,  and  his  mother,  and  f^  his 
brethren,' and  his  disciples:  and  they  con- 
tinued there  not  many  days. 

13  ^  And » the  Jews'  passover  was  at  hand ; 
and  Jesus  went  up  to  Jenisaleni, 

14  And  J"  found  m  the  temple  those  thai 
sold  oxen  and  sheep  and  doves,  and  the 
changers  of  money  sitting: 

15  And  when  he  had  made  a  scourge  ol 
small  cords,  he  drove  them  all  out  of  the 
temple,  and  the  sheep,  and  the  oxen ;  and 
poured  out  the  changers'  money,  and  over- 
threw the  tables; 

16  And  said  unto  them  that  sold  doves, 
Take  these  things  hence;  *make  not  my 
father's  house  an  house  of  merchandise. 

17  And  his  disciples  remembered  that  it 
Wi\s  written,  *  The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath 
eaten  me  up. 

18  H  Then  answered  the  Jews  and  said 
unto  him.  What  sign  showest  thou  unto 
us,  seeing  that  thou  doest  these  things? 

19  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
Destroy  '"  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I 
will  raise  it  up. 

20  Then  said  the  Jews,  Forty  and  six  years 
was  this  temple  in  building,  and  wilt  thou 
rear  it  up  in  three  days? 

21  But  he  spake  **  of  the  temple  of  his 
body. 

22  When  therefore  he  was  risen  from  the 
dead,  "his  disciples  remembered  that  he 
had  said  this  unto  them;  and  they  believed 
the  Scripture,  and  the  word  which  Jesu: 
had  said. 

23  H  ^iow  when  he  was  in  Jerusalem  at 
the  passover,  in  the  feasi  day,  many  be 
lieved  in  his  name,  when  they  saw  the 
miracles  which  he  did. 

24  iiut  Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  unto 
them,  because  he  knew  all  men, 

25  And  needed  not  that  any  shoidd  testify 
oimau:  for  ^he  knew  what  wati  in  man. 

W 


CHAP.  2 

'  ch.  19. 126. 
2  Sa-  le.lO. 
2  Sft.l9.  22. 
Jiccl.  3.  1. 
ch.  7.  6. 
d  Mark  7.  3. 

i.  Vi. 
/Josh  19.28. 
(/  ch.  1. 14. 
h  Alat.  12.4G 
i  Ex.  12   H. 
Nu.  28. 1(5. 
Deu.  IC.  1, 
16. 

ch.  6.  1. 
ch.  6.  4. 
ch.  11.  55. 
;•  Mat.  21.12. 
Mar.  11  15. 
Lu.  19.45. 
*  Ps.  93.  5. 
1  Ti.  6.  9, 
K. 
I  Ps.  69.  9. 
m  JMat.26.61. 
Mat.27.40. 
War.U5t<. 
Marl5.29 
n  1  Cor  .3.113. 

1  Cor.6.19. 

2  Cor .6. 16. 
Col.  2  9. 
Ueb.  8.2. 

0  Lu.  24.  8, 

25,  45 

JohD  14  26. 
p  1  Sa.  16.  7. 

1  Chr  28.9. 

Mat.  9.  4. 

Mark  2.  8. 


ch. 


.  64. 


ch.  16.  30. 
Acts  1.24 
Kov.  2.  2o. 


2  Cor.  5,17. 
Gal.  6.  15. 
Ei.1,.2  5,10, 
Tit.  3.  5. 
Jam.  1.  18, 
1  Pet.  1.23, 
1  John  3.9 
1  Or,  from 


d  Alar.  16  16, 
Acta  2  38. 
Tit.  3.  5. 
1  Pet.  3.21 

2  Or,  from 

e  Eccl.  il.  5. 

1  Cor.  2  11. 
/ch.  6.62. 
g  Pro.  31).  4, 

ch.  6.  33. 

ch.  16.  28. 

Acts  2.  34. 

1  Cor.  15. 

47. 

Eph.  4.  9. 


CHAPTER  III. 

1  Chriat  teacheth  A'ieodemus  the  neeessitv  of  re- 
flfneration.  18  Condemnatiim  for  unl-tlief.  '^ 
The  hupthm,  witness,  and  doctrine  of  John  cent' 
cerning  Christ. 

T'HEllE  was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees, 
■*■   named  Nicodemus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews: 

2  The  same  came  to  Jesus  by  nii^ht,  and 
said  unto  him.  Rabbi,  we  know  tliat  thou 
art  a  teacher  come  from  C4od :  for  "  no  man 
can  do  these  miracles  that  thou  doest, 
except  *  God  be  with  him. 

3  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee, '  Except  a 
man  be  born  i  again,  he  cannot  see  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

4  Nicodemus  saith  unto  him.  How  can  a 
man  be  born  when  he  is  old?  can  he  enter 
the  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb, 
and  be  born? 

5  Jesus  answered.  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  <i  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water 
and  of  the  Sjniit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the 
kh.gdomof  God. 

G  That  which  is  bom  of  the  flesh  is  flesh; 
and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is 
spirit. 

7  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee,  Ye 
must  be  born  2  again. 

8  The  *  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and 
thou  heaiest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst 
not  tell  whence  it  conieth,  and  whither  it 
goeth:  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the 
8liirit. 

y  Mcodemus  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
liow/can  these  things  be? 

lU  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Art 
thou  a  master  of  Israel,  and  know  est  not 
these  things? 

11  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  We  speak 
that  we  do  know,  and  testify  that  we  have 
seen:  and  ye  receive  not  our  witness. 

12  If  1  have  told  you  earthly  things,  and 
\e  beUeve  not,  how  shall  ye  believe,  if  I 
tell  you  0/ heavenly  things? 

13  And  "no  man  hath  ascended  ny  to 
hea\en,  but  he  that  came  down  Iroin 
heaven,  euen  the  toon  of  man  which  is 
in  heaven. 

14  And  ''  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in 
the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  ol 
man  be  lifted  up; 

15  That  w  hosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life. 

16  For  » God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  w  hosoever 
believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but 
ha\e  everlasting  lite. 

17  For  3  God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the 
world  to  condemn  the  world ;  but  that  the 
world  through  him  might  be  saved. 

18  He  that  believeth  on  him  ^is  not  con- 
demned :  but  he  that  believeth  not  is 
condemned  already,  because  he  hath  not 
believed  in  the  name  of  the  only  begotten 
Son  of  God. 

19  And  this  is  the  condemnation,  'that 
light  is  come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved 
darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their 
Seeds  were  evil. 

20  For  every  one  that  doeth  e\i\  hateth 
the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the  light,  lest 
his  deeds  should  be  ^  reproved. 

21  lint  he  that  doeth  truth  cometh  to  the 
light,  that  his  deeds  may  be  made  mani- 
fest, that  they  are  wrought  m  God. 

22  ^  Alter  these  thiui^s  came  J  esus  and  hia 


The  Incarnation  of  the  Word. 


soim,  T. 


Bay.  with  full  consciousness  on  their  part, 
of  the  presence  ot  their  Maker,  whose  will 
to  one  and  all  of  them  was  law.  And  this 
is  He  of  whom  it  is  added,  "  the  world  knew 
him  not!"  his  own— 'Hi  sown  property  or  pos- 
session)',for  the  word  is  in  the  iiewf 67- gender. 
It  means  His  own  land,  city,  temple.  Mes- 
sianic rights  and  possessions,  and  Ms  own— 
•His  own  (people):'  for  now  the  word  is  mas- 
ni'ine.  It  means  the  Jews,  as  the  "peculiar 
people."  Both  they  and  their  land  with  all 
that  this  included,  were  "his  own,"  not 
so  much  as  part  of  "  the  world  which  was 
!  made  by  him,"  but  as  "the  hetr"  of  the  in- 
■  heritance,  L.  20.  1-1.  (See  also  on  M.  22.  1.) 
received  mm  not— nafioiiaUv.  as  God's  chosen 
witnesses,  but  as  many— inaiuiduaZs,  of  the 
"disobedient  and  gainsaying  people."  gave 
he  power— The  word  signifies  both  authority 
and  ability,  and  both  are  certainly  meant 
here,  to  become— Mark  these  words:  Jesus 
IS  the  Son  of  God;  He  is  never  said  to  have 
BECOME  such,  the  sons— or  more  simply 
*  sons  of  God,'  in  name  and  in  nature,  be- 
lieve on  his  name— a  phrase  never  used  in 
Scripture  of  any  mere  creature,  to  express  the 
credit  given  to  human  testimony,  even  of 
prophets  or  apostles,  inasmuch  it  carries 
with  it  the  idea  of  tbusx  proper  only 
towards  God.  In  this  sense  of  supreme 
faith,  as  due  to  Hun  who  "  gives  those  that 
believe  in  Himaclf  power  to  become  sons  of 
God,"  it  is  manifestly  used  here,  which  were 
born- a  sonship  tlierefore  not  of  mere  title 
and  privilege,  but  of  nature,  the  soul  being 
made  conscious  of  the  vital  capacities,  percep- 
tions, and  emotions  of  a.  child  of  God,  before 
imknown.  not  of  blood,  &c.— not  of  superior 
human  descent,  not  of  human  generation  at 
all,"  not  of  man  in  any  manner  of  way.  By 
this  elaborate  threefold  denial  of  the  human 
source  of  this  sonship,  immense  force  is 
given  to  what  follows—'*  but  of  God."  Eight 
royal  gift,  which  Who  confers  must  be  abso- 
lutely divine.  For  who  would  not  worship 
Him  who  can  bring  him  into  the  family,  and 
evoke  within  him  the  very  life,  of  the  sons 
of  God?  14.  And  the  Word,  fic.—To  raise  the 
reader  to  the  altitude  of  this  climax  were 
the  13  foregoing  verses  tvritten.  was  made 
flesh— BECAME  MAN,  and  in  man's  present 
frail,  mortal  condition,  denoted  by  the  word 
"flesh."  (Is.  40.  6;  1  Pe.  1.  24.)  It  is  directed 
probably  against  the  Docetce,  who  held  that 
Christ  was  not  really  but  only  apparently 
man;  against  whom  this  gentle  spirit  is 
vehement  in  his  Epistles,  1  J.  4.  3;  2  J.  7, 10, 
11.  fLcKE.,  &c.]  Nor  could  he  be  too  much 
so,  for  with  the  verity  of  the  Incarnation  all 
substantial  Christianity  vanishes.  Eut  now, 
married  to  our  nature,  henceforth  He  is  as 
Personally  conscious  of  all  that  is  strictly 
human  ow  of  all  that  is  properly  divine:  and 
our  nature  is  in  His  Person  redeemed  and 
quickened,  ennobled  and  transfigured,  and 
dwelt—'  tabernacled'  or  '  pitched  his  tent;'  a 
word  peculiar  to  John,  who  uses  it  4  times, 
all  in  the  sense  of  a  permanent  stay.  (Ee.  7. 
15  ;  21.  .3;  12.  12;  13.  6.)  For  ever  wedded  to 
our  ''flesh,"  He  has  entered  this  tabernacle 
to  "  go  nO  more  out."  The  allusion  is  to 
that  Tabernacle  where  dwelt  the  Shechinah 
(see  on  M.  23.  38,  301,  or  manifested  "Glory 
OF  THE  Lord,"  and  with  reference  to  God's 
permanent  dwelling  amongst  His  people.  iLe. 
20. 11;  Ps.  68.  18;  132. 13,  14;  Ez.  37,  27.)  This 
is  put  almost  beyond  doubt  by  what  imme- 
70 


T7ie  Testimony  of  John^ 

d iately  follows.  * '  And  we  beheld  His  glory.* 
[LcKE.,  Mey,  De  W.,  which  last  critic, 
rising  higher  than  usual,  says  that  thus  were 
perfected  all  former  partial  manifestations 
of  God  in  an  essentially  Personal  and 
historically  Human  manifestation]  full  of 
grrace  and  truth  — So  it  should  read.  "He 
dwelt  among  us  full  of  grace  and  truth;"  or, 
in  O.  T.  phrase,  "  Mercy  and  truth,"  denoting 
the  whole  fruit  of  God's  purposes  of  love 
towards  sinners  of  mankind,  w^hich  untd 
now  existed  only  in  promise,  and  the  futfih- 
ment  at  length  of  that  promise  in  Christ :  in 
one  great  word,  the  sure  mercies  of  David." 
(Is.  55.  3 :  A.  13.  34;  cf.  2  Sa.  23.  5.)  In  His 
Person  all  that  Grace  and  Truth  which  had 
been  floating  so  long  in  shadowy  forms,  and 
darting  into  the  souls  of  the  poor  and  needy 
its  broken  beams,  took  everlasting  posses- 
sion of  human  flesh  and  filled  it  fuU. 
By  this  Incarnation  of  Grace  and  Truth,  the 
teaching  of  thousands  of  years  was  at  once 
transcended  and  besgared,  and  the  family 
of   God    sprang  into   Manhood.      and  we 


which  saw  in  Him  onl: 

HiS! 


nly  "  the  carpenter. 
aUy  discerned    iCo.  2. 


glory  was  "spiritually  ( 
7-15  ;  2  Co.  3. 18;  4.  4,  6;  5.  16.  —the  glory  of 
surpassing  grace,  love,  tenderness,  wisdom, 
purity,  spirituality;  majesty  and  meekness, 
richness  and  poverty,  power  and  weakness, 
meeting  together  in  unique  contrast;  ever 
attracting  and  at  times  ra.vishing  the  "babes" 
that  followed  and  forsook  all  for  Him.  tho 
glory  as  of  the  onlf  begotten  of  the  Father- See 
on  L.  1.  35— not  fike,  but  such  as  ibelongs 
to),'  such  as  became  or  was  \)efitting  the  only  • 
begotten  of  the  Father.  [Chrysost.  in 
LcKE.,  Cal.,  &c.  ],  according  to  a  weU- 
known  use  of  the  word  "as." 

15.  A  Saying  of  the  Baptist  Confir- 
matory OF  THIS.  After  me— in  official  mani- 
festation, before  me— in  rank  and  dignity. 
for  he  was  before  me— in  existence;  "  His  goings 
forth  being  from  of  old,  from  everlasting." 
.;Mi,  5.  2.)  (Anything  lower  than  this  his 
words  cannot  mean.)  q.d.,  *My  Successor 
is  my  Superior,  for  He  was  my  Predecessor.' 
Tills  enigmatic  play  upon  the  different  sen- 
ses of  the  words  "before"  and  "after "was 
doubtless  employed  by  the  Baptist  to  arrest 
attention,  and  rivet  the  thought;  and  the 
evangelist  introduces  it  just  to  clinch  his 
own  statements. 

lc-18.  Same  Subject  continued,  of  Ma 
fulness— of  "grace  and  truth,"  resuming  the 
thread  of  v.  14.  grace  for  grace— i.e.,  grace 
upon  grace,  (as  all  the  best  interpreters  ,  in 
successive  communications  and  larger  mea- 
sures, as  each  was  able  to  take  it  in.  Observe, 
the  word  "  truth"  is  here  dropt.  Grace  being 
the  chosen  N.  T.  word  for  the  whole  ful- 
ness of  the  new  covenant,  all  that  dwells 
in  Christ  for  men.  For,  &c.— '  The  Law 
elicits  the  consciousness  of  sin  and  the  need 
of  redemption;'  it  only  typifies  the  reality. 
The  Gospel,  on  the  contrary,  actually  com- 
municates reality  and  power  from  above, 
'of.  Eo.  6.  14.)  Hence  Paul  terms  the  O.  T. 
"shadow,"  whUe  he  calls  the  N.  T.  "sub- 
stance." Co.  2.  17.  [Olsh.]  No  man— 'No 
one,'  in  the  widest  sense,  hath  seen  God— by 
immediate  gaze,  or  direct  intuition,  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father— A  remarkable  expression, 
here  only  used,  presupposing  the  Son's  coTb* 
sdous  existence  distinct  from  the  Father,  and 
expressing  His  immediate  and  most  endeared 


The  Testimony  of  John. 


JOHN,  I. 


First  Gathering  of  Disciples. 


access  to  and  absolute  arquain  tanre  '>ri  ih  Ilirti. 
He— emphatic;  qd.,  'he  and  He  only  hath 
declared  him,'  because  He  only  can. 

19-36.  The  Baptist's  TEsTjuvioisiy  to 
Christ.  19.  record—'  testimony.'  the  Jews— 
i.e.,  the  heads  of  the  nation,  the  members  of 
the  Sanhedrim.  In  this  peculiar  sense  our 
evangeliot  seems  always  to  use  the  term.  20. 
confessed,  &c.— o.d.,  '  While  many  were  ready 
to  hail  him  as  tne  Christ,  he  neither  gave  the 
slightest  ground  for  such  views,  nor  the  least 
entertainment  to  them.  21.  Elias?— in  hi.s 
own  proper  person?  that  prophef?— announced 
inDeu.  18.  15,  &;c.,  about  whom  they  seem 
not  to  have  been  agreed  whether  he  were  the 
same  with  the  Messiah  or  no.  25.  Why  bap- 
tizest  thou,  if  not,  &c.— Thinking  he  disclaimed 
any  special  connection  with  Messiah's  king- 
dom; they  demand  his  right  to  gather  dis- 
cijiles  by  baptism.  26.  there  standeth— This 
must  have  been  spoken  after  the  Baptism  of 
Christ,  and  possibly  just  after  his  Tempta- 
tion, (see  on  v.  29.)  28.  Eethabara— rather 
'Bethany.'  (with  nearly  all  the  best  and  most 
ancient  M.S.S.);  not  the  Bethany  of  Lazarus, 
but  another  of  the  same  name,  and  distin- 
guished from  it  as  lying  "  beyond  Jordan," 
on  the  E.  29.  seeth  Jesus  — fresh,  probably, 
from  the  scene  of  the  temptation,  coming  to 
him— as  to  congenial  company,  (A.  4.  23,)  and 
to  receive  from  him  His  first  greeting,  and 
saitU — catching  a  sublime  inspiration  at  the 
sight  of  Him  approaching,  the  Lamb  of  God— 
the  one  God-ordained,  God-gifted  sacrificial 
offering,  that  taketh  away— talcift.  up  and 
taketh  auay.  The  word  signifies  both,  as 
does  the  corresponding  Hebrew  word.  Ap- 
plied to  sin.  it  means  to  he  chargeable  vMh  the 
guiU  of  it,  (Ex.  28.  38;  Le.  5.  1;  Ez.  18.  20,)  and 
to  hear  it  avay  (as  often.)  In  the  Levitical 
victims  both  ideas  met,  as  they  do  in  Christ. 
Uie  people's  guilt  being  viewed  as  transferred 
to  them,  avenged  in  their  death,  and  so  home 
away  by  them.  (Le.  4.  15;  16.  15,  21,  22;  and 
cf.  Is.  53.  6-12;  2  Cor.  5.  21.)  the  sin— The  sin- 
gular number  being  used  to  mark  the  collec- 
live  burden  and  all-embracing  efficacy,  of  the 
world— not  of  Israel  only,  for  whom  the  typi- 
cal victims  were  exclusively  offered.  Wher- 
ever there  shall  live  a  sinner  throughout  the 
wide  world,  sinking  under  that  burden  too 
heavy  for  him  to  bear,  he  shall  find  in  this 
"Lamb  of  God,"  a  shoulder  equal  to  the 
■weight.  Tlie  riJit  note  was  struck  at  the 
first— balm,  doubtless,  to  Christ's  own  spirit; 
nor  was  ever  after,  or  ever  will  be,  a  more 
glorious  utterat^ce.  31-34.  knew  him  not- 
Living  mostly  apart,  the  one  at  Nazareth, 
the  other  in  the  Judean  desert— to  prevent 
all  appearance  of  collusion,  John  only  knew 
that  at  a  definite  time  after  liis  own  call,  his 
Master  would  show  himself.  As  He  drew 
near  for  baptism  one  day,  the  last  of  all  the 
crowd,  the  .spirit  of  the  Baptist  heaving  under 
a  divine  presentiment  thatthe  moment  had  at 
length  arrived,  and  an  air  of  unwonted  sere- 
nity and  dignity,  not  without  traits,  proba- 
cy, of  the  family  fe.itures,  appearing  in  this 
Stranger,  the  Spirit  said  to  him  as  to  Samuel 
of  his  youthful  type,  *'  Arise,  anoint  Him,  for 
this  is  He!"  (1  ba.  16.  12.)  But  the  sign  which 
he  was  told  to  expect  was  the  visible  descent 
of  the  Spirit  upon  Him  as  He  emerged  out  of 
the  ba)>tisnial  water.  Then,  catching  up  the 
voice  from  heaven,  "he  saw  and  bare  record 
that  this  is  the  Son  of  God."  35,  36.  John 
•tood— '  was  standing,'  at  his  accustomed 
.    70* 


place,  locking—'  having  fixed  his  eyes,'  with 
significant  gaze,  on  Jesus,  as  he  walked— 
but  not  now  to  him.  To  have  done  this  once. 
(see  on  v.  29),  was  humility  enough.  [Beng.J 
Behold,  <S:c.— The  rejietition  of  that  wonder- 
ful proclamation,  m  identical  terms  and 
without  another  word,  could  only  have  been 
meant  as  a  gentle  hint  to  go  after  Him— aa 
they  did. 

37-51.  First  Gathering  of  Disciples- 
John,  Anpreav,  Simon,  Philip,  Nath- 
ANAEL.  38.  What  seek  ye  T— gentle,  winning 
question,  remarkable  as  the  Redeemer's 
first  public  utterance.  (See  on  M.  12.  18-20.) 
Where  dwellest  thov.'i—q.d.,  'That  is  a  ques- 
tion we  cannot  an.swer  in  a  moment;  but 
had  we  thy  company  for  a  calm  hour  in  pri- 
vate, gladly  should  we  open  our  burden.'  S9, 
Come  and  see— His  second  utterance,  more 
winning  still,  tenth  hour— not  10  a.m.,  (as 
some)  according  to  Roman,  but  4  p.m.,  ac- 
cording to  Jc%cish  reckoning,  which  J.  fol- 
lows. The  hour  is  mentioned  to  show  why 
they  stayed  out  the  day  with  him— because 
little  of  it  remained.  40.  One  .  .  .  was  Andrew 
—The  other  was  doubtless  our  evangelist 
himself.  '  His  great  sensitiveness  is  touch- 
ingly  shown  in  his  representation  of  this  first 
contact  with  the  Lord ;  the  circumstances 
are  present  to  him  in  the  minutest  details; 
he  still  remembers  the  very  hour.'  But  'he 
reports  no  particulars  of  those  discourses  of 
the  Lord  by  w  hich  he  was  botmd  to  Him  for 
the  whole  of  his  fife;  he  allows  every  thing 
personal  to  retire.'  [Olsh.]  Peter's  brother 
—and  the  elder  of  the  two.  41.  have  found 
the  Messias  — The  previous  preparation  of 
their  simple  hearts,  under  the  Baptist's 
ministry,  made  quick  work  of  this  blessed 
conviction,  while  others  hesitated  till  dqubt 
settled  into  obduracy.  So  it  is  still.  42. 
brought  him  to  Jesus— Happy  brothers  that 
thus  do  to  each  other!  beheld  him— 'fixed 
his  eyes  on  him,'  with  significant  gaze  (as 
V.  36.)  Cephas  .  .  .  stone— See  on  M.  16.  IS.) 
43,  44.  would  go  into  Galilee— for  from  His 
Baptism  he  had  sojourned  in  Judea  (show- 
ing that  the  calling  at  the  sea  of  Galilee  ;M. 
4.  18.)  was  a  sub,-equent  one;  (see  on  L.  5.  1.) 
follow  me— the  first  express  call  given,  the  for- 
mer three  having  come  to  Him  spontaneously, 
the  city  of  Andrew  and  PI  ilip— of  their  birth 
probably.for  they  seem  to  have  lived  at  Caper- 
naum. (Mk.  1.  29.)  45,  46.  Nathanael— (Seo 
on  M.  10.  3.)  Moses—  See  ch.  6.  46.)  son  of 
Joseph- the  current  way  of  speaking.  (Seo 
L.  3.  23.)  any  good  out  of  Nazareth?— remem- 
bering Bethleliem,  perhaps,  as  Messiah's 
predicted  birth-place,  and  JSiazareth  having 
no  express  prophetic  place  at  all,  besides 
being  in  no  repute.  Ihe  question  sprang 
from  mere  dread  of  mistake  in  a  matter  so 
vital.  Come  and  see— Noble  remedy  against 
preconceived  opinions.  [Beng.]  Philip, 
though  he  could  not  perhaps  solve  his  diffi- 
culty, could  show  him  how  to  get  rid  of  it. 
(See  on  ch.  6.  68.)  47, 48.  an  Israelite  indeed. . . 
no  guile— not  only  no  hypocrite,  but,  with  a 
guileless  simplicity  not  always  found  even  in 
God's  own  people,  ready  to  follow  wherever 
truth  might  lead  him,  saying,  Samuel-like, 
"Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth.'* 
Whence  knowest  me?— conscious  that  his  very 
heart  had  been  read,  and  at  this  critical 
moment  more  than  ever  before.  Before 
Philip  called  thee— showing  He  knew  all  that 
passed  between  Philip  and  him  at  a  distance. 


Christ's  First  Miracle. 


JOHN.  IT. 


First  Cleansing  of  the  Temple. 


when  under  the  fig-tree,  <fec.— where  retire-  at  a  marriage  He  v/rousht  His  first  miracle— 
ment  for  meditation  and  prayer  was  not 
tiDcommon.     [Lft.]     Thither,   probably  — 
hearing  that  liis   master's  Master  had  at 
length  appeared,  and  heaving  with  mingled 


eagerness  to  behold  Him  and  dread  of  de 
ception— he  had  retired  to  pour  out  his 
guileless  heart  for  light  and  guidance,  ending 
with  such  a  prayer  as  this,  "Shew  me  a 
token  for  good!"  (See  on  L.  2.  8 J  Now  he 
has  it,  'Thou  guileless  one,  that  fig-tree 
scene,  with  all  its  heaving  anxieties,  deep 
pleadings  and  tremulous  hopes— Isaw  it  all.' 
The  first  words  of  Jesua  had  astonished,  but 
this  quite  overpowered  and  won  him.  49. 
Son  of  God  . .  .  King  of  Israel— the  one  de- 
notmg  His  Person,  the  other  His  Office. 
How  much  loftier  this  than  anything  Philip 
had  said  to  him!  But  just  as  the  earth's 
vital  powers,  the  longer  they  are  frost-bound, 
take  the  greater  spring  when  at  length  set 
free,  so  souls,  like  JSathanael  and  Thomas 
(see  on  ch.  20.  28,)  the  outgoings  of  whose 
faith  are  hindered  for  a  time,  take  the  start 
of  their  more  easy-going  brethren  when 
loosed  and  let  go.  50.  51.  Because  I  said, 
&c.—q.d.,  *  So  quickly  convinced,  and  on  this 
evidence  only?— an  expression  of  admiration. 
Hereafter,  &c.— The  key  to  this  great  saying 
is  Jacob's  vision  (Ge.  28.  12,  &c.,)  to  which 
the  allusion  plainly  is.  To  show  the  patri- 
arch that  though  alone  and  friendless  on 
earth  his  interests  were  busying  all  heaven, 
he  was  made  to  see  "heaven  opened  and  the 
angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending 
upon  a"  mystic  *' ladder  reaching  from 
heaven  to  earth."  *By  and  by,"  says  Jesus 
here,  *ye  shall  see  this  communication  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth  thrown  wide  open, 
and  the  Son  of  Man  the  real  Ladder  of  this 
intercourse.' 

CHAPTER  n. 
■Ver.1-12.  FiKST  Mikacle,  Water  ]\Iade 
Wine— Brief  Visit  to  Capernaum.  1. 
third  day— He  would  take  two  days  to  reach 
Galilee,  and  this  was  the  third,  mother 
there  —  it  being  probably  some  relative's 
marriage.  John  never  names  her.  [Beng.] 
3.  no  wine— evidently  expecting  some  display 
of  His  glory,  and  hinting  that  now  was  His 
time.  4,  6.  Woman— no  term  of  disrespect 
in  the  language  of  that  day.  (ch.  19.  26.) 
what ...  to  do  with  thee— g.d.,  '  In  my  Father's 
business  I  have  to  do  with  Him  only.'  'Twas 
a  gentle  rebuke  for  officious  interference, 
entering  a  region  from  which  aU  creatures 
were  excluded,  (cf.  A.  4. 19,  20.)  mine  hour, 
&c.— hinting  that  He  would  do  something, 
but  at  his  own  time;  and  so  she  understood  it 
[v.  6.).  6.  firkins— about  7?  gallons  in  Jewish, 
or  9  in  Attic  measure;  each  of  these  huge 
water-jars,  therefore,  holding  some  2<i  or  more 
gallons,  for  washings  at  such  feasts.  (]\Ik.  7, 
4.)  7,  8.  Fill . . .  draw . . .  bear,  &c.  —  directing 
aU,  but  Himself  touching  nothing,  to  pre- 
vent all  appearance  of  collusion.  9, 10.  well 
drunk- 'drunk  abundantly  (as  Cant.  5.  1), 
speaking  of  the  general  practice,  the  good 
till  now— thus  testifying,  while  i^orant  of 
the  source  of  supply,  not  only  that  it  was  real 
Mine,  but  better  than  any  at  the  feast.  11. 
manifested  forth  his  glory— Nothing  in  the 
least  like  this  is  said  of  the  miracles  of  pro- 
phet or  apostle,  nor  could  without  manifest 
blasphemy  be  said  of  any  mere  creature. 
Observe,  tl.)  At  a  marriage  Clirist  madeHis 
first  public  appearance  in  any  company,  and 
70t 


the  noblest  sanction  that  could  be  given  to 
that  God-given  institution.  (2.)  As  the 
miracle  did  not  make  had  good,  but  good 
better,  so  Christianity  onlv redeems,  sanctifies 
and  ennobles  the  beneficent  but  abused 
institution  of  marriage;  and  Christ's  whole 
work  only  turns  the  water  of  earth  into  the 
wine  of  heaven.  Thus  "  this  beginning  of 
miracles"  exhibited  the  character  and  "  ma- 
nifested forth  the  glory"  of  His  entire 
Mission.  (3.)  As  Christ  countenanced  our 
seasons  of  festivity,  so  also  that  greater 
fulness  which  befits  such ;  so  far  was  He 
fi"om  encouraging  that  asceticism  which  has 
since  been  so  often  put  for  all  religion.  (4.) 
The  character  and  authority  ascribed  by 
Romanists  to  the  Virgin  is  directly  in  the 
teeth  of  this  and  other  scriptures.  12. 
Canernaum- on  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  See  on 
M.  9. 1./  his  mother  and  brethren— See  onL. 
2.  51,  and  M.  13.  6i-56. 

13-25.  Christ's  First  Passover— First 
Cleansing  of  the  Tejiple.  14-17.  in  the 
temple— not  the  temple  itself,  as  v.  19-21,  but 
the  temple-court,  sold  oxen,  &c.  — for  the 
convenience  of  those  who  had  to  offer  them 
in  sacrifice,  changers  of  money— of  Eoman 
into  Jewish  money,  in  which  the  temple- 
dues  (see  on  M.  17.  24.)  had  to  be  paid,  small 
cords— likely  some  of  the  rushes  spread  for 
bedding,  and  when  twisted  used  to  tie  up 
the  cattle  there  collected.  '  Not  by  this 
slender  whip  but  by  divine  majesty  was 
the  ejection  accomplished,  the  whip  being 
but  a  sign  of  the  scourge  of  divine  anger.^ 
[Grot.]  poured  out . . .  overthrew,  <fcc.— thus 
expressing  the  mingled  indignation  and 
authority  of  the  impulse,  my  Father's  house 
—How  close  the  resemblance  of  these  re- 
markable words  to  L.  2.  49 ;  the  same 
consciousness  of  intrinsic  relation  to  the 
Temple— SiS  the  seat  of  His  Father's  most 
august  worship,  and  so  the  symbol  of  aU 
that  is  due  to  Him  on  earth — dictating  both 
speeches.  Only,  when  but  a  youth  vith  no 
authority.  He  was  simply  "a  Son  in  His  own 
house;  now  He  was  "a  Son  over  his  own 
house"  (He.  3. 6.),  the  proper  flepresentative, 
and  in  flesh  "the  Heir,"  of  his  Fathei^s  rights, 
house  of  merchandise  —  There  was  nothing 
wrong  in  the  merchandise;  but  to  bring  it, 
for  their  own  and  others'  convenience,  into 
that  most  sacred  place,  was  a  high-handed 
profanation  which  the  eye  of  Jesus  could  not 
endure,  eaten  me  up  —  a  glorious  feature 
in  the  predicted  character  of  the  suff'er- 
ing  Messiah  (Ps.  69.  9.),  and  rising  high 
even  in  some  not  worthy  to  loose  the  Tatchet 
of  His  shoes.  (Ex.  32.  19,  «fec.)  18-22.  What 
sign,  &c.— Though  the  act  and  the  words  of 
Christ,  taken  together,  were  sign  enough,  they 
were  unconvinced;  yet  they  were  amxl,  and 
though  at  His  very  next  appearance  at  Jeru- 
salem they  "sought  to  kiU  him"  for  speaking 
of  "  His  Father  "  just  as  He  did  now  (ch.  5.  IS,) 
they,  at  this  early  stage,  only  ask  a  sign.  De- 
stroy this  temple,  <fec.— (See  on  Mk.  14.  58,  69.) 
46  years— From  the  eighteenth  year  of  Herod 
till  then  was  just  forty-six  years.  [.Joseph. 
Ant.  XV.  11,  1.1  temple  of  his  body— in  which 
was  enshrined  the  glory  of  the  eternal  Word. 
(See  on  ch.  1.  14.)  By  its  resurrection  the 
true  Temple  of  God  upon  earth  was  reared 
up,  of  which  the  stone  one  was  but  a  shadow; 
so  that  the  allusion  is  not  quite  exclusively  to 
Himself,  but  takes  in  that  Temple  of  whicli 


John's  testimonp  of  Christ. 


JOHN,  IV. 


Of  the  tcoman  of  Samaria. 


disciples  into  the  land  olJudea;  and  there 
he  tarried  with  them,  *"  and  baptized. 

23  And  John  also  was  baptizing  in  iEnon 
near  to  "  Salun.  because  there  was  much 
water  there :  and  they  came,  and  were 
baptized. 

24  For  "John  was  not  yet  cast  into  prison. 

25  II  Then  there  arose  a  question  between 
some  of  John's  disciples  and  the  Jews 
about  purifying. 

26  And  they  came  unto  John,  and  said 
unto  him,  Rabbi,  lie  that  was  with  thee 
beyond  Jordan,  ^to  whom  thou  barest 
witness,  behold,  the  same  baptizeth,  and 
all  men  come  to  him. 

27  John  answered  and  said,  'A  man  can 
♦  receive  nothing,  except  it  be  given  him 
from  heaven. 

28  Ye  yourselves  bear  me  witness,  that  1 
said,  I  am  not  the  Christ,  but  *■  that  1  am 
Bent  before  him. 

29  He  •  that  hath  the  bride  is  the  bride- 
groom: but '  the  friend  of  the  bridegioom, 
which  standeth  and  heareth  him,  rejoiceth 
greatly  because  of  the  bridegroom's  voice. 
This  my  joy  therefore  is  fulfilled. 

30  He  "  must  increase,  but  "  I  mttst  de- 
crease. 

31  He  **  that  cometh  from  above  '  is  above 
all:  "  he  tliat  is  of  the  earth  is  earthly,  and 
Bpeaketh  of  the  earth:  *he  that  cometh 
from  heaven  is  above  all. 

32  And  "  what  he  hath  seen  and  heard, 
that  he  testitieth ;  and  no  man  receive  th  his 
testimony. 

33  He  ttat  hath  received  his  testimony 
hath  *  set  to  his  seal  that  God  is  true. 

34  For  *  he  whom  God  hath  sent  speaketh 
the  words  of  God:  for  God  giveth  not  the 
Spirit  <^  by  measure  unto  him. 

35  The  *  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and  hath 
given  all  things  into  his  hand. 

36  He  /  that  beiieveth  on  the  Son  hath 
everlasting  life:  and  he  that  beiieveth  not 
the  Son  shall  not  see  life ;  but  *  the  wrath 
of  God  abideth  on  him. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
I  Christ  reveaUtk  himsdf  to  a  woman  of  Samaria : 
31  his  r.eal  for  God's  glory.    S'Ji  Many  Samari- 
tans believe  on  him.    43  He  heaieth  the  ruier's 
son. 
"WHEN  therefore  the  Lord  knew  how  the 
''    Pharisees  had  heard  that  Jesus  made 
and  baptized  more  disciples  than  John, 

2  (Though  Jesus  himself  baptized  not,  but 
his  disciples,) 

3  He  left  Judea,  and  departed  again  into 
Galilee. 

4  And  he  must  needs  go  through  Sa- 
maria. 

5  Then  cometh  he  to  a  city  of  Samaria, 
which  is  called  Sychar,  near  to  the  parcel 
of  ground  "that  Jacob  gave  to  his  son 
Joseph. 

6  Now  Jacob's  well  was  there.  Jesus 
therefore,  being  wearied  with  his  journey, 
sat  thus  oil  the  well:  and  it  was  about  the 
sixth  hour. 

7  There  cometh  a  woman  of  Samaria  to 
draw  water:  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Give  me 
to  drink. 

8  (For  his  disciples  were  gone  away  unto 
the  city  to  buy  meat.) 

9  Then  saith  the  woman  of  Samaria  tmto 
him.  How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew, 
askest  drink  of  me,  which  am  a  woman  of 
Samaria?  for  *  the  Jews  have  uo  dealings 
with  the  Samaritans. 

n 


CHAP.  3. 

m  ch.  4.  2. 
"G«n.  14  18. 

Gen.saiS. 

1  Sa.  9.  4. 
0  Mat   14.  3. 

Lu.3.19,20. 
P  ch.  1.  34. 
9  Heb.  6.  4. 

Jam   1.  17. 
4  Or,  taUe 

unto  hira- 


»  Mat.  22.  2. 

2  Cor.  11.2. 

Eph.  5.  25. 

Kev.  21.  9. 
t  Song  5.  1. 
«*  Is.  9.  7. 
V  Phii.  S.»,9. 
«•  ch  8.  23. 
*  Mat.  28  18. 


»  ch.  6.  33. 

Eph.  1.  21. 
a  ch.  15.  15. 
6  2  Cor.  1.22. 

1  John  6.10. 
e  ch.  7.  Iti. 


«  Dan.  7.  14. 

Hcb.  2.  8. 
/  Hab.  2.  4. 

Kom  1.17. 


A.  D.  30.  I  10  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her.  If 
thou  kiiewest  "the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it 
is  that  saith  to  thee,  Give  me  to  drink; 
thon  wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he 
would  have  given  thee  <*  living  water. 

11  The  woman  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  thoa 
hast  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the  well  ia 
deep :  from  whence  then  hast  thou  that 
living  water? 

12  Art  thou  greater  than  our  father  Jacob, 
which  gave  us  the  well,  and  drank  thereof 
himself,  and  his  children,  and  his  cattle? 

13  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her. 
Whosoever  diinketh  of  this  water  shall 
thirst  again: 

14  But  *  whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water 
that  1  shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst ;  but 
the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  /shall  be 
ill  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into 
everlasting  life. 

15  The  '  woman  saith  unto  him.  Sir.  give 
me  this  water,  that  I  thust  not,  neither 
come  hither  to  draw. 

16  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Go,  call  thy 
husband,  and  come  hither. 

17  The  woman  answered  and  said,  I  hava 
no  hu.sband.  Jesus  said  unto  her.  Thou 
hast  well  said,  I  have  no  husband: 

18  For  thou  hast  had  five  husbands ;  and 
he  whom  thou  now  hast  is  not  thy  hus- 
band: in  that  saidst  thou  truly. 

19  The  woman  saith  unto  him,  Sir,  *  I  per- 
ceive  that  thou  art  a  prophet. 

20  Our  fathers  worshipped  in  <  this  moun- 
tain; and  ye  say,  that  in  >  Jerusalem  is  the 
place  where  men  ought  to  worship. 

21  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Woman,  believe 
me.the  hour  cometh,*  when  ye  shall  neither 
in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem, 
worship  the  Father. 

22  Ye  worship  '  ye  know  not  what:  we 
know  what  we  worship:  for  "'salvation  is 
of  the  Jews. 

23  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when 
the  true  worshippers  shall  worship  the 
Father  in  "■spirit,  "and  in  truth:  for  the 
Father  seeketh  such  to  worship  him. 

24  God  *  15  a  Spirit:  and  they  that  worship 
him  must  worship  him  in  spuit  and  ia 
truth. 

25  The  woman  saith  tmto  him,  I  know 
that  '  Messias  cometh,  which  is  called 
Christ:  when  he  is  come,  he  will  tell  us  all 
things. 

26  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  •"  I  that  speak 
unto  thee  am  he. 

27  IT  And  upon  this  came  his  disciples,  and 
mai  veiled  that  he  talked  with  the  woman: 
yet  no  man  said.  What  seekest  thou?  or. 
Why  talkest  thou  with  her? 

28  The  woman  then  left  her  water-pot, 
and  went  her  way  into  the  city,  and  saith 
to  the  men, 

29  Come,  see  a  man  which  told  me  all 
things  that  ever  I  did:  is  not  this  the  Christ? 

30  Then  they  went  out  of  the  city,  and 
came  unto  him. 

31  IT  In  the  meanwhile  his  disciples  prayed 
him,  saying.  Master,  eat. 

32  But  he  said  unto  them,  I  have  meat  to 
eat  that  ye  know  not  of. 

33  Therefore  said  the  disciples  one  to 
another.  Hath  any  man  brought  him  ought 
to  eat? 

34  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  •  My  meat  «  to 
do  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to 
finish  his  work. 

35  Say  not  ye,  Theie  are  yet  four  months. 


Josh.24.32. 
6  2  Ki.  17.24. 

Ezra  4.  3. 

Acts  10.28. 
c  Is.  9.  6. 

Is.  42.  5. 

Rom.  8.  32. 
d  Is.  12.  3. 

Is.  44.  3. 

Jer.  2.  13. 

Zech.  13.1. 

Zech.  14.8. 
e  ch.  6.  35. 
/ch.  7.38. 
g  Kom.  6  23. 

20. 
h  Lu.  7.  16 

Lu.  24.  19. 

ch.  6.  14. 

ch.  7.  40. 
t  Gen.  12.  6. 

Judg.  9.  7. 
;■  Deu.  12.  6. 

2  Clir.7.12. 
k  Mai.  1.  11. 

1  Tim.  2.8. 
I  2  Ki.  17.23. 
m  Is.  2.  3. 
Lu  24  47. 
Ro.  9.  4,5. 
n  Phil.  3.  3. 
Och.  1.  17. 
P  2  Cor .3.17. 
9  Deu.  18.15. 

Dan.  9  24. 
r  Mar.  14.61. 

ch.  9.  37. 

ch.  10.  36. 
<  Job  23.  12. 


Kight-Tnterview  of 


JOHN.  m. 


NkocUmus  with  JesuS. 


He  is  the  foundation  and  all  believers  are  the  Spirit— A  twofold  explanation  of  the  "nevr 


"lively  stones."  (lPe.2.4,5.)  believed  the  Scrip- 
ttires— on  this  subject,  i.e.,  what  was  meant, 
which  was  hid  from  them  till  then.  Mark  1.) 
the  act  by  which  Christ  simialised  His  first  pii  b- 


birth."  so  startling  to  Nicodemiis.  To  a 
Jewish  ecclesiastic,  sofamUiarwith  the  S5Tn- 
bolical  application  of  water,  in  every  variety 
of  way  and  form  of  expression,  this  language 


lie  appearance  in  the  Temple:  Taking    His  was  fitted  to  show  that  the  thing  intended 
fan  in  His  hand.  He  purges  His  floor."  not  i  was  no  other  than  a  thorough  spiritualimri- 


thoroughly  indeed,  but  enough  to  foreshadow 
His  last  act  towards  that  faitliless  people— io 
siveep  them  out  of  Gods  house.  (2.)  The  sign 
of  His  authority  to  do  this  is  the  announce- 
ment, at  this  first  outset  of  His  ministry,  of 
that  comins  death  by  their  hands,  and  resur- 
rection by  His  own,  which  were  to  pave  the 
way  for  their  judicial  ejection.  23-25.  in  the 
feast  -  day— the  foregoing  things  occurring 
probably  before  the  feast  began,  mauy  be- 
lieved—superficially, struck  merely  by  "the 
miracles  He  did."  Of  these  we  have  no  re- 
cord, did  not  commit—'  entrust,'  or  let  him- 
self down  familiarly  to  them,  as  to  His 
fenuine  disciples,  knew  what  was  in  man— 
t  is  impossible  for  language  more  clearly 
to  assert  of  Christ  what  in  Je.  17.  9, 10,  and 
elsewhere,  is  denied  of  all  mere  creatures, 
CHAPTER  III. 
Ver.  1-21.  Kight-Intebview  op  Nico- 
DEMUS  WITH  Jesus.  1.  2.  Nicodemus— In 
this  member  of  the  Sanhedrim  sincerity  and 
timidity  are  seen  struggling  together. ,  One 
of  those  superficial  "believers  mentioned 
in  ch.  2.  23,  24,  yet  inwardly  craving  further 
satisfaction,  he  comes  to  Jesus  in  quest  of 
it.  but  comes  "  by  night;"  (see  ch.  19. 3S.  39;  12. 
42;)  he  avows  his  conviction  that  He  was 
"come  from  God"— a»i  expression  never  ap- 
plied to  a  merely  human  messenger,  and  pro- 
bably meaning  more  here— but  only  as  "a 
teacher,"  and  in  His  miracles  he  sees  a  proof 
merely  that  "  God  is  with  him."  Thus,  while 
unable  to  repress  his  convictions  he  is  afraid 
of  committing  him«elf  too  far.  3.  Except.  &c. 
This  blunt  and  curt  re)>ly  was  plainly  meant 
to  shake  the  whole  edifice  of  the  man's  reli- 
gion, in  order  to  lay  a  deeper  and  more 
enduring  foundation.  Nicodemus  probably 
thought  he  had  gone  a  long  way,  and  ex> 
pected,  perhaps,  to  be  complimented  on  his 
candour.  Instead  of  this,  he  is  virtually 
told  that  he  has  raised  a  question  which  he  is 
not  in  a  capacity  to  solve,  and  that  before 
approaching  it,  his  spiritual  vision  required 
to  oe  rectified  by  an  entire  revolution  on  his 
inner  man.  Had  the  man  been  les.s  sincere, 
this  would  certainly  have  repeDed  him;  but 
with  persons  in  his  mixed  state  of  mind— to 
which  Jesus  was  no  stranger  (ch.  2. 25.'— such 
methods  speed  better  than  more  honeyed 
words  and  gradual  approaches,  a  man— not 
a  Jew  merely;  the  necessity  is  a  univer.-al 
one.  born  again— or,  as  it  were,  begin  life 
anew,  in  relation  to  God;  his  manner  of 
thinking,  feeling,  and  acting,  with  reference 
to  spiritual  things,  undergoing  a  fundamen- 
tal and  permanent  revolution,  cannot  see- 
can  have  no  part  in  ijust  as  one  is  said  to 
"see  life."  "see  death."  (fee),  the  Kingdom  of 
God— whether  in  its  beginnings  here  (L.  16. 
16.)  or  its  consummation  hereafter.  (M.  25. 
34;  Eph.  5.  5.)  4.  How,  &c.— The  figure  of 
the  new  birth,  if  it  had  been  meant  only  of 
Gentile  proselytes  to  the  Jewish  religion, 
•would  have  been  intelligible  enough  to 
ISficodemus.  being  quite  in  keeping  ^vith  the 
language  of  that  day;  but  that  Jews  them- 
selves should  need  a  new  birth  was  to  him 
incomprehensible.    5.  of  water  an&  of  the 

71 


fication  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Gh  . 
Indeed,  this  element  of  v;aier  and  operation 
of  the  Spirit  are  brought  together  in  a  glori- 
ous evangelical  prediction  of  Ezekiel  (36. 
25-27),  which  Nicodemus  might  have  been 
reminded  of  had  such  spiritualities  not  been 
almost  lost  in  the  reigning  formalism.  Al- 
ready had  the  symbol  of  water  been  embodied 
in  an  initiatory  ordinance,  in  the  baptism 
of  the  Jewish  expectants  of  Messiah  by  the 
Bapti-st.  not  to  speak  of  the  baptism  of  Gen- 
tile proselytes  before  that;  and  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  it  was  soon  to  become  the  great 
visible  door  of  entrance  into  "  the  kingdom 
of  God."  the  reality  being  the  sole  tcork  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  (Ti.  3.  5.)  6-8.  That  which  is  bom, 
&c.— A  great  universal  proposition;  'That 
which  is  begotten  carries  within  itself  the 


nature  of  that  which  begat  it.'   [Olsh.]  flesh 

"       •  ...     ly  but  all 

comes  into  the  world  by  birth,  the  entire  man: 


—Not  the  mere  material  body,  but  all  that 


yet  not  humanity  simply.but  in  its  corrupted, 
depraved  condition,  in  complete  suhjection  to 
the  law  of  the  fall.  (R.  8. 1-9.)  So  that  though 
a  man  "  could  enter  a  second  time  into  his 
mother's  womb  and  be  born,"  he  v>'ould  be  no 
nearer  this  "  new  birth  "  than  before.  {Job, 
14.  4;  Ps.  51.  5.)  is  spirit— Partafces  of  and 
possesses  His  spiritual  nature.  Marvel  not, 
&c.— If  a  spiritual  nature  only  can  see  and 
enter  the  kingdom  of  God;  if  all  we  bring 
into  the  world  with  us  be  the  reverse  of 
spiritual;  and  if  this  spirituality  be  solely  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  no  wonder  a  new  birth  is  in- 
dispensable, ye  must—'  Fe.says  Jesus.not  we.' 
[Bexg.]  After  those  universal  propositions, 
about  what  "a  man"  must  be,  to  "  enter  the 
kingdom  of  God."— this  is  remarkable,  show- 
ing that  our  Lord  meant  to  hold  himself  forth 
as  "  separate  from  sinners."  The  wind.  &c.— 
Ereath  and  spirit,  (one  word  both  in  Hebrew 
and  Greek),  are  constantly  brought  together 
in  Scripture  as  analogous.  (Job,  27.  3;  33.  4; 
Ez.  37.  9-14.)  canst  not  tell,  <fec.— The  laws 
,which  govern  the  motion  of  the  winds  are 
'even  yet  but  partially  discovered;  but  the  ris- 
ings, fallings,  and  change  in  direction  many 
times  in  a  day.  of  those  gentle  breezes  here  re- 
ferred to  will  probably  ever  be  a  mystery  to 
us:  So  of  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  the  new  birth.  9,  10.  How,  (fee- Though 
the  subject  still  confounds  him,  the  necessity 
and  possibility  of  the  new  birth  is  no  longer 
the  point  with  him,  but  the  nature  of  it  and 
how  it  is  brought  about.  [Lthi>t.J  '  From 
this  moment  IS  icodemussa 2/5  nothing  more, 
but  has  sunk  into  a  disciple  who  has 
found  his  true  teacher.  Therefore  the  Savi- 
our now  graciously  advances  in  his  commu- 
nications of  truth,  and  once  more  solemnly 
brings  to  the  mind  of  this  teacher  in  Israel, 
now  become  a  learner,  his  own  not  guiltless 
ignorance,  that  He  may  then  proceed  to' 
utter,  out  of  the  fulness  of  His  divine 
knowledge,  such  farther  testimonies  both  of 
earthly  and  heavenly  things  as  his  docile 
scholar  may  to  his  own  profit  receive.* 
[Stieb.]  master—'  teacher. '  Tlie  question 
clearly  implies  that  the  doctrine  of  regenero' 
tion  w  so  far  disclosed  in  the  0.  T.  that 


TheLcweofGod 


JOHN,  in. 


trnmnhihe  World. 


Kicodnnus  was  culiiablc  in  hcing  ignorant  of 
it.  Kor  is  it  merely  as  something:  that 
should  be  exiterienced  under  the  Gospel  that 
the  O.  T.  holds  it  forth— as  many  distin- 
guished critics  allege,  denying  that  there  was 
any  such  thing  as  regeneration  before  Christ. 
For  our  Lord's  proposition  is  universal,  that 
no  fallen  man  is  or  can  be  spiritual  witliout 
a  regenerating  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  the  necessity  of  a  spiritual  dbedience, 
under  whatever  name,  in  opposition  to  mere 
mechanical  services,  is  proclaimed  through- 
out all  the  O.  T.  11-13.  We  speak  that  we 
know,  and. .  .have  seen— i.e.,  by  absolute  know- 
ledge and  immediate  vision  of  God,  which 
"the  onlv-ljegotten  Son  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father"  claims  as  exclusively  His  own,  ch.  1. 
18.  Tlie  "we"  and  "our"  are  here  used, 
though  Himself  only  is  intended  in  emphatic 
contrast,  probably,  with  the  opening  words 
of  ivicodemus,  "Rabbi,  v:e  know,"  &c.  ye 
receive  not,  (fcc. — referring  to  the  class  to  which 
Nicodemus  belonged,  but  from  which  he  v.  as 
beginning  to  be  separated  in  spirit,  earthly 
thing/— such  as  rreieneration,  the  gate  of 
entrance  to  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth, 
and  which  Nicodemus  should  have  under- 
stood better,  as  a  truth  even  of  that  more 
earthly  economy  to  which  he  belonged, 
heavenly  things— The  things  of  the  new  and 
more  heavenly  evangelical  economy,  only  to 
be  fully  understood  after  the  effusion  of  the 
Spirit  from  heaven  through  the  exalted  Sa- 
viour, no  man  hath  ascended.  &c.— There  is 
something  iiaradoxical  in  this  language— 
'  No  one  has  gone  up  but  he  that  came  down, 
even  he  who  is  at  once  both  up  and  down. 
Doubtless  it  was  intended  to  startle  and  con 
strain  his  auditor  to  think  that  there  must 
be  my.sterious  elements  in  His  Person.  The 
old  Hocinians,  to  subvert  the  doctrine  of  the 
pre-cxistence  of  Clnist,  seized  upon  this  pas- 
sage as  teaching  that  the  man  Jesus  was 
secretly  caught  up  to  heaven  to  receive  his 
instructions,  and  then  "came  down  from 
heaven"  to  deliver  them.  But  the  sense  mani- 
festly is  this:  'The  perfect  knowledge  of  God 
is  not  obtained  by  any  man's  going  up  from 
earth  to  heaven  to  receive  it,— no  man  hath 
so  ascended— butHe  \\ho?,e properhahitation, 
in  his  e.ssential  and  eternal  nature,  is  heaven. 
Lath,  by  taking  human  flesh,  descended  as 
"  the  Son  of  Man"  to  disclose  the  Father* 
whom  He  knows  by  unmediate  gaze  alike  in 
the  flesh  as  before  He  assumed  it,  being  essen- 
tially and  unchangeably  "in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father," '  (eh.  1. 18.)  14-16.  And  as  Moses. 
itc.  —  Here  now  we  have  the  "heavenly 
things,"  as  before  the  "  earthly,"  but  under  a 
veil,  for  the  reason  mentioned  in  v.  12.  The 
crucifixion  of  Messiah  is  twice  after  this 
veUed  under  the  same  lively  tenn— "  u/jlift- 
ing,"  ch.  8.  28;  12.  32,  33.  Here  it  is  still  far- 
ther veiled— though  to  us  who  know  what  it 
means,  rendered  vastly  more  instructive— by 
relerence  to  the  brazen  serpent.  The  venom 
of  the  fiery  serpents,  shooting  through  the 
veins  of  the  rebeUious  Israehtes,  was  spread- 
ing death  through  the  camp — lively  emblem 
of  the  perishing  condition  of  men  by  reason 
of  sin.  In  both  cases  the  remedy  was  divinely 
provided.  In  both  the  way  of  cure  strildngly 
resembled  that  of  the  disease.  Stung  l)y 
serpents,  by  a  serpent  they  are  healed.  By 
"fiery  serpents"  bitten— serpents,  probably, 
with  skin  spotted  fiery-red  [Kurtz,}— the 
instrument  of  cure  is  a  serpent  of  brass  or 
7V 


copper,  having  at  a  distance  the  same  appear- 
nnce.  So  in  redemption,  as  by  man  came 
death,  by  Man  also  comes  life— Man  too,  "  in 
the  likeness  of  sinfal  flesh,"  differing  in  no- 
thing outicardand  apparent  from  those  who, 
pervaded  by  the  poison  of  the  seipent,  were 
ready  to  perish.  But  as  the  iiplifted  ser- 
pent had  none  of  the  venom  of  which  the 
seri^ent-bitten  people  were  dying,  so  while 
the  whole  human  family  were  perishing  of 
the  deadly  wound  inflicted  on  it  by  the  old 
serpent,  "  the  Second  Man,"  who  arose  over 
humanity  with  healing  in  his  wings  was 
without  spot  or  wrinkle  or  any  such  thing. 
In  both  cases  the  remedy  is  conspicuoiisly 
displayed;  in  the  one  case  on  a  pole,  in  the 
other  on  the  cross,  to  "  draw  all  men  unto 
Him"  (ch.  12.  32.).  In  both  cases,  it  is  by 
dii-ecting  tlie  eye  to  the  uplifted  Remedy  that 
the  cure  is  effected;  in  the  one  case  the 
bodily  eye,  in  the  other  the  gaze  of  the  .soul 
by  "believing  in  Him,"  as  in  that  glorious 
ancient  proclamation— "  ioofc  unto  me  and 
be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  &c. 
Is.  45.  22.)  Both  methods  are  stumbling  to 
human  reason.  What,  to  any  thinking  Is- 
raelite, could  seem  more  unlikely  than  that 
a  deadly  poison  should  be  dried  up  in  his 
body  by  simply  looking  on  a  reptile  of  brass? 
Such  a  stumbling-block  to  the  Jews  and  to 
the  Greeks  foolishness  was  faith  in  the 
crucified  Nazarene,  as  a  way  of  deliverance 
from  eternal  perdition.  Yet  was  the  war- 
rant in  both  cases  to  expect  a  cure  equally 
rational  and  well-grounded.  As  the  serpent 
was  God's  ordinance  for  the  cure  of  every 
bitten  Israelite,  so  is  Christ  for  the  salvation 
of  every  perishing  sinner— the  one  however 
a  purely  arbitrary  ordinance,  the  other 
divinely  adapted  to  man's  complicated  mal- 
adies. In  both  cases  the  efficacy  is  the 
same.  As  one  sinii)le  look  at  the  serpent, 
however  distant  and  however  weak,  brought 
an  instantaneous  cure,  even  so,  real  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus,  however  tremulous, 
however  distant  — be  it  but  reed  faith  — 
brings  certain  and  instant  healing  to  the 
perishing  soul.  In  a  word,  the  consequen- 
ces of  disobedience  are  the  same  in  both. 
Doubtless  many  bitten  Israelites,  galling 
as  their  case  was,  would  reason  rather 
than  obey,  would  speculate  on  the  absur- 
dity of  expecting  the  bite  of  a  Living  ser- 
pent to  be  cured  by  looking  at  a  piece  of 
dead  metal  in  the  shape  of  one — speculate 
thus  till  they  died.  Alas  !  is  not  salvation 
by  a  crucified  Redeemer  subjected  to  like 
treatment?  Has  "theoftence  of  the  cross" 
yet  ceased?  (cf.  2  Ki.  6.  12.)  For  God  so 
loved,  <tc.— What  proclamation  of  the  Gos- 
j  pel  has  been  so  oft  on  the  lips  of  mis- 
sionaries and  preachers  in  every  age  since 
it  was  first  uttered?  what  has  sent  such 
thrilling  sensations  through  millions  of  man- 
kind? what  has  been  honoured  to  bring  such 
multitudes  to  the  feet  of  Christ  ?  what  to 
i  kindle  in  the  cold  and  selfish  breasts  of  mor- 
I  ta!s  the  fires  of  self-sacrificing  love  to  man- 
I  kind,  as  these  words  of  transparent  simi)li- 
city,  yet  overpowering  majesty?  The  picture 
embraces  several  distinct  compartments : 
"The  World"— in  its  widest  sense— rmdy 
I  to  "perish;"  the  immense  "Love  of  Goi>" 
\to  that  verishing  world,  measurable  only, 
and  conceivable  only,  by  the  gift  which  it 
diew  forth  from  Him;  the  Gift  itself— 
♦'  He  50  loved  the  world  that  He  gave  Jli» 


Covrrrmnnfwn  for  Unhclief. 


JOTTN,  m. 


John's  Teatmonyto  Christ. 


only  begotten  Son,"  or,  in  the  language  ol 
Paul,  "spared  vot  His  o\vn  i^on,"  (K.  8. 
32,;  or  in  that  addressed  to  Abraham  when 
ready  to  offer  Isaac  on  the  altar.  "v:ith- 
held  not  His  Son,  His  only  Son,  whom 
he  loved;"  (Ge.  22.  16,)  the  Fruit  of  this 
stupendous  gift— not  only  daJiixrance  from 
impending  "perdition,"  but  the  bestowal  of 
everlasting  life;  and  the  mode  in  which 
all  takes  eflect  — by  "believing"  on  the 
Son.  How  would  Nicodemus's  narrow  Ju- 
daism become  invisible  in  the  blaze  of 
this  Sun  of  righteousness  seen  rising  on 
"the  world"  with  healing  in  his  wings! 
17-21.  not  to  condemn,  (fcc— a  statement  of 
vast  importance.  Though  "  condemnation" 
is  to  many  the  issue  of  Christ's  mission, 
(v.  19,)  it  is  not  the  object  of  His  mis- 
sion, which  is  purely  a  saving  one.  is 
not  condemned— Having,  immediately  on  his 
believing,  "passed  from  death  unto  life," 
ch.  5.  24.  condemned  already— Eejecting  the 
one  way  of  deliverance  from  that  "  condem- 
nation which  God  gave  His  Son  to  remove, 
and  so  wilfully  nmaining  condemned,  this 
is  the  condemnatiou,  &c.— Emphatically  so, 
revealinqthe  condemnation  already  existing, 
and  sealing  ^ip  under  it  those  who  will  not  be 
delivered  from  it.  light  is  come  into  the 
world— in  the  Person  of  Him  to  whom  Nico- 
demus  was  listening,  loved  darkness,  &c.— 
This  can  only  be  known  by  the  deliberate 
rejection  of  Christ,  but  that  does  fearfully 
reveal  it.  reproved— by  detection,  doeth 
truth— whose  only  object  in  life  is  to  be  and 
do  what  will  bear  the  light.  Therefore  he 
loves  and  "  comes  to  the  light,"  that  all  he  is 
and  does,  being  thus  thoroughly  tested,  may 
be  seen  to  have  nothing  in  it  but  what  is 
divinely  wrought  and  divinely  approved. 
This  is  the  "Israelite,  indeed,  in  whom  is  no 
guile." 

22-30.  Jesus  in  the  Neighbourhood  op 
THE  Baptist— His  Noble  Testimony  to 
His  ISIaster.  22-24.  land  of  Judea— The  rural 
parts  of  that  province,  the  foregoing  conver- 
sation being  held  in  the  capital,  baptized— 
in  the  sense  explained  in  ch.  4.  2.  .ffinon... 
Salim— on  the  W.  of  Jordan,  (cf.  v.  26,  with 
ch.  1. 28. )  John  not  yet  cast  into  prison— Hence 
it  is  plain  that  our  Lord's  ministry  did  not 
commence  with  the  imprisonment  of  John, 
though,  but  for  this,  we  should  have  drawn 
that  mierence  fi'om  M.  4.  12,  etc.,  and  JMk.  1. 
14.  express  statement.  25, 26.  between  some  of 
— rather '  on  the  part  of.'  and  the  Jews— rather, 
(according  to  the  best  M.S.S.,)'and  a  Jew.' 
about  purifying— -i.e.,  baptising,  the  symboli- 
cal meaning  of  washing  with  water,  being 
put  (as  in  ch.  2.  6,)  for  the  act  itself.  As  John 
and  Jesus  were  the  only  teachers  who  bap- 
tised Jev's,  discussions  miiht  easily  arise  be- 
tween the  Baptist's  disciples  and  such  Jews 
as  declined  to  submit  to  that  rite.  Rabbi, 
&c.— 'Master,  this  man  teUs  us  that  he  to 
TFhom  thou  barest  such  generous  witness  be 


it  is  to  point  the  burdened  to  the  Lamb  of 
God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world, 
to  tell  them  there  is  balm  in  Gilead,  and  a 
Physician  there.  And  shall  I  grudge  to  see 
them,  in  obedience  to  the  calf,  flying  as  a 
cloud,  and  as  doves  to  their  windows?  Whose 
is  the  Bride  but  the  Bridegroom's?  Enough 
for  me  to  be  the  Bridegroom.'s  Friend,  sent 
by  him  to  negociate  the  match,  privileged  to 
bring  together  the  Saviour  and  those  he  is 
come  to  seek  and  to  save,  and  rejoicing  with 
joy  unspeakable  if  I  may  but  '  stand  and 
hear  the  Bridegroom's  voice,'  witnessing  the 
blessed  espousals.  Sayye,  then,  they  go  from 
me  to  Him?  Ye  bring  me  glad  tidings  of 
great  joy.  He  must  increase,  but  I  must  de- 
crease; this,  my  joy,  therefore  is  fulfilled.'  A 
man  can  receive.Aic— 'can  assume  nothing.'i.e., 
lawfully  and  with  any  success;  g.d.,  'Every 
man  has  his  work  and  sphere  appointed 
him  from  above.  Even  Clirist  himself  came 
under  this  law,  (He.  5.  4.)  31-34.  He  that,  fee- 
Here  is  the  reason  why  He  must  increase 
while  all  human  teachers  must  decrease. 
The  Master  "  cometh  from  above"— descend- 
ing from  His  proper  element,  the  region  of 
those  "  heavenly  things  "  which  He  came  to 
reveal,  and  so,  although  mingling  with  men 
and  things  on  the  earth,  is  not  "of  the 
earth,"  either  in  Person  or  Word:  The  ser- 
vants, on  the  contrary,  springing  of  earth, 
are  of  the  earth,  and  their  testimony,  even 
though  divine  in  authority,  partakes  neces- 
sarily of  their  ow-n  earthiness.  {So  strongly 
did  the  Baptist  feel  this  contrast  that  the 
last  clause  just  repeats  the  first.)  It  is 
impossible  for  a  sharper  line  of  distinction 
to  be  drawn  between  Christ  and  all  hu- 
man teachers,  even  when  divinely  com- 
missioned and  speaking  by  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  And  who  does  not  per- 
ceive it?  The  words  of  prophets  and  apos- 
tles are  undeniable  and  most  precious  truth; 
but  in  the  words  of  Christ  we  hear  a  voice 
as  from  the  excellent  Glory,  the  Eternal 
AYord  making  Himself  heard  in  our  own 
flesh,  what  he  hath  seen  and  heard— See  on 
V.  11,  and  ch.  1.  18.  no  man  receiveth,  etc.— 
John's  disciples  had  aaid," All  come  to  Him," 
[V.  26)  The  Baptist  here  virtually  says, 
Would  it  were  so,  but  alas!  they  are  next 
.to  "none."  [Beng.J  They  were  far  readier 
to  receive  himself,  and  obliged  him  to  say, 
I  am  not  the  Christ,  and  he  seems  pained 
at  this,  hath  set  to  His  seal,  &c.— gives 
glory  to  God  whose  words  Christ  speaks, 
not  as  prophets  and  apostles  by  a  par- 
tial communication  of  the  spirit  to  them, 
for  God  giveth  not  the  Spiiit  by  measure— Here 
again,  the  sharpest  conceivable  line  of  dis- 
tinction is  drawn  between  Christ  and  all 
human  inspired  teachers:  'Tliey  have  the 
Spirit  in  a  limited  degree;  but  God  giveth 
not  [to  Him]  the  Spirit  by  measure.'  It 
means  '  the  entire  fulness  of  divine  life  and 
divine  power.    The  present  tense  "  giveth,' 


n  is  requiting  thy  generosity  by  very  aptly  points  out  the  permanent  com- 
the  people  away  to  himself.    At  '■  munication  of  the  Spirit  by  the  Father  to 


yond  Jordan 
drawing  all  tl  . 

this  rate,  thou  sTialt  soon  have  no  disciples  the  Son,  so  that  a  coh.stant  flow  and  re-flow 

at  all.'  The  reply  to  this  is  one  of  the  noblest  of  living  power  is  to  be  understood,    (cf.  1. 

and  most  affecting  utterances  that  ever  came  51.1'    [Olsh.]    35,  36.    The  Father  loveth,  <i:c. 

from  the  lips  of  man.    27-30.  A  man,  fee.—'  I  —See  on  M.  11.  27, where  we  have  the  "  deliv- 

do  niy  heaven-prescribed  work,  and  that  is  ering  over  of  aU  things  into  the  hands  of  the 

enough  lor  me.    Would  you  have  me  mount  Son,"  while  here  we  have  the  deep  spring  or 

into  my  Master's  place?  Said  I  not  unto  you,  that  august  act  in  the  Father  s  inettable  "  love 

I  am  not  the  Chri.st?    The  Bride  is  not  mine,  oj  theSon."  hatheverlastmg  life— already  hath 

why  shovdd  the  people  stay  with  me?  Mine  it,    fcee  on  v.  18,  and  ch.  6.  24.    shall  not  sea 

7ii 


Jestis  healeth  a  ruler's  son. 


JOHN,  T. 


and  then  cometh  han-est?  behold,  I  say 
"nt«„ypu.  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  oh 
the  fields;  <for  they  are  white  ah-eady  to 
han-est. 

36  And  "he  that  reapeth  receiveth  wages, 
and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life  eternal;  that 
both  he  that  soweth  aud  he  that  reapeth 
may  rejoice  together. 

37  And  herein  is  that  sajing  true,  One 
soweth,  and  another  reapeth. 

38  I  sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye 
bestowed  no  labour:  "other  men  labom-ed, 
and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labours. 

39  IT  And  "'many  of  the  Samaritans  of 
that  city  believed  on  him  for  the  saving  of 
the  woman,  which  testified,  He  told  me 
all  that  ever  I  did. 

40  So  'when  the  Samaritans  were  come 
nnto  him,  they  besought  him  that  he  would 
taiTy  with  them:  aud  he  abode  there  two 
days. 

41  And  "  many  more  believed  because  of 
his  own  word ; 

42  And  said  unto  the  woman.  Now  we 
believe,  not  because  of  thy  saying;  for  *  we 
have  heard  him  ourselves,  and  know  that 
this  is  indeed  the  Christ,  « the  Saviour  of 
the  world. 

43  H  Now  after  two  davs  he  departed 
thence,  and  went  into  Galilee. 

44  For  b  Jesus  himself  testified,  that 
a  prophet  hath  no  honour  in  his  own 
country. 

45  Then,  when  he  was  come  into  Galilee, 
the  Galileans  leceived  him,  *  having  seen 
all  the  thuigs  that  he  did  at  Jerusalem  at 
the  least;  **  for  they  also  went  unto  the 
feast. 

46  So  Jesus  came  again  into  Cana  of 
Galilee,  "where  he  made  the  water  wine. 
And  there  was  a  certain  i  nobleman, 
whose  sou  was  sick  at  Capernaum, 

47  When  he  heard  that  Jesus  was  come 
outof  Judea  into  Galilee,  he  went  unto 
him,  and  besought  him  that  he  would  come 
down,  and  heal  his  son:  for  he  was  at  the 
point  of  death. 

48  Then  said  Jesus  mito  him,  /Except  ye 
Bee  signs  and  wonders,  ye  wUl  not  believe. 

49  The  nobleman  saith  mito  him,  Sir, 
come  down  ere  my  child  die. 

60  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  "Go  thy  way 
thy  son  liveth.  And  the  man  believed  the 
word  that  Jesus  had  spoken  unto  him,  and 
he  went  his  way. 

61  And  as  he  was  now  going  down,  his 
senants  met  him,  aud  told  him,  saying. 
Thy  son  liveth. 

62  Then  enquired  he  of  them  the  hour 
when  he  began  to  amend.  And  they  said 
unto  him.  Yesterday  at  the  seventh  hour 
the  fever  left  him. 

63  So  the  father  knew  that  it  was  at  the 
same  hour  in  the  which  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  Thy  son  liveth;  and"  himself  believed, 
and  his  whole  house. 

64  This  itf  again  the  second  miracle  that 
Jesus  did,  when  he  was  come  out  of  Judea 
luto  Gahlee. 

CHAPTER  V. 

1  Jesus,  on  the  lubbatk  doy.  cureth  an  impotent 

niun  at  tlie  fool  of  JJethesda:  16  The  Jews  p€r. 

secute  him  /or  it:  17  he  justifieth  himself,  and 

asferteth  hts  power,  etc. 

A  FTEU  "this  there  was  a  feast  of  the 
"*■     J  e ws ;  and  J  esus  went  up  to  J  erusalem. 

2  Now  there  is  at  Jerusalem,  *  by  the 

Blifctp  I  market,  a  pool,  wliich  is  called  in 

72 


A.  D.  30. 


CHAP.  4. 

t  Mat.  9.  37. 

Luke  10  2. 

"  Dan.  12.  3. 

V  Acts  10.43. 
1  Pet.  1.12. 

tv  Gen.49.10. 
«  Gen  32.26. 

V  Is.  42.1. 
Kom.  15. 
8-12. 

«  ch    17.  8. 

1  John  4. 

14. 
«  1  John  2.2. 
6  Mat.  13  67. 

Mark  6.  4. 

Lu.  4.  24. 
e  eh.  2.  i3. 

ch  3.  2. 
d  Deu.  16.ie. 
e  ch.  2.  1,  It. 
1  Or, 

courtier, 

or,  ruler. 
/ 1  Cor.  1.22. 
g  Mat.  8.  13. 
A  Acts  ll).34. 


CHAP.  6 
a  Lev.  23.  2. 
Dcu.  16. 1. 
ch.  2.  13. 
6  Neh.  3.  1. 
Neh.  12.39. 

1  Or.  gate. 

2  That  is. 
House  of 

c  Heb.  i.  13. 
d  Pa.  72.  13. 

Ps.  il3  5,6. 
e  Mat.  9.  6. 

iUrkS.  11. 

Lu.  5.  24. 
f  ch.  9.  14. 
y  Ex.  20.  10. 

Neh.  13  19. 

Jer.  17.  21. 

Mat.  12.  2. 

Mark  2.  24. 

Mark  3.  4. 

Lu.  B   2. 


/(  P».  103.  2. 
i  Mat.  12.  45. 

ch.  8  11. 
j  ch.  9.  4. 

ch.  14.  10. 
*  ch.  7.  19. 
I  Zech.  13.  7. 

ch.  10.  30. 

PhU.  2.  6. 
m  ch.  8.  28. 
ch.  ».  4. 
ch.  12.  49. 

ch.  14.  rx 


2Pet.!.17. 
Lu.  7.  14. 
Lu.  8  M. 
ch.  11.  25, 
43. 
P  Mat.  11.27. 

ch.  3.  35. 

ch.  17.  2. 

Acta  17.31. 

1  Pet  4.5. 
9  Blat,  28.19. 
1  Johu  2. 
23. 
lUr.  6.  8. 


ffe  healeth  a  man  at  Bethesda. 

the  Hebrew  tongue  2  Bethesda,  having  five 
porches. 

3  In  these  lay  a  great  multitude  of  impo- 
tent folk,  of  bluid,  halt,  withered,  wailing 
for  the  moving  of  the  water. 

4  For  an  angel  went  down  at  a  certain 
season  uito  the  pool,  and  trouViled  the 
water :  whosoever  then  first  after  the 
troubling  of  the  water  stepped  in  was  made 
whole  of  whatsoever  disease  he  had. 

5  And  a  certain  man  was  there,  which  had 
an  infirmity  thirty  and  eight  years. 

6  When  Jesus  saw  him  lie,  and  "knew 
that  he  had  been  now  a  long  time  in  tluit 
case,  he  saith  unto  him,  <iWilt  thou  be 
made  whole? 

7  The  impotent  man  answered  him.  Sir,  I 
have  no  man,  when  the  water  is  troubled, 
to  put  me  into  the  pool:  but  while  1  am 
coming,  another  steppeth  down  before  me. 

8  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  *  Kise,  take  up 
thy  bed,  and  walk. 

9  And  immediately  the  man  was  made 
whole,  and  took  up  his  bed,  and  walked: 
and  on  /the  same  day  was  the  sabbath. 

10  %  The  Jews  therefore  said  unto  him 
that  was  cured;  It  is  the  sabbath  duv:  *it 
is  not  lawful  for  thee  to  carry  thy  bed. 

11  He  answered  them,  He  that  made  me 
whole,  the  same  said  unto  me.  Take  up  thy 
bed,  and  walk. 

12  Then  asked  they  him,  What  man  is 
that  which  said  unto  thee.  Take  up  thy 
bed,  and  walk? 

13  And  he  that  was  healed  wist  not  who  it 
was;  for  Jesus  had  conveyed  himself  away, 
3  a  multitude  being  in  that  place. 

14  Aiterward  Jesus  findeth  him  ''in  the 
temple,  and  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thou 
art  made  whole:  *  sin  no  more,  lest  a  worse 
thing  come  unto  thee. 

15  The  man  departed,  and  told  the  Jewj 
that  it  was  Jesus  which  had  made  him 
whole. 

16  And  therefore  did  the  Jews  persecut* 
Jesus,  and  sought  to  slay  him,  because  he 
had  done  these  things  on  the  sabbath 
day. 

17  IT  But  Jesus  answered  them,  J  My  Fa« 
ther  w-orketh  hitherto,  and  I  work. 

18  Thpi-efoie  the  Jews* sought  the  more 
to  kill  him,  because  he  not  only  had  broken 
the  sabbath,  but  said  also  that  God  was 
his  F.ither,  'making  himself  equal  with 
God. 

I'J  C  Then  answered  Jesus  and  said  unto 
them.  Vt;rily,  verily,  1  say  unto  you,  "'The 
Sou  can  do  nothing  of  himsell,  but  what 
he  seeth  the  Father  do:  for  what  things 
soever  he  doeth,  these  also  doeth  the  Son 
likewise. 

20  For  "  the  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and 
showeth  him  all  things  that  himself  doeth: 
and  he  will  show  him  greater  works  than 
these,  that  ye  may  raanel. 

21  For  as  the  Father  raiseth  up  the  dead, 
and  quickeneth  thtm ;  "even  so  the  Son 
quickeneth  whom  he  will. 

22  For  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but 
hath  P  committed  all  judgment  unto  the 
Son; 

23  That  all  men  should  ?  honour  the  Son, 
even  as  they  honour  the  Father.  He  that 
honoureth  not  the  Son  honom'eth  not  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  him. 

24  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  yon.  He  that 
heareth  my  word,  aud  beUeveih  on  him 
that  sent  lae,  hath  cveiiastiiiii  lile,  and  shall 


JOHN,  IV. 


Woman  of  Samaria. 


ChrUt  taTkdh  vMh  a 

life— The  contrast  here  is  strikins:  The  one  <tc.l,  and  the  thankfulness  of  the  Samaritan 
has  already  a  life  that  will  endure  for  ever—  leper.  (L.  17.  16,  18  .  If  thou  knewest,  (fee— 
the  other  not  only  has  it  not  now,  but  shall  q.d.,  'In  me  thou  seest  only  a  petitioner  to 
never  have  it— never  see  it.  abideth  on  him  thee;  but  if  thou  knewest  Who  that  PetL- 
— It  was  on  Ilini  before,  and  not  beins  re-  tioner  is,  and  the  Gift  that  God  is  siving  to 
moved  in  the  only  possible  way,  by  "believ-  men,  thoi;  wouldst  have  changed  places  with 
ing  on  the  iSon,"  it  necessarily  remoineth  on  Him,  glady  suing  of  Him  living  water— nor 
him!  N.B.  How  flatly  does  this  contradict  shouldst  thou  have  sued  in  vain,'  (gently 
the  teaching  of  many  in  our  day,  that  there  reflecting  on  her  for  not  immediately  meet- 
neither  was,  nor  is,  any  thing  in  God  against  ing  his  request.)  Art  thou  greater,  (fee— al- 
sinners  which  needed  to  be  removed  by  ready  perceiving  in  this  Stranger  a  claim  to 
Christ,  but  only  in  men  against  God.  ;  some  mysterious  greatness,    cur  father  Jacob 

CHAPTER  IV.  I  -for  when  it  went  well  with  the  Jews  they 

Ver.  1-42.  Christ  and  the  Woman  of  claimed  kindred  with  them,  as  being  de- 
Samaria— The  Samaritans  of  Sychar.  scended  from  Joseph,  but  when  misfortunes 
1-4.  the  Lord  knew— not  by  report  but  in  the  befel  the  Jews  they  disowned  all  connexion 
sense  of  ch.  2.  2.5,  for  which  reason  He  is  here  with  them.  [Joseph,  ix.  14.  3.]  13,  14. 
styled  "  the  Lord."  Jesus  baptized  not— John  thirst  again  ...  never  thirst,  (fee— The  con- 
being  a  servant  baptized  witn  his  own  hand:  trast  here  is  fundamental  and  all-compre- 
Christ  as  the  Master,  "baptizing  with  the  hen.sive.  "This  water"  plainly  means  'thi.s 
Holy  Ghost,"  administered  the  outward  natural  water  and  all  satisfactions  of  a  like 
symbol  only  throut;h  His  disciples,  left  earthly  and  perishaJjle  nature.'  Coming  to 
Judea— to  avoid  persecution,  which  at  that  us  from  n-ithout,  and  reaching  only  the 
early  stage  would  have  marred  his  work.  s«pe):/jc(a7  parts  of  our  nature,  they  are  soon 
desarted  into  Galilee— by  which  time  John  spent,  and  need  to  be  anew  .supplied  as 
hail  been  cast  into  prison.  (Mk.  1. 14.)  must  much  as  if  we  had  never  experienced  them 
needs  go  through  Samaria — for  a  geographical  before,  while  the  deeper  wants  of  our  be- 
reason,  no  doubt,  as  it  lay  straight  in  his  ing  are  not  reached  by  them  at  all;  where- 
way,  but  certainly  not  without  a  higher  de-  as  the  "water"  that  Christ  gives— spinfi/aZ 
sign.  5.  Cometh  to— i.e.,  as  far  as  :  for  He  ^?/e— is  struck  out  of  the  very  depths  of  our 
remained  at  .some  distance  from  it.  Sychar  being,  making  the  soul  not  a  cistern,  for 
—the  "  Shechem"  of  the  O.  T.,  aboot  34  holding  water  ponred  into  it  from  v:itnoi(t, 
miles  from  Jerusalem,  aftem  ards  called  but  a  fountain  !tlie  word  had  been  better 
*'  Iseapolis,"  and  now  "  Kablous."  6  -  8.  so  rendered,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  word 
wearied ...  sat  thus  — i.e.,  'as  you  might  rendered  "well"  in  i;.  11,)  springing,  gush- 
fancy  a  weary  man  would;'  an  instance  of  ing.  bubbling  up  and  flowing  fortn  from 
the  graphic  style  of  S.  John.  fw.  (few]  In  within  us,  ever  fresh,  ever  living.  The  in- 
fact,  this  is  perhaps  the  mo%ihuman  of  ii^  dvelling  of  the  Holy  Ghost  as  the  Spirit  of 
the  scenes  of  our  Lord's  earthly  history.  We  !  Christ  is  the  secret  of  this  life  with  all  its 
seem  to  be  beside  him,  overhearing  all  that  enduring  energies  and  satisfactions,  as  is 
is  here  recorded,  nor  could  any  painting  of  expressly  said,  ,ch.  7.  37-.39.)  "  Never  thirst- 
the  scene  on  canvass,  however  perfect,  do !  ing,"  then,  means  simply  that  such  .souls 
other  than  lower  the  conception  which  this  have  the  supplies  at  home,  into  everlasting 
exquisite  narrative  conveys  to  the  devout  Life— carrying  the  thoughts  up  from  the  eter- 
and  intelligent  reader.  But  with  all  that  is  nal  freshness  and  vitality  of  these  waters  to 
human,  how  much  also  of  the  divine  have ;  the  great  ocean  in  which  they  have  their 
we  here,  both  blended  in  one  glorious  mani- 1  confluence.  '  Thither  may  I  arrive!'  [Beng.] 
festation  of  the  majesty,  grace,  pity,  patience  1 15-18.  give  me  this  water,  i:c.— Tliis  is  not 
with  which  "the  Lord  '  imparts  hght  and  obtuseness— that  is  giving  way— it  expresses 
life  to  this  unlikeliest  of  strangers,  standing  a  wondering  desire  after  she  scarce  knew 
midway  between  Jews  and  heathens,  the  what  from  this  mysterious  Stranger,  call 
sixth  hour— noonday,  reckoning  from  6  a.m.  |  thy  husband— now  proceeding  to  arouse  her 
From  Cai  t.  1.  7.  we  know,  as  from  other  .slumbering  con.science  by  laying  bare  the 
sources,  that  the  very  flocks  "  rested  at  guilty  life  she  was  leading,  and  by  the  mi- 
noon."  But  Jesus,  whose  maxim  was.  "  I  nute  details  which  that  life  furnished  not 
must  work  the  works  of  Him  that  sent  me  only  bringing  her  sin  vividly  up  before  her, 
while  it  is  day,"  (ch.  9.  4,  seems  to  have  de-,but  preparing  her  to  receive  in  His  true 
nied  himself  that  repose,  at  least  on  this  character  that  wonderful  Stranger  to  whom 
occasion,  probably  that  He  might  reach  this  her  whole  life,  in  its  minutest  particulars, 
well  when  He  knew  the  woman  w^ould  be  evidently  lay  open.  19,  20.  Sir,  I  perceive, 
there  Once  there,  however.  He  accepts  the  (fee— seeing  herself  all  revealed,  does  she 
grateful  ease  of  a  seat  on  the  patriarchal  now  break  down  and  ask  what  hopes  there 
stone.  But  what  music  is  that  which  1  hear  might  be  for  one  so  guilty?  Nay,  her  con- 
from  His  lips,  "  Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that  victions  have  not  reached  that  point  yet. 
labour  and  are  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  She  ingeniously  shifts  the  subject  from  a 
yon  rest?"  (M.  11.  28.)  Give  me  to  drink— for  personal  to  a  public  question.  It  is  not, 
the  heat  of  a  noon-day  sun  had  parched  His  'Alas,  what  a  wicked  life  am  I  leading!'  but 
lips.  But  "in  the  last,  that  great  day  of  the  '  Lo,  what  a  wonderful  prophet  I  got  into 
feast, '  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying.  If  any  conver.«ation  with:  He  will  be  able  to  settle 
man  thirst  let  him  con  e  unto  me  and  that  interminable  dispute  between  us  and 
drxnk."  ch.  7.  37.:  9-12.  How  is  it  that  thou  the  Jews;  Sir,  you  must  know  all  about  such 
—not  altogether  refusing,  yet  wondering  at  matters— our  fathers  hold  to  this  mountain 
so  unusual  a  request  from  a  Jew,  as  his  here,'  pointing  to  Gerizim  in  Samaria  '  as 
dress  and  dialect  would  at  once  discover  the  divinely  consecrated  place  of  worship, 
him  to  be,  to  a  Samaritan.  For,  (fee— It  is  but  ye  Jews  say  that  Jeriisalem  is  the  proper 
this  national  antipathy  that  gives  point  to  place— which  of  us  is  ri^ht?'    How  slowly 

the  parable  of  the  good  SamaritaaUi..^"  ""  i^.,-»  *v,-.  i — ,„_  i- — >.  — i  — .i.  ^-  ..r 1 

72 


10.  30, '  does  the  human  heart  subuiit  to  thorough 


Ciirtd  d^chtnth.  his  zeal JOHX.  IV. for  God's  glory.' 

humiliation  I  compare  tlie  prodioal;  see  on  than  plainly  f(7//)!(7  them  He  was  the  Christ. 
L.  15.  In.'  Doubtless  our  Lord  siw  through  Liit  what  would  liot  have  been  safe  among 
the  fetch:  but  does  He  say.  'Tliat  ques-  them  was  safe  enough  with  her,  whose  ft-i'/n- 
tion  is  not  the  point  just  now,  but  H;ive  you  j'lirify  at  this  stage  of  the  conversation  ap- 
Leen  living  in  the  way  described,  yea  or  i;>ears  from  the  sequel  to  have  become  pei-- 
nay?  Till  this  is  di'^posed  of  I  cannot  be  led.  "What  now  will  the  woman  say?  \Ve 
di-awn  into  theological  controversies?'  Tlie  listen,  the  scene  has  changed,  a  new  party 
Prince  of  preachers  takes  another  method:  arrives,  the  disciples  have  been  to  Sychar, 
He  humours  the  poor  woman,  letting  her  at  some  distance,  to  buy  bread,  and  on 
t.ake  her  own  way.  allowing  her  to  lead  while  their  return  are  astonished  at  the  corn- 
He  follows— but  thus  only  the  more  etfectu-  pany  their  Lord  has  been  holdin;:  in  their 
ally  gaining  his  object.  He  answers  her  absence.  27.  marvelled  that  he  talked  with 
question,  pours  light  into  her  mind  on  the  the  woman— It  never  probably  occurred  to 
svirituaUtii  of  all  true  worship,  as  of  its  them  to  marvel  that  he  talked  with  them- 
clorious  Object,  and  so  brings  ner  insensi-  .^dves;  j-et  in  His  eye,  as  the  sequel  shows, 
i)lv  to  the  i>oint  at  which  He  could  disclose  He  was  qi;ite  as  nobly  emploved.  How 
to"  her  wondering  mind  "Whom  she  was  all  poor,  if  not  false,  are  many  of  our  most 
the  while  speaking  to.    21-24.  Woman,  <.tc.—  ;  plausible  estimates!    none  said.  What?.  ..Wliyl 

Here  are  three  weighty  pieces  of  informa awed  by  the  spectacle,  and  thinking  there 

tion:  (1.  "Tlie  point  raised  will  very  soon  must  be  something  imder  it.  28-30.  left  her 
cease  to  be  of  any  moment,  for  a  total  change  water-pot  —  How  exquisitely  natural !  Tho 
of  dispensjition  is  about  to  come  over  the  presence  of  strangers  made  her  feel  that  it 
Church.'  (2.)  'The  Samaritans  are  wrong,  was  time  for  her  to  withdraw,  and  He  who 
not  only  as  to  the  i>lace,  but  the  whole  knew  what  was  in  her  heart,  and  what  .she 
nwunds  and  natiire  of  their  worship,  while  was  going  to  the  city  to  do,  let  her  go  without 
in  all  these  respects  the  truth  lies  with  the  exchanging  a  word  with  her  in  the  hearing 
Jews.'  ^3.)  'As  God  is  a  Spirit,  so  He  both  ;  of  others.  Tlieir  interview  was  too  sacred, 
invitex  and  demands  a  spiritual  icors/Hji>,  i  and  the  effect  on  the  woman  too  overpower- 
nnd  alreatlj'  all  is  in  preparation  for  a  spi-  '\  ing  not  to  speak  of  His  own  deep  emotion,) 
ritual  economii,  more  in  narmony  with  tlie  to  allow  of  its  being  continued.  But  this 
true  nature  of  acceptable  service  than  the  I  one  artless  touch— that  she  "left  her  water- 
ceremonial  worship  by  consecrated  persons, !  pot"— speaks  volumes.  The  li^-ing  water  was 
l^iaces  and  times,  which  God  for  a  time  has  I  already  beginning  to  spring  up  within  her; 
seen  meet  to  keep  up  till  fulness  of  the  time  I  she  found  that  man  doth  not  live  by  bread 


shoidd  come.'  neither  in  this  mountain  nor  at 
Jerusalem— I.e..  exdu^ive'u.  Mai.  l.  ll;  l  Ti. 
2.  S  worship  the  F.ither- She  had  talked 
simply  of  "worship;"  our  Lord  brings  up 
before  her  the  great  Object  of  all  acceptable 


nor  by  wat,er  only,  and  that  there  was  a  water 
of  wondrous  virtue  that  raised  people  above 
meat  and  drink,  and  the  vessels  that  held 
them,  and  all  human  things.  In  short,  she 
was  tran.'sported,  forgot  every  thing  bu'  one; 


worship —"  THE  F.vTiiEK."  Ye  worship  ye  1  and  her  heart  running  over  with  the  tale  she 
know  not  what— without  any  rcreakd  a  idho- 1  had  to  tell,  she  hastens  home  and  pours  it  out. 
rity,  and  so  very  ]  ch  in  the  dark.  In  this  ]  Is  not  this  the  Christ:— The /orm  of  the  ques- 
sense.  the  Jews  k)un'  vhat  theii  irere  about,  tion  in  the  Greek  is  a  distant,  modest  way  of 
But  the  most  glorious  thing  here  is  the  rea-  only  half  insinuating  what  it  seemed  hardly 
son  assigned:  "  For  salvation'  is  of  the  fitting  for  her  to  a^inn;  nor  does  she  refer  to 
Jews,"  intimating  to  her  that  Sah-ation  was  I  what  He  said  of  Himself,  but  solely  to  His 
not  a  thing  left  to  be  reached  by  any  one  I  disclosure  to  her  of  the  particulars  of  her 
who  might  vaguely  desire  it  of  a  God  of  j  own  life,  they  went  out,  Arc— How  different 
mercy,  but  somethins  that  had  been  rfrfn?<(f,  I  from  the  Jews  I  and  richly  was  their  open- 
prc  pa  red,  deposited  icith  a  2>(irticidar  veoph,'  ne^s  to  conviction  rewarded.  31-38.  mean- 
aud  must  be  sought  in  connexion  iritn,  and  time— i.e.  wliile  the  woman  wa^  away.  Master, 
a.'t  issuing  from  tJiem:  and  that  people  "the  eat—F(iti(7ue  and  f/nr^f  we  saw  He  felt;  here 
Jews."  ioiu:  cometh  and  now  is— evidently  is  revealed  another  of  our  common  inflrmi- 
meaning  her  to  understand  that  this  new  ties  to  which  the  Lord  was  subject— /iioij/fr. 
economv  was  in  some  sense  being  set  up  meat  ye  know  not  of— What  spirituality  of 
while  He  was  talking  to  her,  a  sense  which  mind!  'Ih.are  been  eating  all  this  while,  and 
would  in  a  few 
He  told  her  p] 

26.  I  know  Messias  cometh  .  .  .  when  He  is  been  brought  him  in  our  absence?  He  knows 
come,  &c.— K  we  take  our  Lord's  immediate  what  they  are  Si\j-ing,  though  He  hears  it  not. 
disclosure  of  Himself,  in  answer  to  this,  as  My  meat  is,  itc— 'A  Servant  here  to  fulfil 
the  proper  kev  to  its  meaning  to  His  ear,  we  a  prescribed  work,  to  do  and  to.tini.<h  that  is 
can  hanilj' doiibt  that  the  woman  was  already  "meat"  to  Me;  and  of  this,  while  yon  were 
all  but  preixired  tor  even  this  startlina  an-  awa.v,  I  have  had  my  fill.'  And  of  what  does 
nouncayient,  which  indeed  she  seems  from  He  speak  thus?  Of  the  condescension,  pity. 
f.  -20.  to  have  already  begim  to  suspect  by  patience,  wisdom  He  had  been  laying  out 
his  revealing  her  to  nerself.  Thus  quickly,  upon  one  soul,— a,  very  humble  woman,  and 
under  so  matchless  a  Teacher,  was  she  in  some  respects  repiilsive  tool  But  he  had 
bnni-ht  up  from  her  sunken  condition  to  a  gained  her,  and  through  her  was  going  to 
frame  of  mind  and  heart  capable  of  the  gain  more,  and  lav  perhaps  the  foundations 
noblest  revelations,  tell  ns  all  thin^— an  of  a  great  work  in  the  country  of  Samaria: 
expectation  founded  probablv  on  Deut.  IS.  and  this  filled  His  whole  soul,  and  raised 
15.  I  that  speak.  .  .  am  he— He  scarce  ever  Him  above  the  sense  of  natural  hunger.  (M.  4. 
saidanything  like  this  to  His  own  people,  the  4.'  yet  four  months,  and  then  harvest— y.(f.,' In 
Jews.  He  h.ad  magnified  them  to  the  woman,  current  speech,  ve  say  thus  at  this  season;  but 
end  vet  to  themselves  he  is  to  the  last  far  liit  up  your  eyes  .and  look  upon  those  fields  in 
more  reserved  than  to  hei— proving  rather,  the  lii^ht  of  a  noyttr  husbandry,  for  lo!  intliat 


w  minuses  so  far  appear,  when  such  food  as  ye  dream  not  of.*  What  can  that 
plainly  He  was  the  Christ.    25,  be?  they  ask  each  other;  have  any  supplies 


JOITN-IT. 


and  TTenldh  the  CoMrticr's  Son-i 


Christ  cfcpartcth  into  Galilee, ____^ 

tense,  they  are  even  now  white  to  harvest,  rare  instance  of  the  Lord's  ministry  product 
ready  for  the  sickle.'  Tlie  simple  beauty  of  inj,'  an  analccninaon  a.  large  scale.  [Olsh.J 
this  lan}Aiai;e  is  only  surpassed  by  the  glow  abode  two  days— Two  precious  days,  surely, 
of  holy  emotion  in  the  Redeemer's  own  soul  to  the  Redeemer  Himself !  Unsought,  lie 
■which  it  expresses.  It  refers  to  the  Hi>eness  had  come  to  His  own,  yel  His  own  received 
of  these  Sycnarites  for  accession  to  Him,  and  Him  not;  now  those  who  were  not  His  cwu 
the  joy  of  this  great  Lord  of  the  reapers  over  had  come  to  Him,  been  won  by  Him,  and 
the  anticipated  ingathering.  O.  could  we  but  invited  Him  to  their  town  that  others  might 
so  "  lift  up  our  eyes  and  look"  upon  many  share  with  them  in  the  benefit  of  His  won- 
fields  abroad  and  at  home,  which  to  dull  derful  ministry.  Here,  then,  would  He 
sense  appear  unpromising,  as  He  beheld  those  solace  His  already  wounded  spirit,  and  have 
of  Samaria,  what  movements,  as  yet  scarce  in  this  outfield  village-triumph  of  His  grace 
in  embryo,  and  accessions  to  Christ,  as  yet  a  sublime  foretaste  of  the  inbringing  of  the 
seemingly  far  distant,  might  we  not  discern  whole  Gentile  world  into  the  Church, 
as  quite  near  at  hand,  and  thus,  amidst  diffi- i  43—54.  Second  Galilean  JVIiracle, 
culties  and  discouragements  too  much  for  Healing  of  the  Courtier's  Son.  43.  44. 
nature  to  sustain,  be  cheered— rts  aiir  Lord  After  two  days— //<.  'the  two  days'  of  His 
Himself  was  in  circumstances  far  more  over-  stay  at  Sychar.  For  Jesus  testified,  (fee- Thia 
whelming— with  "songs  in  the  night!"  he  verse  has  occ;isioned  much  discussion.  For 
thatreapeth,  &c.— As  our  Lord  could  not  mean  it  seems  strange,  if  "  His  own  coimtry,"  here 
that  the  reaper  only,  and  not  the  sower,  re-  means  Nazareth,  which  was  in  Galilee,  that 
ceived  "  wages,"  in  the  sense  of  perso7iai  re-  it  should  be  said  He  came  to  Galilee  because 
ward  for  his  work,  the  "  wages"  nere  can  be  in  one  of  its  towns  He  expected  no  good 
no  other  than  the  joy  of  having  such  a  harvest  reception.  But  all  will  be  simple  and  natu- 
to  gather  in— the. loy  of  "gatherinjc  fruit  unto  ral  if  we  fill  up  the  statement  thus:  'He 
life  eternal."  rejoice  together— The  blessed  went  into  the  region  of  Galilee,  but  not,  as 
issue  of  the  whole  ingathering  is  the  interest  might  have  been  expected,  to  that  part  of  it 
alike  of  the  sower  as  of  the  reaper;  it  is  no  called  "  His  own  country  "  Nazareth,  (see 
more  the  fruit  of  the  la.st  operation  than  of  Mk.  6.  4- L.  4.  24,) /or  He  acted  on  the  maxim 
the  first;  and  .just  as  there  can  be  no  reaping ,  which  He  oft  repeated,  that  a  prophet,'  <!cc. 
without  previous  sowing,  .so  have  tho.^e  ser- ,  45.  received— 'welcomed'  him.  having  seen 
vants  of  Christ,  to  whom  is  assigned  the  j ...  at   the   feast— proud,  perhaps,  of   their 

Eleasant  task  of  merely  reaping  the  spiritual  Countrj-man's  wonderful  works  at  Jerusa- 
arvest.  no  work  to  do,  and  no  joy  to  taste,  lem,  and  possibly  won  by  this  circumstance 
that  has  not  been  prepared  to  their  hand  by  to  regard  His  claims  as  at  least  worthy  of 
the  toilsome  and  often  thankless  work  of  respectful  investigation.  Even  this  our  Lord 
theirpredecessorsinthefield.  The  jou,  there-  did  not  despise,  for  .saving  conversion  often 
fore,  of  the  great  harvest  Jestivity  ivill  be  the  begins  in  less  than  this  soZaccheus,  L.  19.  a, 
common  jay  oj  all  v.iho  have  taken  any  part  in  (fcc.  .  for  they  also  went— i.e.,  it  was  their 
the  u-ork  from  the  Jirst  operation  to  the  last,  practice  to  go  up  to  the  least.  46,  47.  noble- 
(See  Deu.  16.  ll,  14;  Ps.  126.  6;  Is.  9.  3.)  What  man— courtier.  King's  servant,  or  one  con- 
encouragement  is  here  for  those  "  fishers  of  nected  with  a  royal  household ;  such  as 
men  "who  "have  toiled  all  the  night  "of  their  Chuza  L.  8.  3,'  or  Manaen  (A.  13.  l.\  heard 
official  life  and.  to  human  appearance,  "  and  that  Jesus  was  come  out  of  Judea— '  where  he 
have  taken  nothing!"  I  sent  you,  &C.— The /is  had  doubtless  seen  or  heard  what  things 
emphatic,— I,  the  Lord  of  the  whole  harvest: '  Jesus  had  done  at  Jerusalem  {v.  45.i.  [Beng.] 
"  sent  you,"  points  to  their  i>a.-i  app'ointment  come  down— for  Capernaum  was  down  on  the 
to  the  apostleship,  though  it  has  reference  N.  W.  shore  of  the  sea  ot  Galilee.  48-54. 
only  to  their /M^jtre  discharge  of  it,  for  they .  Except  ye  see  signs,  &c.—Hedkl  believe,  both 
had  notliing  to  do  with  the  present  ingather- '  as  His  coming  and  His  urgent  entreaty  .show; 
ing  of  the  Sycharites.  ye  bestowed  no  labour !  but  how  imperfectly  we  shall  see;  and  our 
—meaning  that  much  of  their  future  success  Lord  would  deepen  His  faith  by  such  a 
would  ari.se  from  the  preparation  already  \  blunt  and  seemingly  rough  answer  as  He 
made  for  them.  See  on  v.  42.  others  laboured  made  to  Nicodemus.  Come  down  ere  my 
—referring  to  the  O.  T.  labourers,  the  Bap- '  child  die— '\Vh  le  we  talk,  the  case  is  at  its 
list,  and  by  implication  Himself,  thou.:h  j  cri-sis,  and  if  thou  come  not  instantly,  all  is 
He  studiously  keeps  this  in  the  background,  |  over.'  lliis  was  faith,  but  partial,  and  our 
that  the  line  of  distinction  between HiTtiselfl'LoTd  would  perfect  it.  The  man  cannot 
and  all  his  servants  might  not  be  lod  .fight  of.  believe  the  cure  could  be  wTought  without 
•Christ  represents  Himself  as  the  Husband-  the  Physician  coming  to  the  patient— the 
man  [rather  the  Lord  of  the  labourers]  who  thought  of  such  a  thing  evidently  never 
has  the  direction  both  of  the  sowing  and  of  occurred  to  him.  ButJesus  will  in  a  moment 
the  harvest,  who  commissions  all  the  agents  bring  him  up  to  this.  Gb  thy  way;  thy  soul  liveth 
—those  of  the  0.  T.  as  well  as  of  the  New—  [  —Both  effects  in.stantaneously  followed  :— 
and  therefore  does  not  stand  on  a  level  with  "  the  man  believed  the  word,"  and  the  cure, 
either  the  sowers  or  the  reapers.'  FOlsh.]  shooting  quicker  than  lightning  from  Cana 
39-42.  many  believed,  kc—  llie  truth  of  v.  to  Capernaum,  was  felt  by  the  dying  youth. 
35  begins  to  appear.  These  Samaritans  were  In  token  of  faith,  the  father  takes  his  leave 
the  foundation  of  the  Church  afterwards  of  Christ— in  the  circumstances  this  evi- 
built  up  there.  No  miracle  appears  to  have  denced  full  faith.  The  servants  hasten  to 
been  brought  there  [but  unparalleled  super-  convey  the  joyful  tidings  to  the  anxious 
natural  knowledge  displayed :  ]  "  ice  have  parent,  whose  faith  now  only  wants  one 
heard  him  ourtthes"  sufficed  to  raise  their  confirmation,  "ir/ie/i  began  he  to  amend?" 
faith  to  a  point  never  attained  by  the  Jews,  "Yestciday,  at  the  seventh  hour,  the  fe- 
and  hardly  as  yet  by  the  disciples— that  He  ver  left  him"— the  very  hour  in  which 
■was  "the  Saviour  of  the  world."  [Alf.]  was  uttered  that  great  word,  "Thy  Son 
"iTiis  iucideut  is  farther  remarkable  as  a  [liveth!"  bo  " himself  believed  and  his  whole 


Clirist  declares  himself  to  the  Jews.         JOHN,  VI. 


Christ  feeds  Jive  thousand. 


not  come  into  condemnation ;  •■  but  is  passed 
from  death  unto  life. 

25  Verilj,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  hour 
is  coming,  and  now  is,  when  '  the  dead  shall 
hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God:  and  they 
th:it  hear  shall  live. 

20  For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  himself, 
80  hath  he  given  to  the  Son  to  have  life  in 
himself; 

27  And « hath  given  him  authority  to  exe- 
cute judgment  also,  "because  he  is  the 
Son  of  man. 

28  Alai-vel  not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  com- 
ing, in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves 
shall  hear  his  voice, 

2!)  And  "shall  come  forth;  ""they  that 
have  done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of 
life ;  and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  damnation. 

30  1  can  of  mine  own  self  do  nothing:  as 

1  hear,  I  judge:  and  my  judgment  is  just; 
because  '^  I  seek  not  mine  own  will,  but  the 
will  of  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me. 

31  If  "  I  bear  witness  of  myself,  my  witness 
is  not  true. 

32  There  is  another  that  beareth  witness 
of  me ;  and  I  know  that  the  witness  which 
he  witnesseth  of  me  is  true. 

33  Ye  sent  unto  J  ohn,  ^  and  he  bare  wit- 
ness unto  the  truth. 

34  But  I  receive  not  testimony  from  man: 
but  these  things  I  say,  that  ye  might  be 
saved. 

35  He  was  a  burning  and  "  a  shining  light: 
and  i>ye  were  willing  for  a  season  to  rejoice 
in  his  light. 

36  But  '  I  have  greater  witness  than  that 
of  John:  for  <*  the  works  which  the  Father 
hath  given  me  to  finish,  the  same  works 
that  I  do,  bear  witness  of  me,  that  the 
Father  hath  sent  me. 

37  And  the  Father  himself,  which  hath 
sent  me,  *  hath  borne  witness  of  me.  Ye 
have  neither  heard  his  voice  at  any  time, 
nor/  seen  his  shape, 

38  And  ye  have  not  his  word  abiding  in 
you:  for  whom  he  hath  sent,  him  ye  believe 
not. 

39  Search  ^  the  Scriptures;  for  in  them  ye 
think  ye  have  eternal  life:  and  ''they  are 
they  wliich  testify  of  me. 

40  And  ye  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye 
might  have  life. 

41  I « receive  not  honour  from  men. 

42  But  I  know  you,  that  ye  have  not  the 
love  of  God  in  you. 

43  I  am  come  in  my  Father's  name,  and 
ye  receive  me  not:  it  another  shall  come  in 
his  own  name,  him  ye  will  receive. 

44  How  can  ye  believe,  which  receive 
honour  one  of  another,  ana  seek  not  J  the 
honour  that  cometh  from  God  only? 

45  Do  not  think  that  1  wili  accuse  you  to 
the  Father:  *  there  is  cnie  that  accuseth 
you,  even  I,^  oses,  in  whom  ye  trust. 

46  For  had  ye  believed  Moses,  ye  would 
have  believed  me:  'for  he  wrote  of  me. 

47  But  if'"  ye  believe  not  his  writings,  how 
Bhall  ye  believe  my  words? 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1  Christ  fttdeth  five  thousand  with  five  loaves  and 

two  fishes;  19  he  tvalketh  cm  the  sea:  TJ  the  mul- 

titutle  floeking  unto  him,  he   reproveth   their 

earnal  views,  etc. 

A  FTEll  "  these  things  Jesus  went  over 
■^  the  sea  of  Galilee,  which  is  the  sea  of 
Tiberias. 

2  And  a  great  multitude  followed  him. 

W 


CHAP.  6. 

'•lJohn3.14, 
»  Gal.  2.  21). 

£ph.  2.1,6. 

Eph.  6.  14. 

Col.  2.  13. 

Rev.  3.  1. 
t  Jer.  10.  10. 

Acts  10  42. 

Acta  17.31. 
«  Dan.  7. 13. 
»  1  Thesi.  4. 

16. 

1  Cor.  16. 
52. 

W  Dan.  12.  2. 

*Ut.25.32. 

X  JIat.  28.39. 

ch.  4.  34. 

ch.  6.  38. 
V  ch.  8.  14. 

Kov.  3. 14. 
»  ch.  1.  15. 
a  2  Pet.1.19. 
b  JIat.  13.20. 

Mat.  21  26. 

Mark  0  20. 
C  1  John  6.  9. 
d  ch.  16.  24. 
«  Mat.  3.  17. 

Mat.  17.  6. 

eh.  6.  27. 

ch.  8. 18. 

2  Pet.  1.17. 
1  John  5.6. 

f  Deu.  4.  12. 

ch.  1.  18. 

1  Ti.  1.  17. 

1  John  4. 

12. 

ffla.a.  20. 

Lu    16.  29. 

Acts  17.11. 

ft  Deu.  18.15. 

Lu.  24.  27, 

44. 

{  1  Thes  2.6. 

j  Rom.  2.  29. 

*  Horn.  2. 12. 

i  Gen.  3.15. 

Gen.  12.3. 

Gen.  18. 18. 

Gen.  22. 18. 

Gen.  49. 10. 

Deu.  18. 15. 

Acta  26.  22. 

m  Lu.  16.29, 


CHAP.  6. 
a  Mat.  14.15. 

Mark  6  35. 

Lu.  9.  II). 
6  L6V.23.6,7. 

Nu.  28.  16. 

Deu.  16.  1. 

ch.  2.  13. 

ch.  6.  1. 
e  Mat.  14.14. 

Mark  6.  35. 

Lu.  9.  12. 
d  Nu.  11.  21, 

22. 
•  2  Ki.  4.  43. 
/  Ex.  23.  ■-'5. 

'  Ti.  4.  6. 
g  Gen.  49.10. 

Deu.  18.15, 

18. 

Is.  7.  14. 

la.  9.  6. 

la.  35.  6. 

Mat.  n.  3. 

ch.l.  21. 

ch.  4. 19,25. 

ch.  7.  40. 
A  Mat.  14.23. 

Mark  U.47. 


because  they  saw  his  miracles  which  he 
did  on  them  that  were  disea.sed. 

3  And  Jesus  went  up  into  a  mountain, 
and  there  he  sat  with  his  disciples. 

4  And  *  the  passover,  a  feast  of  the  Jews, 
was  nigh. 

5  When  "Jesus  then  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
saw  a  great  company  come  unto  him,  he 
saith  unto  Philip,  Whence  shall  we  buy 
bread,  that  these  may  eat? 

6  (And  this  he  said  to  prove  him:  for  he 
himself  knew  what  he  would  do.) 

7  Philip  answered  him,  <i  Two  hundred 
penny-worth  of  bread  is  not  sufficient  for 
them,  that  every  one  of  them  may  take  a 
little. 

8  One  of  his  disciples,  Andrew,  Simon. 
Peter's  brother,  saitli  unto  him,  '' 

9  There  is  a  lad  here,  which  hath  five 
barley  loaves,  and  two  small  fishes:  *  but 
what  are  they  among  so  many? 

10  And  Jesus  said.  Make  the  men  sit 
down.  Now  there  was  much  grass  in  the 
place.  So  the  men  sat  down,  in  number 
about  five  thousand. 

11  And  Jesus  took  the  loaves;  and  when 
he  had /given  thanks,  he  distributed  to  the 
disciples,  and  the  disciples  to  them  that 
were  set  down;  and  likewise  of  the  fishes 
as  much  as  they  would. 

12  When  they  were  filled,  he  said  unto 
his  disciples.  Gather  up  the  fragments  that 
remain,  that  nothing  be  lost, 

13  Therefore  they  gathered  them  together, 
and  filled  twelve  baskets  with  the  fragments 
of  the  five  barley  loaves,  which  remained 
over  and  above  unto  them  that  had  eaten. 

14  H  Then  those  men,  when  they  had  seen 
the  miracle  that  Jesus  did,  said.  This  is  of 
a  truth  *'that  prophet  that  should  come 
into  the  world. 

15  When  Jesus  therefore  perceived  that 
they  would  come  and  take  him  by  force,  to 
make  him  a  king,  he  departed  again  into  a 
mountain  himself  alone. 

16  IT  And  '^  when  even  was  now  come,  hia 
disciples  went  down  unto  the  sea, 

17  And  entered  into  a  ship,  and  went  over 
the  sea  toward  Capernaum.  And  it  was 
now  dark,  and  Jesus  was  not  come  to 
them. 

18  And  the  sea  arose,  by  reason  of  a  great 
wind  that  blew. 

It)  So  when  they  had  rowed  about  five  and 
twenty  or  tliuty  furlongs,  they  see  Jesus 
walking  on  the  sea,  and  drawing  nigh  unto 
the  ship:  and  they  were  afraid. 

20  But  he  saith  unto  them.  It  is  I;  be  not 
afraid. 

21  Then  they  willingly  received  him  into 
the  ship:  and  immediately  the  ship  was  at 
the  land  whither  they  went. 

22  IT  The  day  following,  when  the  people 
which  stood  on  the  other  side  of  the  sea 
saw  that  there  was  none  other  boat  there, 
save  that  one  whereiuto  his  disciples  were 
entered,  and  that  Jesus  went  not  with  ids 
disciples  into  the  boat,  but  that  his  disciples 
were  gone  away  alone ; 

23  (Howbeit  there  came  other  boats  from 
Tiberias,  nigh  unto  the  place  where  they 
did  eat  bread,  after  that  the  Lord  had 
given  thanks:) 

24  When  the  people  therefore  saw  that 
Jesus  was  not  tutre,  neither  his  disciples, 
they  also  took  shipping,  and  came  to 
Capernaum,  seeking  for  Jesus. 

25  And  when  they  had  found  him  on  the 


Jesus  healeth  a  man  at  Bethesdat 


JOHN.  V. 


en  tJie  Sahhaih  day. 


house."  He  had  believed  before  this,  first 
veiy  imperfectly;  then  with  assured  confi- 
dence of  Christ's  word;  but  now  with  a  faith 
cro^Tied  by  "  sight."  And  the  wave  rolled 
from  the  head  to  the  members  of  his  house- 
hold. "To-day  is  salvation  come  to  this 
liouse  iL.  19.  9,i;  and  no  mean  house  this  ! 
second  miracle  Jesiis  did— i.e.,  in  (.'ana;  done 
"after  he  came  out  of  Judea,"  as  the  former 

before.  

CHAPTER  V. 
Ver.  1-47.   The  IiMPotent  Man  Healed 
—Discourse  occasioned  by  the  perse- 
cution ARISING  THEREUPON.     1.  a  fcast  Of 

the  Jews— TF/ia^  fyad?  No  question  has 
more  divided  the  Harmonists  of  the  Gospels, 
and  the  duration  of  our  Lord's  ministry 
may  be  said  to  hinge  on  it.    For  if,  as  the 


;  to  find  His  patient,  and  the  whole  pre- 
history of  His  case  ich.  i'.  25.!.  Wilt  thou 


where  to  find  Hi? 

vious  history  of  His  case  ich.  i'.  25.!.  Wilt  thou 
be  made  whole?  Could  any  one  doubt  that  a  sick 
man  would  like  to  be  made  whole,  or  that 
the  patients  came  thither,  and  this  man  had 
returned  again  and  again,  just  in  hope  of  a 
cure?  But  our  Lord  asked  the  (luestion. 
l.j  To  fasten  attention  upon  Himself;  i2.) 
By  making  him  detail  his  case,  to  deepen  in 
him  the  feeling  of  entire  helplessness;  (3.) 
By  so  singular  a  question,  to  beget  in  his 
desponding  heart  the  hope  of  a  cure.  (cf. 
Mk.  10.  51.)  Sir,  I  have  no  man,  <tc.— Instead 
of  snyivg  he  wished  to  be  cured,  hejust  tells 
with  piteous  simplicity  how  fruitless  had 
been  all  his  efforts  to  obtain  it,  and  how 
Itclpless  and  all  but  hovekss  he  was.  Yet  not 
quite.  For  here  he  is  at  the  pool,  waiting  on. 


majority  have  thought  (until  of  late  years)  It  seemed  of  no  use;  nay,  only  tant:il'zing 
it  was  a  Pa-ssowr,  His  ministry  lasted  three-  ""■•■"•'    ^  •  ...... 


and-a-half  years;  if  not,  probably  a  year 
Those  who  are  dissatisfied  with  the  Pass- 
over-view all  differ  among  themselves  what 
other  feast  it  was,  and  some  of  the  most  acute 
think  there  are  no  grounds  for  deciding.  In 
our  .judgment  the  evidence  is  in  favour  of 
its  being  a  Pasaover,  but  the  veasons  can- 
not be  stated  here.  2,  3.  sheep  [market J— 
The  supplement  should  be  (as  in  marg.} 
•sheep  [gate],'  mentioned  Ne.  3. 1, 32.  Beth- 
esda— i.e.,  'house  place)  of  mercy,'  from  the 
cures  wrought  there,  five  porches— for  shel- 
ter to  the  patients,  impotent  — or  infirm. 
4.  An  angel,  fcc— This  miracle  differed  in 
two  points  from  all  other  miracles  recorded 
in  Scripture:  1.  It  was  not  one  but  a  .'Jucces- 
sion  of  miracles  periodically  wrought:  (•^.] 
As  it  was  only  wroiisht  "  when  the  waters 
were  troiibled,"  so  only  upon  one  patient  at 
a  time,  and  that  the  patient  "who  first 
stepped  in  alter  the  troubli)ig  of  the  waters." 
But  this  only  the  more  undeniably  fixed  its 
miraculous  character.  We  have  heard  of 
many  waters  having  a  medicinal  virtue;  but 
what  water  was  ever  known  to  cure  instanta- 
neously a  single  disease?  And  who  ever  heard 
of  any  water  curing  all,  even  the  most 
diverse  diseases— '"blind,  halt,  withered"— 
alike  ?  Above  all,  who  ever  heard  of  such 
a  tiling  being  done  only  "  at  a  certain  season," 
and  most  singularly  of  all,  doing  it  only  to 
the  first  person  who  stepped  in  after  the 
moving  of  the  waters?  Any  of  these  pecu- 
liarities—mucli  more  all  taken  together- 
must  have  proclaimed  the  supernatural 
character  of  the  cures  vrroutiit.  (If  the  text 
here  be  genuine,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of 
the  miracle,  as  there  were  multitudes  living 
when  this  gospel  was  published  who,  from 
their  own.  knowledge  of  Jerusalem,  could 
have  exposed  the  falsehood  of  the  evangelist, 
if  no  such  cure  had  been  kno^-n  there.  The 
want  of  V.  4  and  part  of  v.  3,  in  some  good 
M  S  S-  and  the  use  of  some  unusual  words 
in  the  passage,  are  more  easily  accounted 
for  than  the  evidence  in  their  favour  if  they 
were  not  originally  in  the  text.  Indeed  v.  7  is 
unintelligible  without  v.  4.  The  internal 
evidence  brought  against  it  is  merely  the  un- 
likelihood of  such  a  miracle— a  principle  which 
wUl  carry  us  a  .great  deal  farther  if  we^Ilow 
it  to  weigh  against  positive  evidence.)  5-9. 
38  years— but  not  all  that  time  at  the  pool. 
This  was  probably  the  most  pitiable  of  all 
the  cases,  and  therefore  selected,    saw  him  lie 

and  knew,  &c.— As  He  doubtless  visited  the    .         .    .        „  _._.. ...^ 

spot  just  to  perform  this  cure,  so  He  knows  away— or  'slipped  out'  of  the  crowd  that 

rs  L 


While  I  am  coming,  another  steppeth  down 
J3efore  me"— the  fruit  was  snatched  from  his 
lips.  Yet  he  wiU  not  go  away.  He  may  get  no- 
thing by  staying ;  he  may  drop  into  his  grave 
ere  he  get  into  the  pool;  but  by  going  from 
the  appointed,  divine  way  of  healing,  he  can 
t'et  nothing.  Wait  therefore  he  Mill,  wait  he 
does,  and  when  Christ  comes  to  heal  him, 
lo !  he  is  waiting  his  turn.  What  an  attitude 
for  a  sinner  at  Mercj''s  gate  !  The  man's 
hopes  seen  ed  low  enough  ere  Clirist  came 
to  liim.  He  might  have  said,  just  before 
"Jesus  passed  by  that  way,"  'This  is  nc ' 
u.se;  I'll  never  get  in;  let  me  die  at  home.' 
Then  all  had  been  lost.  But  he  held  mi,  and 
his  perseverance  was  rewarded  with  a  glori- 
ous cure.  Probably  some  rays  of  hope  darted 
into  his  heart  as  he  told  his  tale  before  those 
Eyes  whose  glance  measured  his  whole  case. 
But  the  word  of  command  consummates  his 
preparation  to  receive  the  cure,  and  instan- 
taneously works  it.  Rise,  take  up  thy  bed, 
(fee— "Immediately"  he  did  .so.  He  spake 
and  it  was  done."  The  slin.dng  of  his  port- 
able couch  over  his  shoulders  was  designed 
to  show  the  perfection  of  the  cure,  the  same 
day  was  the  Sabbath— Beyond  all  doubt  this 
was  intentional,  as  in  so  many  other  heal- 
ings, in  order  that  when  opposition  arose  on 
this  account  men  mltiht  be  compelled  to  lis- 
ten to  His  claims  and  His  teaching.  10-16. 
The  Jews— t.e.,  those  in  authority.  See  on 
ch.  1. 19.  It  is  not  lawful  to  carry  thy  bed— a 
glorious  testimony  to  the  cure,  as  instanta- 
neous and  eomplete,  from  the  lips  of  the 
most  prejudiced  !  And  what  a  contrast  does 
it,  as  all  our  Lord's  miracles,  present  to  the 
bungling  miracles  of  the  Church  of  Rome!) 
In  ordinary  circumstances,  the  rulers  had 
the  law  on  their  side.  iNe.  13.  15;  Je.  17.  -n.) 
But  when  the  man  referred  them  to  "Him 
that  had  made  him  whole"  as  his  authority, 
the  argument  was  resistless.  Yet  they  in- 
geniously parried  the  thrust,  asking  him, 
not  who  had  "'  made  him  whole"— that  would 
have  condemned  themselves  and  defeated 
their  purpose— but  who  had  bidden  him 
"  take  up  his  bed  and  walk,"  in  other  words, 
who  had  dared  to  order  a  breach  of  the  Sab- 
bath? 'Tis  time  we  were  looking  after  him 
—thus  hoping  to  shake  the  man's  faith  in  his 
Healer,  he  that  was  healed  wist  not,  (fee- 
That  some  one,  with  unparalleled  genero- 
sity, tenderness  and  power,  had  done  it,  the 
man  knew  well  enough;  but  as  he  had  never 
heard  of  Him  before,  so  He  disappeared  too 
quickly  for  any  inquiries,    conveyed  Himself 


Christ  Dedans 


JOHN',  V. 


Eimselfto  the  JevfS. 


Father,  doing  is  toilUng;  it  is  only  the  Son 
wlio  ads  in  Time.'  [Alf.]  Three  thinss 
here  are  clear:  (1.)  The  personal  distinctions 
in  the  Godhead.  (2.)  Unity  of  action  among 
the  Persons  results  from  unity  of  nature. 
[.'>.)  Their  oneness  of  interest  is  no  uncon- 
scious or  involuntary  thing,  but  a  thins  of 
gloriousco?isc?owsn/'ss,  v:ili,  and  love,  of  which 
the  Persons  themselves  are  the  proper  Ob- 
jects, show  hira  greater  things,  &c.— refer- 
ring to  what  He  goes  on  to  mention,  (v.  21-0I,) 
comprised  in  two  great  words.  Life  and 
JuDQME.-JT,  which  Stier  beautifully  calls 
God's  hcnalia.  Yet  these  Christ  says  the 
Father  and  He  do  in  common.  21-23. 
raiseth  the  dead  and  quickeneth  them— one 
act  in  two  stages.  This  is  His  absolute 
prerogative  as  God.  so  the  Son  quicken- 
eth—i«.,  raiseth  up  and  quickeneth.  whom 
He  will— not  only  doing  the  same  divine  ad, 
but  doing  it  as  the  result  of  His  ovm  %cill, 
even  as  the  Father  does  it.  This  statement 
is  of  immense  importance  in  relation  to  the 
miracles  of  Christ,  distinguishing  them  from 
similar  miracles  of  prophets  and  apostles, 
who  as  human,  instruments  were  employ- 
ed to  perform  supernatural  actions,  wlule 
Christ  did  all  as  the  Father's  commissioned 
Servant  indeed,  but  inthe  exercise  ofHisoivn 
absolute  righ  t  of  action.  For  the  Father  judg- 
eth  no  man,  fee— rather,  'For  neither  doth 
the  Father  judge  any  man,'  implying  that  the 
same  thing  was  meant  in  the  tormer  verse 
of  the  "quickening  of  the  dead"— both  acts 
being  done,  not  by  the  Father  aHdthe  Son,  as 
though  twice  done,  butbythe  Father  f/irottsr/i 
the  Son  as  His  voluntary  Agent,  all  judg- 
ment—judgment in  its  most  comprehensive 
sense,  or  as  we  should  say,  all  cubninistror 
tion.  honoiur  the  Sou  as  .  .  .  the  Father— As 
he  who  believes  that  Christ  in  the  foregoing 
verses  has  given  a  true  account  of  his  rela- 
tion to  the  Father  must  of  necessity  hold 
Him  entitled  to  the  same  honour  as  the 
Father,  so  He  here  adds  that  it  was  the 
Father's  express  intention  in  making  over 
all  judgment  to  the  Son,  that  men  should 
thus  honour  Him.  hououreth  not  the  Fa- 
ther, (fcc- does  not  do  it  in  fact,  whatever 
he  may  imagine,  and  will  be  held  as  not 
doing  it  by  the  Father  Himself,  who  will 
accept  no  homage  which  is  not  accorded  to 
His  own  Son.  24.  believeth  on  him  that  sent 
me— i.e.,  believeth  in  him  as  having  sent  Me. 
q.d.,  I  have  spoken  of  the  Son's  right  not 
only  to  heal  the  sick  but  to  raise  from  the 
dead,  and  quicken  whom  He  will :  And  now 
I  say  unto  you,  That  life  giving  operation 
has  alreadti  passed  upon  all  who  receive  my 
words  as  the  Sent  of  the  Father  on  the  great 
errand  of  mercy,  hath  everlasting  life— imme- 
diately on  his  believing,  cf.  ch.  3.  18;  1  J. 
6.  12.  1.3.)  is  passed— 'hath  passed  over' 
"  from  death  unto  life."  "What  a  transition! 
cf.  1  J.  3.  14.  25-29.  the  hour  cometh— in  its 
whole  fulness,  at  Pentecost,  and  now  is— in 
its  beginnings,  the  dead  — the  spiritually 
dead,  as  is  clear  from  v.  28.  Here  He  rises 
from  the  calmer  phrase  "hearing  his  word" 
11;.  24,1  to  the  grander  expression,  "hearing 
the  voice  oftJie  Son  of  God,  to  signify  that  as 
it  finds  men  in  a  dead  condition,  so  it  carries 
18)  whose  interests  are  one;  even  as  their  I  with  it  &  resurrection-poicer.  shall  live— in 
nature,  that  the  Father  communicates  to  the  sense  of  v.  24.  given  to  the  Sou,  &c.^ 
tlie  Son  all  His  counsels,  and  what  has  been  Does  this  refer  to  the  essential  life  of  the 
thus  shown  to  the  Son  is  by  Him  executed, Son  before  all  time  icli.  I.  4,  [as  most  of  the 
iu  Hia  mediatorial  character.  'With  the iFatliers.andOujH.,!SiiEB..AiJr.,&c., among 
7^* 


bad  gathered  to  avoid  both  hasty  popularity 
and  precipitate  hatred.  (M.  12.  l4-l'j.)  find- 
ethhim iuthe  temple— saying,  perhaps,"!  will 
go  into  thy  house  with  burnt-ofterings,  I  will 
pay  my  vows  which  my  lips  have  uttered  and 
my  mouth  hath  spoken  when  I  was  in 
trouble."  Ps.  6(5.  1.3, 14.!  Jesus,  there  Him- 
self for  His  own  ends,  "  findeth  him  there"— 
not  all  acciderdaJly,  be  assured.  Sin  no  more, 
&c.— a  glimpse  this  of  the  reckless  life  he  had 
probably  led  before  his  thirty-eight  years' 
infirmity  had  come  upon  him,  and  which  not 
improbably  had  brought  on,  iu  the  just  judg- 
ment of  God,  his  chronic  complaint.  Fear- 
ful illustration  this  of  "the  severity oi  God," 
but  glorious  manifestation  ot  our  Lords 
insight  into  "what  was  in  man."  The  man 
departed  and  told.  &c.— little  thinking  how 
unwelcome  his  grateful  and  eager  testimony 
would  be.  '  Tlie  darkness  received  not  the 
light  which  was  ijouring  its  rays  upon  it,' 
J .  1.  5,  11.  [Olsh.I  because  he  had  done  these 
things  on  the  Sabbath-day —What  to  these 
hvpocritical  religionists  was  the  doing  of 
the  most  glorious  and  beneficent  miracles, 
compared  with  the  atrocity  of  doing  them 
on  the  Sabbath-day!  Having  given  them 
this  handle,  on  purpose  to  raise  the  first 
public  controversy  with  them,  and  thus  open 
a  fitting  opportunity  of  laying  His  claims 
before  them,  He  rises  at  once  to  the  whole 
height  of  them,  in  a  statement  which  for 
grandeur  and  terseness  exceeds  almost  any 
thing  that  ever  afterwards  fell  from  Him,  at 
least  to  His  enemies.  17,  18.  My  Father 
worketh  hitherto  and  I  work.  The  *'/  "  is  em- 
phatic, a-d— 'The  creative  and  conservative 
activity  ot  my  Father  has  known  no  Sabbath- 
cessation  from  the  beginning  until  now,  and 
that  is  the  law  of  My  working.'  Gcd  was  his 
Father— ^it.  'his  own  (or  peculiar'  Father,' 
as  in  R.  8.  32.  The  addition  is  their  ow^n, 
but  a  very  proper  one.  making  himself  equal 
with  God— rigl'.tly  gathering  this  to  be  His 
meaning,  not  from  the  mere  words  "  my 
Father,"  but  from  His  claim  of  right  to  act 
as  His  Father  did  in  the  like  high  sphere,  and 
by  the  same  law  of  ceaseless  activity  in  that 
sphere.  And  as,  instead  of  instantly  dis- 
claiming any  such  meaning— as  He  must 
have  done  if  it  was  false— He  positively  sets 
His  seal  to  it  in  the  following  verses,  merely 
explaining  how  consistent  such  claim  was 
with  the  prerogatives  of  His  Father,  it  is 
beyond  all  doubt  that  we  have  here  an  as- 
sumption of  peculiar  personal  Son^hip,  or 
participation  in  the  Father's  essential  na- 
ture. 19,  20.  the  Son  can  do  nothing  of  him- 
self- i.e.,  apart  from  and  in  rivalry  of  the 
Father,  as  they  supposed.  The  meaning  is, 
'The  Son  can  have  no  separate  interest  or 
action  from  the  Father.'  for  what  things,  &c. 
—q.d.,  '  On  the  contrai-y,  whatever  the  Father 
doeth  that  same  doeth  the  Son.'  likewise— 
*in  the  like  manner.'  A\  hat  claim  to  abso- 
lute equality  with  the  Father  could  exceed 
this;  not  only  to  do  the  same  things,  but  to 
do  them  as  the  Father  does  them?  Father 
loveth  .  .  .  and  showeth  hint  all,  (kc— As  love 
has  no  concealments,  so  it  results  from  the 
perfect  fellowship  and  mutual  endearment 
of  the  Father  and  the  Son  (.see  on  ch.  l.  l 


Chi-is^s  Testimony 


JOHN,  VL 


the  moderns.]  or  to  the  purpose  of  God  that 
this  essential  life  should  reside  in  the  Person 
of  the  incarnate  Son,  and  be  manifested  thus 
to  the  world?  [Cal.,  Lcke.,  Lthdt.,  fcc] 
The  question  is  as  difficult  as  the  subject  is 
high.  But  as  all  that  Christ  says  of  His 
essential  relation  to  the  Father  is  intended 
to  explain  and  exalt  his  mediatorial  func- 
tions, so  the  one  seems  in  our  Lord's  own 
mind  and  language  mainly  the  starting-point 
of  the  other,  because  he  is  the  Son  of  Man— 
This  seems  to  confirm  the  last  remark,  that 
what  Qirist  had  properly  in  view  was  the 
'ndwelling  of  the  Son's  essential  life  in  hu- 
manitu  as  the  great  tlieatre  and  medium  of 
divine  display,  in  both  the  great  departments 
of  His  \:0Tk— life-giving  and  judgment.  The 
appointment  of  a  Judge  in  our  own  nature 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  arrangements  of 
divine  wisdom  in  redemption.  Marvel  not 
at  tills— this  committal  of  all  judgment  to 
the  Son  of  Mom.  for  the  hour  is  coming— He 
adds  not  in  this  case  as  in  v.  25,)  "  and  now 
is,"  because  this  was  not  to  be  till  the  close 
of  the  whole  dispensation  of  mercy.  : 
rection  of  life— i.e..  '  to  life'  everlasting, 
25.  46.)  of  damnation— It  would  have  been 
harsh  to  say  'the  resurrection  of  death,' 
though  that  is  meant,  for  sinners  rise  from 
death  to  death.  [Beng.]  The  resurrection 
of  both  classes  is  an  exercise  of  sovereign 
authority:  but  in  the  one  case  it  is  an  act  of 
grace,  in  the  other  of  justice,  (cf.  Da,  12.  2, 
from  which  the  language  is  taken.)  How 
awfully  grand  are  tfiese  unfoldings  of  His 
dignity  and  authority  from  the  mouth  of 
Christ  Hiniselr !  And  they  are  all  in  the 
third  person;  in  what  follows  H e  resumes  the 
first  person.  30-32.  of  mine  own  self  do  no- 
thing—i.  e.,  apart  from  the  Father,  or  in  any 
interest  of  my  own.  (See  on  v.  19.)  as  I  hear 
— q.d.,  'My  judgments  are  aU  anticipated  in 
the  bosom  of  my  Father,  to  which  I  have 
immedJate  access,  and  by  me  only  res2)onded 
to  and  reflected,  Tliey  cannot  therefore  err, 
as  1  live  for  one  end  only,  to  carry  into  ef- 
fect the  will  of  Him  that  sent  me.  If  I  wit- 
ness of  myself— standing  alone,  and  setting 
up  any  separate  interest.  There  is  another — 
i.e.,  the  Father,  as  is  plain  from  the  connec- 
tion. How  brightly  the  distinction  of  the 
Persons  shines  out  here!  and  I  know  that 
the  witness,  <fec.— '  Tliis  is  the  Son's  testimony 
to  the  Father's  truth,  (see  ch.  7.  28;  8.  26,  5.5.' 
It  testifies  to  the  full  consciou.sness  on  :he 
part  of  the  Son,  even  in  the  days  of  His 
humiliation  of  the  righteousness  ol  the 
Father.'  [Alf.]  And  thus  He  cheered  His 
spirit  und'ii  the  cloud  of  human  o)i  position 
which  was  already  gathering'  over  His  head. 
33-35-  Ye  sent  unto  John— vSee  ch.  1.  19,  kc] 
receive  not  test... from  men— i.e.,  depend  not 
on  human  testimony,  hut... that  ye  may 
be  saved— 'I  refer  to  him  merely  to  aid  your 
faith,  in  order  to  your  salvation.'  He  was  a 
burning  and  a  shining  light— ^i.  'the  burning 
and  shining  lamp,'  ;or  'torch;')— q.d.,  'the 
great  light  of  his  day.'  Christ  is  never  called 
by  the  humble  word  here  applied  to  John— 
a  light-hcarer~iin^o\xs\y  used  to  distinguish 
him  from  his  IMaster,  but  ever  tlie  Ligid  in 
the  most  absolute  sense.  See  on  ch.  1.  6. 
willing  for  a  season— i.e.,  till  they  saw  that  it 
pointed  whither  they  were  not  prepared  to 
go.  to  rejoice  in  his  light— There  is  a  play 
of  irony  here,  referring  to  the  hollow  de- 
light with  which  his  testimony  tickled  them, 
1^1 


Concerning  John. 

36-38.  I  have  greater  witness— rather,  'The 
witness  which  i  have  is  greater.'  the  works 
.  . .  bear  witness  of  me— not  simply  as  mirucUs 
nor  even  as  miracles  of  m^'rcy,  but  these 
miracles  as  He  did  them,  with  a  ^vill  and  a 
poicer,  a  mnjcst]/  and  a  grace  manifestly  His 
ov:n.  The  Father  himself  hath  borne  witness 
of  me— not  referring,  probably,  to  the  voice 
at  His  baptism,  but  as  seems  from  what 
follows  to  the  testimony  of  the  O.  T.  Scrip- 
ture. [Cal.,  Lcke.,  Mey.  Lthdt..  &c.1 
neither  heard  his  voice,  &;c.— never  recognised 
him  in  this  character.  The  words  are  '  de- 
signedly mysterious,  like  many  others  which 
our  Lord  uttered.'  [Stier.J  not  his  word 
abiding  in  yon— passing  now  from  the  Witne.?n 
to  the  testimony  borne  by  him  in  "  the  lively 
oracles:"  both  were  ahke  strangers  to  their 
breasts,  as  was  evidenced  by  their  reject- 
ing Him  to  whom  all  that  witness  was  borne. 
39-42.  Search  the  Scriptures,  izc.—qd.,  'In 
the  Scriptures  ye  find  your  charter  of  eternal 
life;  go  search  them  then,  and  you  will  find 
that  I  am  the  Great  Burden  of  their  testi- 
.._  mony;  yet  ye  will  not  come  to  Me  for  that 
(M..  life  eternal  which  you  profess  to  find  there 
and  of  which  they  tell  you  I  am  the  appoint- 
ed Dispenser.'  ^cf.A.  17. 11, 12.)  How  touch- 
ing and  gracious  are  these  last  words!  Ob- 
serve here  i.  The  honour  which  Christ  gives 
to  the  Scriptures,  as  a  record  which  all  have 
a  right  and  are  bound  to  search— the  re- 
verse of  which  the  Church  of  Eome  teaches; 
(2.  Tlie  opposite  extreme  is,  resting  in  the 
mere  i'oofc, without  the  living  Christ,  to  direct 
the  soul  to  AVTiom  is  its  main  use  and  chief- 
est  glory.  I  receive  not  honour  from  men 
—  contrasting  His  own  end  with  theirs, 
which  was  to  obtain  human  applause,  not 
the  love  of  God  in  you— which  would  inspire 
you  with  a  single  desire  to  know  His  mind 
and  will,  and  yield  yourselves  to  it.  in  spite 
of  prejudice  and  regardless  of  consequences. 
42-47.  if  another  shall  come,  (fcc— How  strik- 
ingly has  this  been  verified  in  the  hi-story  of 
the  Jews!  '  From  the  time  of  the  true  Christ 
to  our  time,  sixty-four  false  Christs  have 
been  reckoned  by  whom  they  have  been  de- 
ceived.' [Bexg.]  How  can  ye  believe'?  <fcc.— 
iSee  on  v.  40,  41.)  The  "^cill  not"  of  v.  40, 
and  "  cannot"  here  are  just  difl'erent  features 
of  the  same  awful  state  of  the  human  heart. 
Do  not  think  I  wUl  accuse  vou— q.d.,  'My  er- 
rand hither  is  not  to  collect  evidence  to 
condenm  you  at  God's  bar.'  one  that  judgeth 
you,  Moses,  &.c.—q.d.,  'Alas  !  that  will  be  too 
well  done  by  another,  and  him  the  object  of 
all  your  religious  boastings — Moses;'  here  j)ut 
for  "the  Lau\"  the  basis  of  the  0.  T.  Scrip- 
tures, he  wrote  of  me— 'an  important  testi- 
mony to  the  sul  iject  of  the  whole  Pentateuch 
—"of  Me."'  [Ajlf.]  if  ye  belitve  not,  &.c, 
(See  on  L.  16.  31.)  bis  writings  ...  my  words 
— a  remarkable  contrast,  not  absolutely  ex- 
alting O.  T.  Scripture  above  His  own  words, 
but  pointing  to  the  otfice  of  those  venerable 


documents  to  prepare  Christ's  way,  to  the 
necessity  imiver.sally  felt  for  documentary 
testimony  in  revealed  religion,  and  perhaps 
(as  Stieb  adds'  to  the  relation  which  the 
comparative  '' letter"  of  the  0.  T.  holds  to 
the  more  flowing  "words"  of  "spirit  and 
life"  which  characterise  the  N.  T. 
CHAPTEE,  VI. 
Ver,  1-13.  Five  Thousand  MrRACir- 
louslyFed.  (See  on  ^ik.  6.  m  44.)  3.  amoun- 
taia— somewhere  in  that  hilly  range  whiclj 


Christ  declares  Mmself  to  be 


JOITN,  TIL 


Vie  Iread  of  life  to  believers. 


other  side  of  the  sea,  they  said  uuto  him, 
KHbbi,  when  earnest  thou  hither? 

26  Jesus  auswered  tliem  and  said,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Ye  setk  me,  not  be- 
cause ye  saw  the  miracles,  but  because  je 
did  eat  of  the  loaves,  and  were  filled. 

27 1  Labour  not  for  the  meat  which  perish- 
eth,  but  »for  that  meat  which  eudureth 
unto  everlasting  life,  which  the  Son  of  man 
shall  give  unto  you:>  for  him  hath  God  the 
Father  sealed. 

28  Then  said  they  unto  him,  What  shall 
ViC  do,  that  we  might  work  the  works  of 
God? 

29  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
This  *  is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe 
on  hmi  whom  he  hath  sent. 

30  They  said  therefore  unto  him,  'What 
Bign  shcwest  thou  then,  that  we  may  see, 
and  believe  thee?  what  dost  thou  work? 

31  Our  *"  fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the 
desert;  as  it  is  written,  "He  gave  them 
bread  from  heaven  to  eat. 

32  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily, 
verily,  1  say  unto  you,  Moses  gave  you  not 
that  bread  from  heaven;  but  my  Father 
giveth  you  the  true  bread  from  heaven. 

33  For  the  bread  of  God  is  he  which 
Cometh  down  from  heaven,  and  giveth  life 
unto  the  world. 

3i  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Lord,  ever- 
more give  us  this  bread, 

35  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  I  am  the 
bread  of  lile:  "he  that  cometh  to  me  shall 
never  hunger;  and  he  that  believeth  on  me 
shall  never  thirst. 

36  But  I  said  unto  you.  That  ye  also  have 
Been  me,  and  believe  not. 

37  AH  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall 
come  to  me:  and  P  him  that  cometh  to  me 
I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out. 

38  For  I  came  down  from  heaven, '  not  to 
do  mine  own  will,''  but  the  will  of  him  that 
eent  me. 

39  And  this  is  the  Father's  will  which 
hath  sent  me,  *  that  of  all  which  he  hath 
given  me  I  should  lose  nothing,  but  should 
raise  it  up  again  at  the  last  day. 

40  And  this  is  the  will  of  him  that  sent 
me,  that '  every  one  which  seeth  the  Son, 
and  be\jeveth  on  him,  may  have  everlast- 
ing life:  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day. 

41  The  Jews  then  murmured  at  him,  be- 
cause he  said,  1  am  the  bread  which  came 
down  from  heaven. 

42  And  they  said.  Is  not  this  Jesus,  the 
Bon  of  Joseph,  whose  father  and  mother 
we  know?  how  is  it  then  that  he  saith,  I 
came  down  from  heaven? 

43  Jesus  therefore  answered  and  said  unto 
them.  Murmur  not  among  yourselves. 

44  No  man  can  come  to  me,  except  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw  him:  and 
I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day. 

45  It  "  is  written  in  the  Fropnets,  And 
they  shall  be  all  taught  of  God.  Every 
man  therefore  that  hath  heard,  and  hath 
learned  of  the  Father,  cometh  unto  me. 

46  Not  "  that  any  man  hath  seen  the 
Father,  save  ""  he  which  is  of  God,  he  hath 
Been  the  Father. 

47  Verily,  verily.  I  say  unto  you,  *  He  that 
believeth  on  me  hath  everlasting  life. 

4«  I  am  that  bread  ot  life. 
49  Your  fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the 
wilderness,  and  are  dead. 
60  This  is  the  bread  which  cometh  down 
71 


CUAP.  6. 

1  Or,  Work 

not. 
i  ch.  4.  U. 

i;ora.  6. 23. 
;■  Mat    3.  17. 

Mat.  17.  6. 

Mark  1.  11. 

Mark  9.  7. 

Lu.  3.  22. 

Lu.  9.  35. 

ch.  1.  33. 

ch.  6.  37. 

ch.  8.  18. 

Actj  2.  22. 

2  Pet.  1.17. 
k  1  John  3. 

23. 
I  Mark  8.  11. 

1  Cor.  1-22. 

m  Ei.  16.15. 

Nu.  11.  7. 

Neh.  9.15. 

ICor.K)  3. 

n  P..  78.  24. 

"ch.  7.37. 

P  2  Ti.  2.  19. 

1  John  2. 
19. 

8  Mat.  26. 39. 

ch.  6.  30. 
r  ch.  4.  34. 
«  ch.  10.  28. 
ch.  18.  9. 
Col.  3.  3. 
Jude  1. 
t  ch.  4.  14. 
«  1«.  54.  13. 
Jer.31.34. 
Mic.  4.  2. 
Heb.  8. 10. 
Heb.  10.16. 

V  ch.  1. 18. 
ch.  5.  37. 

fJIat.  11.27. 
Lu.  10.  22. 
ch.  1.  18. 
ch.  7.  29. 
ch.  8.  19. 

2  Cor.  4. 6. 
'  ch.  3.  16. 

V  Heb.  10.  6, 
10. 

*  ch.  7.  43. 
ch.  9.  16. 
ch.  10.  19. 

»  ch.  3.  9. 
b  Mat.  29. 26. 
e  1  Cor.  6.17. 

1  John  3. 

21. 

1  John  4. 

15,  IB. 
d  Mat.  II.  6. 

•  ch.  3.  13. 
Mar.  16.19. 
Acts  1.  9. 
Eph.  4.  8. 

/2  Cor.  3.  6. 
g  P».  119. 50. 

Eph.  1,  17. 

1  Tbeu.  2. 

13. 

Heb.  4.  12. 
h  ch.  2.  24. 

ch.  13.  11. 

Act«  15.18. 
i  Lu.  9.  62. 

Heb.  6.  4-6. 

Heb.  10  38. 

1  John  2.19. 


CHAP.  7. 

a  ch  5.  16. 
b  Lev.  23. 34. 
CMst  12.46. 

Mark  3.  31. 

Acti  1. 1«. 


from  heaven,  that  a  man  may  tat  thereof, 
and  not  die. 

51 1  am  the  li\ing  bread  which  came  down 
from  heaven.  It  any  man  eat  of  this  bread 
he  shall  live  for  ever:  and  ^  the  bread  tha» 
I  will  give  is  my  flesh,  which  1  will  give  for 
the  lile  of  the  world. 

52  The  Jews  therefore  *  strove  among 
themsehnes,  saying,  "  How  can  this  man 
give  us  his  tltsh  to  eat? 

53  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you.  Except  *  ye  eat  tlie 
flesh  of  t)he  Son  of  man,  and  mink  his  blood, 
ye  have  no  life  in  yovL 

51  Whoso  eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh 
my  blood,  hath  eternal  life ;  and  I  will  raise 
him  up  at  the  last  day. 

55  For  my  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and  my 
blood  is  drink  indeed. 

56  He  that  eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh 
my  blood, "  dwelleth  in  me,  and  1  in  him. 

57  As  the  living  Father  hath  sent  me,  and 
1  live  by  the  Father;  so  he  that  eateth  me, 
even  he  shall  live  by  me. 

68  This  is  that  bread  which  came  down 
from  heaven:  not  as  your  fathers  did  eat 
manna,  and  are  dead:  ne  that  eateth  of  this 
bread  shall  live  for  ever. 

59  These  things  said  he  in  the  synagogue, 
as  he  taught  in  Capernaum. 

60  Many  <<  therefore  of  his  disciples,  when 
they  had  heard  this,  said,  This  is  an  haid 
saving;  who  can  hear  it? 

61  When  Jesus  knew  in  himself  that  his 
disciples  murmured  at  it,  he  said  unto 
them,  Doth  this  ofliend  you? 

62  W'hat  "  and  if  ye  shall  see  the  Son  of 
man  ascend  up  where  he  was  before? 

63  It /is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth ;  the 
flesh  protiteth  nothing:  the  words  that  I 
speak  unto  you,  tliey  "  are  spirit,  and  they 
are  life. 

64  Hut  there  are  some  of  you  that  believe 
net.  For"  Jesus  knew  from  the  beginning 
who  they  were  that  believed  not,  and  who 
should  betray  him. 

65  And  he  said,  Therefore  said  I  unto  you, 
that  no  man  can  come  unto  me,  except  it 
were  given  unto  him  of  my  Father. 

66  HFrom  that  time  many  of  his  disciples 
went » back,  and  walked  no  more  with  him. 

67  Then  said  Jesus  unto  the  twelve,  Will 
ye  also  go  away? 

68  Then  Simon  Peter  answered  him.  Lord, 
to  whom  shall  we  go  i  thou  hast  the  worda 
of  eternal  life. 

69  And  we  believe  and  are  sure  that  thou 
art  that  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God. 

70  Jesus  answered  them.  Have  not  I 
chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  of  you  is  a 
devil? 

71  He  spake  of  Judas  Iscariot  the  son  of 
Simon:  tor  he  it  was  that  should  betray 
him,  being  one  of  the  twelve. 

CHAPTER  VIL 

1  Jesus,  exhorted  by  his  unbelieving  kinsmen  to 
show  himself ,  10  goeth  secretly  to  the  feast :  14  A« 
teacheth  in  the  temple.  4U  JJivers  opinions  con- 
eeming  Christ.  46  The  Pharisees  are  angry  at 
their  officers  Jor  not  taking  Christ. 
AFTER  these   things  Jesus  walked  in 

■"-  Galilee:  for   he   would   not  walk   in 

Jewry,  "  because  the  Jews  sought  to  kill 

him. 

2  IT  Now  *  the  Jews'  feast  of  tabemaclea 
was  at  hand. 

3  His  '  brethren  therefore  said  unto  him. 
Depart  hence,  and  go  into  Judea,  that  thy 


Christ  waTkcih  on  the  Sect JOHN.  VI. fo  His  Disciples. 

skirts  the  East  side  of  the  lake.  4.  passover  they  in  the  midst  of  a  raging  sea,  their  little 
, .  .  was  uigh— but,  for  the  reason  mentioned  bark  the  sport  of  the  elements,  and  with  just 
ch.  7.  1.  Jesus  kept  away  from  it,  remaining  enotigh  of  liyht  to  descry  an  object  on  the 
in  GaUlee.  !  waters  which  only  aggravated  their  fears. 

14-21.  Jesus  Walks  ok  the  Sea.  14, 15.  But  Jesus  deems  it  enough  to  dispel  all  ap- 
tkat  prophet—  See  on  ch.  1.  21.)  15.  departed  i-r  hension  to  let  them  know  that  He  iccts 
to  a  mountain  himself  alone— 1.)  to  rest,  which  1  tJiere.  From  other  lips  that  "I  am"  would 
He  came  to  this  "desert  place"  on  purpose  i  have  merely  meant  that  the  person  speak- 
to  do  before  the  miracle  of  the  loaves,  but  ing  was  such  a  one  and  not  another  person. 


could  not  for  the  multitude  that  followed 
llim  (see  on  Mk.  6.  31,  ;  and  (2.)  "to  pray," 
M.  14.  23;  Mk.  6.  46.  But  from  His  moun- 
tain-top He  kept  watching  the  ship  (see  on 
V.  18,)  and  doubtless  prayed  both  for  them, 
and  with  a  view  to  the  new  manifestation 
■which  He  was  to  give  them  of  His  glory. 
16, 17.  when  even  was  come— See  on  Mk.  C. 
35.)  entered  into  a  shiTp—" constrained"  to 
do  so  by  their  Master,  M.  14.  22;  Mk.  6.  45,1 
in  order  to  put  an  end  to  the  misdirected 
excitement  in  His  favour,  {v.  15,)  into  which 
the  disciples  themselves  may  have  been 
somewhat  drawn.  The  word  "  constrained" 
implies  reluctance  on  their  part,  perhaps 
from  unwillingness  to  part  with  their  IMas- 
ter  and  embark  at  night,  leaving  Him  alone 
on  the  mountain,  went- rather,  'were  pro- 
ceeding.' towards  Capernaum— JNIk.  says,  (6. 
45,)  "unto  Bethsaida, '  meaning  " Bethsaida 
of  Galilee''  (ch.  12. 21.)  on  the  West  side  of  the 
lake.    The  place  they  lelt  was  of  the  same 


That,  surely,  would  not  have  been  fitted 
to  calm  the  fears  of  men  expecting  every 
minute,  it  may  be,  to  go  to  the  bottom. 
But  spoken  by  One  who  at  that  moment 
was  "treading  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea" 
and  was  about  to  hush  the  raging  elements 
with  His  word,  what  is  it  but  the  Voice 
which  cried  of  old  in  the  ears  of  Israel,  seek- 
ing to  "gather  them"  in  the  days  of  Moses, 
"I  am;"  "I,  even  I,  am  He!"  (cf.  ch.  18.5, 
6;  8.  58.)  Only  now  that  word  is  "made 
flesh  and  dwells  among  us,"  uttering  itself 
from  beside  us  in  dear  familiar  tones—"  It 
is  the  Voice  of  my  Beloved  !"  Was  this  ap- 
prehended? There  was  one  in  the  boat  who 
outstripped  all  the  rest  in  susceptibility  to 
such  sublime  appeals:  Not  the  deep-toned 
writer  of  this  Gospel— who  lived  to  soar  be- 
yond all  the  apostles,  but  who  as  yet  was  too 
young  for  proLiinence  and  all  unripe— it  was 
Simon-Barjonas.  iHere  foUmcs  an  incident 
recorded  by  M.  alone,  ch.  14.  28-31.)    "  Peter 


name  (see  on  Mk.  6.  31.).    Jesus  was  not  come  '  Jvnsweied  him   and   said.   Lord,   if  it   be 


to  them— They  probably  lingered  in  hopes  of 
His  stUl  joining  them,  and  so  let  the  dark- 
Tiess  come  on.  18,  19.  sea  arose,  (kc— and 
they  were  "now  in  the  midst  of  it."  (M.  14. 
24.  J  Mark  adds  tliis  graphic  and  touching 
jiarticular,  **  He  saw  them  toiling  in  row- 
ing," 6.  48.)  putting  forth  all  their  strength 
to  buffet  the  waves  and  bear  on  against  a 
head  wind,  but  to  little  effect,  "  He  tan:  this 
from  His  mountain-top  and  through  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  for  His  heart  was  aU 
•with  them;  yet  would  He  not  go  to  their  re- 
lief till  His  own  time  came,  they  see  Jesus— 
"  about  the  fourth  watch  of  the  night,"  [M. 
14.  25;  Allc.  6.  48,1  or  between  three  and  six  in 
the  morning,  walking  on  the  sea— What  Job 
(9.  8,)  celebrates  as  the  distinguishing  prero- 
gative of  God,  "Who  alone  spreadeth  out 
the  heavens,  and  teeadeth  upon  the 
Waves  of  the  Sea"— what  Agur  challenges 
as  God's  unapproachable  prerogative,  to 
"gather  the  wind  in  His  iists,  and  bind 

lUE    AVATERS    IN  A  GARMENT,"    Pr.  30.  4,— 

lo!  this  is  here  done  in  Jiah,  by  the  Son 
OF  :^LA.N."  drawing  nigh  to  the  ship— yet 
as  though  He  "  would  have  passed  by  them," 
3\lk.  6.  48,  icf.  L.  24.  28 ;  Ge.  18.  3,  5 ;  32. 
24-20.)     they  were   afraid  — "  cried  out  for 


Thou  answering  his  Lord's  /)  bid  me  come 
unto  thee  on  the  water"— not  'let  me,'  but 
give  me  the  word  of  command.  "And  he 
said,  Come!"  (M.  14.  29. i  Sublime  word, 
issuing  from  a  spirit  conscious  of  power 
over  the  water,  to  bid  it  serve  both  Him- 
self and  whom  else  He  pleased!  "And 
wlien  Peter  was  come  down  out  of  the  ship 
he  walked  on  the  water  to  come  to  Jesus. 
'It  was  a  bold  spirit  that  could  wish  it;  more 
bold  that  could  act  it— not  fearing  either  the 
softness  or  the  roughness  of  that  uncouth 
passage.'  [Bp.  Hall.]  "But  when  he  saw 
the  wind  boisterous,  ne  was  afraid,  and  be- 
ginning to  sink  he  cried,  saying.  Lord,  save 
me."  Tlie  wind  was  as  boisterous  before, 
but  Peter  ''saw"  it  not;  seeing  only  the 
power  01  Christ,  in  the  lively  exercise  of 
faith.  Now  he  "sees"  the  fury  of  the  ele- 
ments, then  the  power  of  Christ  to  bear  him 
up  fades  before  his  view,  and  this  makes 
him  "afraid"— as  how  could  he  be  otherwise 
without  any  .n'f  power  to  keep  him  up? 
—  then  he  "begins  to  sink,"  and  finally, 
conscious  that  his  experiment  had  failed, 
he  casts  liimself.  in  a  sort  of  desperate 
confidence,  upon  his  "Lord"  for  deiiver- 

-  .„.   _.     ance!    "And  .-mediately  Jesus  stretched 

fear,"  (M.  14.  26,)   ".supposing  it  had  been  forth  his  hand  and  caught  him,  and  said  unto 


spirit."  (Mk.  6.  49.)  He  would  appear 
to  them  at  first  like  a  dark  moving  speck 
upon  the  waters;  then  as  a  human  figure, 
but— in  the  dark  tempestuous  sky,  and  not 
<lreaniing  that  it  could  be  their  Lord— they 
take  it  for  a  spirit.  (How  often  thus  we  mis- 
call our  chief e.'^t  mercies— not  only  thinking 
them  distant  when  they  are  near,  but  think- 
ing the  best  the  worst!)  20.  It  is  I:  be  not  afraid 
— M.  and  Mk.  give,  before  these  exhilarating 
%vords,  that  to  them  well-known  one,  "Be  of 
good  cheer!"  There  is  something  in  those 
two  little  words,  "  'Tis  I,"  \Gr. '  I  a_m,'j  which 
from  the  mouth  that  spake  it  and  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  it  was  uttered  passes 


him,  O  thou  of  little  iaith,  wherefore  didst 
thou  doubt?"  I'his  rebuke  was  not  adminis- 
tered tvhile  Peter  icas  sinking— not  till  Christ 
had  him  by  the  Jiand,  both  re-invigoratine 
his  faith  and  with  it  enabling  him  again  to 
walk  upon  the  crested  wave.  Bootless  else 
had  been  this  loving  reproof,  which  owns  the 
faith  that  ventured  on  the  deep  upon  the 
bare  word  of  Christ,  but  asks  why  tliat 
di'trust  which  so  quickly  marred  it.  How 
rich  in  lessons  is  this  little  episode!  21. 
willingly  received  him  into  the  ship— their 
first  fears  being  now  con-(-erted  into  wonder 
and  delight,  and  immediately  the  siiip  was  at 
the  laud— This  additional   miracle,  for  as 


the  power  oflauguage  to  express.  Here  were  such  it  is  luamle^itly  related,  is  recorded 
"4 


JOITN-,  VL 


Eis  Carnal  Followers. 


Christ  Iteproveih 

here  alone.  Yet  all  tliat  is  meant  seems  to '  how  he  could  have  arrived  before  them- 
be  that  as  the  storm  was  suddenly  cahned,  i  selves.  26.  Ye  seek  me.  «fcc.— Jesus  does  not 
so  the  little  bark— propelled  by  the  secret  put  them  through  their  difticidty,  says  no- 
power  of  the  Lord  of  nature  now  sailing  in  I  thing  of  His  treading  on  the  waves  of  the 
xt— glided  through  the  now  unruffled  waters,  I  sea,  nor  even  notices  their  question,  but 
and,  while  they  were  wrapt  in  wonder  at  takes  advantage  of  the  favourable  moment 
what  had  happened,  not  heeding  their  rapid  for  pointing  out  to  them  how  forward, 
motion,  was  found  at  port,  to  their  still  j  flippant,  and  superficial  were  their  views, 
further  surprise.  M.  says,  "Then  they  that  and  how  low  their  desires.  "Ye  seek  me 
were  in  the  ship  came  .ere  they  got  to  land)   not  because  ye  saw  the  miracles"— /ii.  '  the 


and  worshipped  lii)n,  saying.  Of 
Thou  art  the  Son  of  God,"  (14.  33.) 
very  striking:  "They  were  sore  amazed  in 
themselves  beyond  measure,  and  wondered; 
for  tliey  cmisickrcd  not  the  miracle  of  the 
loaves,  for  their  hearts  were  liardened"  t6.  61, 
62.)  Tlieir  .astonishment  to  so  great  an  extent 
was  the  effect,  he  says,  of  a  culpable  want  of 
reflection  on  the  miracle  they  had  just  be- 
fore witnessed;  for  if  they  had  but  consid- 
ered the  miracle  of  the  loaves "  they  would 
not  have  wondered  at  anything  He  mighc  do 
in  the  whole  circle  of  power  and  grace. 

22-71.    Jesus,  Followed  by  the  Mul- 
titudes TO  Capeunaum,  Discourses  to 


truth  I  signs'  i.e.,  supernatural  tokens  of  a  higher 
Mk.  is  I  presence,  and  a  divine  commission,  "but 
because  ye  did  eat  of  the  loaves  and  were 
filled."  From  this  He  proceeds  at  once  to 
that  other  Bread,  just  as,  with  the  woman  of 
Samaria,  to  that  other  Water  (ch.  4.)  We 
should  have  supposed  all  that  follows  to  have 
been  delivered  by  the  way-side,  or  wher- 
ever they  happened  first  to  meet.  But  from 
V.  69  we  gather  that  they  had  probably  met 
about  tlie  door  of  the  synagogue— 'for  that 
was  the  day  in  which  they  assembled  in  their 
synagogues,'  rLrx.!— and  that  on  being  ask- 
ed, at  the  close  of  the  service,  if  He  had 
any  word  of  exhortation  to  the  people.  He 


THEM  IN  THE  Synagugue  OF  THE  Bread  [  had  taken  the  two  breads,  the  perishing 
OF  Life— Effect  of  this  on  Two  Classes  I  and  the  living  bread,  for  the  subject  of 
OF  THE  Disciples.  22  24.  These  verses  are  i  His  profound  and  extraordinary  discourse, 
a  little  involved,  from  the  Evangelist's  de-sire  1 27.  which  the  Son  of  Mau— taking  that  title 
to  mention   every   circumstance    however  j  of  Himself  which   denoted  His   incarnate 


minute  that  might  call  up  the  scene  as  vi- 
vidly to  the  reader  as  it  stood  before  his  own  ! 


life. 


shall  give  unto  you— in  the  sense  of 
Him  hath   God   the  Father   sealed- 


view.  The  day  lollowing— the  miracle  of  the  ]  marked  out  and  authenticated  for  that  trans- 
loaves,  and  the  stormy  night;  the  day  on  I  cendant  office,  to  impart  to  the  world  the 
which  they  landed  at  Capernaum,  the  people  j  bread  of  an  everlasting  life,  and  this  in  the 
which  stood  on  the  other  side  of  the  sea— not  I  character  of  "  the  Son  of  Ma?i."  28-31.  What 
the  whole  multitude  that  had  been  fed,  but  |  shall  we  do  . . .  the  works  of.God- such  works 


only  such  of  them  as  remained  over  night 
about  the  shore,  i.e.,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
lake;  for  we  are  supposed  to  have  come, 
with  Jesus  and  his  disciples  in  the  ship,  to 
the  uxd  side,  to  Capernaum,  saw  that  there 
was  none  other  boat  there,  &;c.— The  meaning 
is,  the  people  had  observed  that  there  had 
been  only  one  boat  on  the  East  side  where 
they  were,  namely,  the  one  in  which  the  dis- 
ciples had  crossed  at  night  to  the  other,  the 
"West  side,  and  they  had  also  observed  that 
Jesus  had  not  gone  on  board  that  boat,  but 
his  disciples  liad  pvit  off  without  Him  : 
"Howbeit,"  adds  the  Evangelist,  in  a  lively 

?arenthesis,  "there  came  other  boats  from 
Iberias"    (which  lay  near  the  S.W.  coast 


as  God  wiU  approve.  Different  answers  may 
be  given  to  such  a  question,  according  to  the 
spirit  which  prompts  the  inquiry.  (See  Ho. 
6.  6-8;  L.  3.  12-14.)  Hera  our  Lord,  knowing 
whom  he  had  to  deal  with,  shapes  His  reply 
accordingly.  This  is  the  work  of  God,  &c.  — 
That  lies  at  the  threshhold  of  all  acceptable 
obedience,  being  not  only  the  prerequisite  to 
it,  but  the  proper  spring  of  it— in  that  sense, 
the  work  of  works,  emphatically  *'the  work 
of  God."  What  sign  showest  thou,  &c.  — « 
But  how  could  they  ask  "a  sign,"  whea 
many  of  them  scarce  a  day  before  had  wit- 
nessed such  a  "  sign"  as  had  never  till  theu 
been  vouchsafed  to  men;  when  after  wit- 

,    ,   _  nessing  it  they  could  hardly  be  restrained 

the  lake  ,  whose  passengers  wore  part  of  tlie  j  from  making  Him  a  king;  when  they  fol- 
multitude  that  had  followed  Jesus  to  the  lowed  Him  from  the  one  side  of  the  lake  to 


East  side,  and  been  miraculously  led:  these 
boats  were  fastened  somewhere  (says  the 
Evangelist  nigh  uuto  tlie  place  where  they 
did  eat  bread,  after  that  the  Lord  had  given 
thanks"— thus  he  refers  to  the  glorious  "  mir- 
acle of  the  loaves  '—and  now  they  were  put 
in  requisition  to  convey  the  people  back 
again  to  the  West  side.  For  when  "the 
people  saw  that  Jesus  was  not  there,  neither 
his  disciples,  they  also  took  .shipping  (in 
these  boats  and  came  to  Capernaum,  seek- 
ing for  Jesus."  25.  when  they  found  him  on 
the  other  side  (at  Capernaum  they  said,  (fee- 
astonished  at  His  being  there,  and  wonder- 
ing ho'w  he  could  have  accomplished  it, 
whether  by  land  or  water,  and  wii^n  He 
came;  for  being  quite  unaware  of  His  hav- 
ing walked  upon  the  sea  and  landed  with 
the  disciples  in  the  ship,  they  could  not  see 
how,  unless  He  had  travelled  all  night 
round  the  head  of  the  lake  alone,  he  could 
have  reached  Capernaum,  and  even  then. 


the  other;  and  when,  in  the  opening  words 
of  this  very  discourse.  He  had  chid  for  seek- 
ing Him,  "not  because  they  saio  the  signs," 
but  for  the  loaves?  The  truth  seems  to  be, 
that  they  were  confounded  by  the  novelclaims 
which  our  Lord  had  just  advanced.  In  pro- 
posing to  make  Him  a  king,  it  was  for  far 
other  purposes  than  dispensing  to  the  world 
the  breadof  an  everlasting  life;  and  when  He 
seemed  to  raise  His  claims  even  higher  still, 
by  representing  it  as  the  grand  "  work  of 
God."  that  they  .should  believe  on  Himseif&a 
his  Sent  One,  they  saw  very  clearly  that  He 
was  making  a  demand  upon  them  beyond  any 
thing  they  were  i>repared  to  accord  to  Him, 
and  bevond  all  that  man  had  ever  before 
made.  Hence  their  question,  "  What  dost 
thou  work:'  Our  fathers  did  eat  manna,  (fee- 
insinuating  the  inferiority  of  Christ's  miracla 
of  the  loaves  to  those  of  Moses:  q.d.,  '  Wlien 
Moses  claimed  the  confidence  of  the  fixthers^ 
"  he  gave  them  bread  from  heaven  to  eat"— 


Christ  Declarefh  Himself  to  be 


JOHN,  VL 


the  Bread  of  Life  to  Believerg. 


not  for  a  few  thousands,  but  for  millions,  i  for  the  word  here  employed  usually  denotes 


and  not  once  only,  but  daily  throughout  their 
w  ilderness  journey.'  32.  33.  Moses  gave  you 
not,  <kc.— q.rf.,  '  It  was  not  Moses  that  srave 
you  the  manna,  and  even  it  w;is  but  from  the 


arrival,  as  distinguished  from  the  ordinary 
word,  which  rather  expresses  the  oxt  of  com- 
ing: see  ch.  8.  42.  Gr.  [w.  &.  w.]  "In  no 
■— """  is  an  emphatic  negative,  to  meet  the 


ower  heavens;  "but  My  Father  giveth  you)  fears  of  the  timid,  asm  Kev  21.  27,  to  meet 
"   "  "        '  "  "'      the  presumption  of  the  hardened).    Ihese, 

then,  being  the  two  members  of  the  general 
opening  statement,  what  follows  is  meant  to 
take  in  l.>oth,  "  For  I  came  down  from  heaven 
not  to  do  mine  own  will"— to  play  an  inde- 
pendent part— "but,  in  respect  to  both  the 
foregoing  thing=,  the  divine  and  the  human 
side  cf  salvation,;  the  will  of  him  that  sent 
me."  What  this  two-fold  \vill  of  him  that 
sent  Him  is,  we  are  next  sublimely  told,  {v. 
39,  40':  "And  this"— in  th^  first  place— "  is 
the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  that  of  all 
;' every  thin.''')  which  he  hath  given  me, 
taking  up  tne  identical  words  of  v.  37.)  I 
should  lose  nothing,  but  should  raise  it  up 
at  the  last  day."  Tlie  meaning  is  not,  of 
course,  that  He  is  charged  to  keep  the  ob- 
jects entrusted  to  Him  as  He  received  them,  so 
as  they  should  merely  suffer  nothing  in  His 
hands.  For  as  they  were  just  "perishing" 
sinners  of  Adam's  family,  to  let  "nothing 
of  such  "be  lost."  but  "  raise  them  up  at  the 
last  day,"  must  involve,  first,  "giving  his 
flesh  for  them."  [v.  61.)  that  they  "might  not 
perish  but  have  everlasting  life;"  and  then, 
after  "  keeping  them  from  falling,"  raising 
their  sleeping  dust  in  inoorruption  and 
glory,  and  presenting  them,  body  and  soul, 
perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing,  to 
Him  who  gave  them  to  Him.  saying.  "  Be- 
hold I  and  the  children  wliich  God  hath 
given  me."  So  much  for  the  first  will  of 
Him  that  sent  Him,  the  divine  side  of 
man's  salvation,  whose  every  stage  and 
movement  is  inscrutable  to  us  but  infal- 
libly certain.  "  And  tliis ''— in  the  second 
place—"  is  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  that 
every  one  which  seeth  the  Son  and  beUeveth 
or  '  seeing  the  Son,  believeth  on  him,  may 
have  everlasting  life,  and  I  will  raise  him 
up  at  the  last  day."  Tliis  is  the  human  side 
of  the  same  thing  as  in  the  foregoing  verse, 
and  answering  to  "Hitn  tJuit  ccrmeth  unto  me 
I  v:ill  in  no  vise  cast  out."    q,d.  '  I  have  it 

trust.  So,  ch.  17.  2,  "that  he  should  give  [ expressly  in  charge  that  every  one  that  so 
iclt  ich  thou  hast  given  '  *  beholdeth"  t*  so  vieweth'  -  the  Son  as  to  be- 


you 
the  ti-U€  bread,"'  and  that  ''from  heaven,"  The 
Bread  of  God  is  He,  <ta— This  verse  is  perhaps 
best  left  in  its  own  transparent  grandeur- 
holding  up  the  Bread  Itself  as  divine,  spi- 
ritual, and  eternal;  its  ordained  Fountain  and 
essential  Substance,  ''Him  who  came  down 
from  heaven  to  give  it,"  (that  Eternal  Life 
which  was  with  the  Father  and  was  mani- 
fested unto  us."  IJ.  L  2i ;  and  its  designed  ob- 
jects, "  the  icorld."  34.  Lord  evermore  give  us 
this  bread— speaking  now  with  a  certain  rever- 
ence as  at  V.  ■^■j,] ,  the  perpetuity  of  the  manna 
floating  perhaps  in  their  minds,  and  much 
like  the  Samaritan  woman,  when  her  eyes 
were  but  half  opened,  "Sir,  give  me  this 
water  "&c.  ich.  4.  15.)  35. 1  am  the  Bread  of 
Life— Henceforth  the  discourse  is  all  in  the 
first  person.  "I,"  "Me,"  which  occurs  in  one 
form  or  other,  as  Stier  reckons.  35  times. 
He  that  cometh  to  me— to  obtain  what  the  soul 
craves,  and  as  the  only  all-sutficient  and  or- 
dained source  of  suijply.  hunger... thirst— 
Bhall  have  conscious  and  abiding  satisfaction. 
36.  But  ye  have  seen  me  and  believe  not — 
seen  Him  not  in  his  mere  bodily  presence, 
but  in  all  the  majesty  of  His  life.  His  teach- 
ing. His  work.s.  37-40.  AH  that,  &;c.— 'liiis 
comprehensive  and  very  grand  passage  is 
expressed  with  a  peculiar  artistic  precision. 
Ihe  opening  general  statement,  \v.  37,)  con- 
sists of  two  members:  il.)  "All  that  the 
Father  giveth  me  shall  come  to  me"— 
g.d.,  "Itough  ye.  as  I  told  you,  have  no 
faith  in  me,  my  eiTand  into  the  world  shaU 
in  no  wise  be  defeated;  for  all  that  the  Father 
giveth  me  shall  infallibly  come  to  me.'  Ob- 
fierve,  what  is  given  Him  by  the  Father  is 
expressed  in  the  singular xiumheT andneufer 
gender— /(t.  'every  thing;'  while  those  who 
cmne  to  Him  are  put  in  the  masculine  gender 
and  singular  number —' every  one,'  The 
whole  mas,  so  to  speak,  is  .gifted  by  the 
Father  to  the  Son  as  a  unity,  which  the  Son 
evolves,  one  by  one,  in  the  execution  ol  His 


eternal  life  to  all  that 
him,")    [Beng.]    This  "  shall 


giv  

expresses  the  j  lieve  on  Him  shall  have  everlasting  life;  and, 
glorious  certainty  of  it.  the  Father  being  that  none  of  him  be  lost,  "  1  will  raise  hini 
pledged  to  see  to  it  that  the  gift  be  no  empty  up  at  the  last  day."  Seeonw.  54.  41-46.  Jews 
mockery.  (2.)  "  And  him  that  cometh  to  I  murmured— or  'muttered.'  not  in  our  Lord's 
WE  I  w^iLL  IN  so  WISE  CAJST  OUT."  As  tliB  hearing,  but  He  knew  it.  v.  43,  (ch.  2.  25.) 
former  was  the  o'/rwie,  this  is  just  the /m?«au  he  said,  I  am  the  bread,  etc.— Missing  the 


side  of  the  same  thing.  Time,  the  "  coining 
ones  of  the  second  clause  are  just  the  "  given 
ones  of  the  first.    But  had  our  Lord  merely 


sense  and  glory  of  this,  and  having  no  relish 

for  such  sublimities,  they  harp  upon  the 

Bread  from   heaven."     '  What   can  this 


said,  '  When  those  that  have  beeii  given  me  mean?  Do  we  not  know  all  about  him- 
of  my  Father  shall  come  to  me,  I  wiU  receive  where,  when,  and  of  whom  he  was  born? 
them,'— besides  being  veiy  flat,  the  impres-  And  yet  he  says  he  came  down  from  heaven.^ 
eion  conveyed  would  have  been  Quite  ditl'er-  Murmur  not .  .  .  No  man— <j.d.  '  Be  not  either 
ent,  sounding  as  if  there  were  no  oth*:r  laws  startled  or  stumbled  at  these  sajings;  for  it 
in  operation,  in  the  movement  of  sinners  to  needs  divine  teaching  to  understand  them, 
Christ,  but  such  as  are  wholly  divine  and  divine  drawing  to  submit  to  them.'  can 
inscrutable  to  us;  whereas,  though  He  does  come  to  me— in  the  sense  of  v.  35.  except  the 
speak  of  it  as  a  sublime  certainty  which  Father  which  hath  sent  me— i.e.,  the  Father 
nien's  refusals  cannot  frustrate,  he  speaks  of  as  the  Sender  of  Me  and  to  carry  out  the  de- 
that  certainty  as  taking  effect  only  by  men's  sign  of  my  mission,  draw  him— by  an  iriter- 
voluntary  advances  to  Him  and  acceptance  nal  and  efficacious  operation;  though  by  all 
of  Him— "Him  that  cometh  to  me."  "whoso-  the  means  of  rational  conviction,  and  in  a 
ever  will."  throwing  the  door  wide  open. '  way  altogether  consonant  to  their  moral  na- 
Only  it  is  not  the  simply  willing,  but  the  tuve.  iCant.  1.4;  Je.  31.3;  Ho.ll. 3,4.)  raisehim 
actually  coming,  whom  He  wiU  not  cast  out;  i  ud,  &c.— See  on  v.  64.  written  in  the  propliets 
74t 


Christ  DccJardh  Ehn^dfto  he 


JOHN,  VT. 


tTic  "Ertod  of  Life  to  Believers.' 


—in  Is.  54.  13;  Je.  31.  33,  .34;  other  similar  to  be  something  very  different^ from  a  wart*- 
passapes  may  also  have  been  in  view.    Our 
Lord  thus  falls  back  upon  Scripture  author- 
ity   for   this   seemingly   hard   saying,     all 


taught  of  God— not  by  external  revelation 
merely,  but  by  internal  iUnmination,  cor- 
responding to  the  "drawing"  olv.  44.  every 
man  therefore,  <fec. — i.e.,  who  hath  been  thus 
efficaciously  taught  of  him.  cometh  unto  me 
—with  ah.-olute  certainty,  yet  in  the  sen.se 
above  given  of  "drawing."  q.d.  *As  none 
can  come  to  me  but  as  divinely  drawn,  so 
none  thus  drawn  shall  fail  to  come.'  Not 
that  any  man  hath  seen,  &c.— Lest  they  should 
confound  that  "  hearing  and  learning  of  the 
rather,"  to  which  believers  are  admitted  by 
divine  teaching,  viiih.  His  own  immediate 
access  to  Him,  He  here  throws  in  a  paren- 
thetical explanation;  stating,  as  explicitly  as 
■words  could  do  it,  how  totally  different  the 
two  cases  were,  and  that  only  He  who  is 
*'from  God"  hath  this  naked,  immediate 
access  to  the  Father.  (See  ch.  l.  18.)  47-61. 
He  that  believeth,  &c.— See  on  ch.  3.  36;  5.  24. 
I  am  the  bread  of  life— As  he  that  believeth  . 
in  Me  hath  everlasting  life,  so  I  am  Myself  i  profound  truths  which  are  here  expressed. 


ral  death,  saying,  "  My  flesh  I  will  give  lor 
the  life  of  the  world,  [v.  61,^  it  must  have 
been  pretty  plain  to  candid  hearers  that  He 
meant  something  above  the  gross  idea  which 
the  bare  terms  expres.sed.  And  farther, 
when  He  added  that  they  "had  no  life  in 
them  imless  they  thus  ate  and  drank,"  it 
was  impossible  they  should  think  He  meant 
that  the  temporal  life  they  were  then  liv- 
ing was  dependent  on  their  eating  and 
drinking,  in  this  gross  sense.  His  flesh  and 
blood.  Yet  the  whole  statement  was  cer- 
tainly confounding,  and  beyond  doubt  waa 
meant  to  be  so.  Our  Lord  had  told  them 
that  in  spite  of  all  they  had  "  seen"  in  Hira 
they  "  did  not  believe,"  (v.  36.)  For  their 
conviction  therefore  He  does  not  here  lay 
Himself  out;  but  having  the  ear  not  only  of 
them  but  of  the  more  candid  and  thougJitful 
in  the  crowded  synagogue,  and  the  miracle  of 
the  loaves  having  led  up  to  the  most  exalted  of 
all  views  of  His  Person  and  Office,  He  takes 
advantage  of  their  very  difficulties  and  ob- 
jections to  announce,  for  all  time,  those  most 


the  everlasting  Sudenaiice  of  that  life.  iRe 
peated  from  v.  35.)  Your  fathers— of  whom 
ye  spake  [v.  31);  not  'ours,'  by  which  He 
•would  hint  that  He  had  a  higher  descent,  of 
•which  they  dreamt  not.  [Eeng.]  did  eat 
manna .  .  .  and  are  dead— recurring  to  their 
own  point  about  the  manna,  as  one  of 
the  noblest  of  the  ordained  preparatory 
illustrations  of  His  own  office :  '  Your  fa- 


regardless  ol  the  disgust  of  the  unteach- 
able,  and  the  prejudices  even  of  the  most 
sincere,  which  His  language  would  seem 
only  designed  to  deepen.  The  tr^lth  really 
conveyed  here  is  no  other  than  that  expres- 
sed in  V.  51,  though  in  more  emphatic  tenns 
—that  Himself,  in  the  virtue  of  His  sacrifi- 
cial death,  is  the  spiritual  and  eternal  life 
of  men ;  and  that  unless  men  voluntarily 
appropriate  to  themselves  this  death,  in 
its  sacrificial  virtue,  so  as  to  become  the 
very  life  and  nourishment  of  their  inner 
man,  they  have  no  spiritual  and  eternal  life 
at  all.  Not  as  if  His  death  were  the  only 
thing  of  vahie,  but  it  is  what  gives  all 
else  in  Christ's  Incarnate  Person,  Life  and 
Office  their  whole  value  to  us  sinners.  Whoso 
eateth  .  .  .  hath,  &c.— The  former  verse  said 


ther.s,  ye  say,  ate  manna  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  ye  say  well,  for  so  they  did,  but 
they  are  dead— even  they  whose  carcases 
fell  in  the  wilderness  did  eat  of  that  bread ; 
the  Bread  whereof  I  speak  cometh  down 
from  heaven,  which  the  manna  never  did, 
that  men,  eating  of  it,  may  live  for  ever.' 
I  am,  &c.— Understand,  it  is  of  Myself  I 

now  speak  as  the  Bread  from  heaven;  of  Me ,  .^ —    ^.,- .  ^ 

if  a  man  eat  he  shall  live  for  ever- and  "  the  that  imless  they  partook  of  Him  they  had  no 
Bread  which  I  will  give  is  My  flesh  i life;  this  adds,  that  tcJtoever  does  so  "hath 
WHICH  I  WILL  GIVE  FOR  THE  LIFE  OF  THE  I  eternal  life."  And  I  will  raise  liim  np  at  the 
WOBLD."  Here,  for  the  first  time  in  this  high  i  last  day— For  the  fourtJi.  time  this  is  repeated 
discourse,  our  Lord  explicitly  introduces  I  (see  v.  39,  40,  44,'— showing  most  clearly  that 
His  sacrificial  death— for  only  rationalists  the  "  eternal  life  "  which  such  a  man  "  Imth" 
can  doubt  this— not  only  as  that  which  con-j  cannot  be  the  same  with  the  future  resur- 
stitutes  Him  the  Bread  of  life  to  men,  but  rection-life,  from  which  it  is  carefully  distin- 
as  THAT  very  element  in  Him  which  \  guished  each  time,  but  a  life  communicated 
POSSESSES  THE  LIFE-GIVING  viKTUE.—  ne?-e  fet'iow  immediately  on  believing  (ch.  3. 
•From  this  time  we  hear  no  more  (in  this  I  36;  5.  24.  25,);  and  giving  to  the  rei,v.rrection 
discourse!  of  "Bread;"  this  figure  is  drop-  of  the  body,  as  that  which  consummates  the 

"  redemption  of  the  entire  man,  a  promin- 
ence which  in  the  current  theology,  it  is  to 
■with  the  words  of  institution  at  the  Supper,  be  feared,  it  has  seldom  had  See  R.  8, 
"TTiis  is  my  body  which  is  qiven  for  you,  23;  1  Cor.  15.  throughout.)  He  tnat  eateth 
(L.  22.  19.)  or,  in  Paul's  report  of  it.  ''broken  .  .  .  dwelleth  in  me  and  T  in  him— As  our 
for  you."  (1  Co.  11.  24.)  52.  Jews  strove  food  becomes  incorporated  with  ourselves, 
among  themselves  —  arguing  the  point  to-  So  Christ  and  those  who  eat  His  flesh 
eether.  How  can,  &c.—q.  d.  '  Give  us  his  and  drink  His  blood  become  spiritually 
flcditoeat?  Absurd.'  53-58.  Except  ye  eat  one  life,  though  personally  distinct.  As 
the  flesh .  .  .  and  drink  the  blood  ...  no  life,  the  living  Father  hath  sent  me— to  commu- 
&c.— the  harshest  word  He  had  yet  uttered  nicate  His  own  life,    and  I  live  bv  the  Fatner 

in  their  ears.    They  asked  how  it  was  pos lit.  'because  of  the  Father;   My  lite  and 

sible  to  eat  his  flesh.  He  answers,  with  his  being  one,  but  Mine  that  of  a, Sow,  whose 
great  solemnity,  'It  is  indispensable.'  Yet  it  is  to  be  "o/  the  Father.''  (Seech.  1.  18;  5. 
even  here  a  thoughtful  hearer  might  find  20.)  he  that  eateth  me  shall  live  by  me--('tt.  be- 
gomething  to  temper  the  harshness.  He  causeof  me;' Sothatthough  o?!e  .s;pir/fi/an)/lf 
says  they  must  not  only  "  eat  His  Jlcsh"  but  with  Him,"  the  Head  of  every  man  is  Christ, 
"drink  His  blood,"  which  could  not  but  as  the  head  of  ClirLst  is  God.'  (iCo.  11.  3;3. 
suggest  the  idea  of  His  Jcayt— implied  in  the  23.)  Tliis  is  t"at  bread,  Arc  —a  sort  of  summing 
separation  of  one's  flesh  from  his  blood,  up  of  the  whole  discourse,  on  which  let  this 
And  as  He  had  already  luuted  that  it  was  onelurtherremarksuffice— that  as  our  Lord, 
7U* 


ped,  and  the  reality  takes  its  place.'  [Stier.1 
Ohe  words  "I  will  give"  may  be  compared 


Many  Disciples  depart  from  Christ.      JOHN.  Vn. 


Peter's  Confession  oj  Him,  \ 


instead  of  softening  down  His  fiTuratire  |  in  this  case  was  noble,  and  to  the  woimd'^d 
subhmities,  or  even  putting  them  in  naked  i  spirit  of  His  Lord  doubtless  very  grateful, 
phraseology,  leaves  the  great  truths  of  His  \  Lord,  to  whom,  &c.—q.d.  '  We  cannot  deny 
Person  and  Office,  and  our  participation  of  { that  tee  have  been  staggered  as  well  as  they. 
Him  and  it.  enshrined  for  all  time  in  those  and  seeins  so  many  go  away  who.  as  we 


glorious  forms  of  speech,  so  when  we  at- 
tempt to  strip  the  truth  of  these  figures, 
figures  though  they  be.  it  goes  av:ay  from 
us,  like  water  when  the  vessel  is  broken, 
and  our  wisdom  lies  in  raising  our  o.vn 
spirit,  and  attuning  our  own  ear,  to  our 
Lord's  chosen  modes  of  expression.  (It 
should  be  added  that  although  this  dis- 
course has  nothing  to  do  with  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Supper,  the  Sacrament  has  every  thing 
to  do  with  it,  as  tfie  visible  emhodimcnt  of 
these  figures  and,  to  the  believing  partaker, 
a  real,  yea.  and  the  most  lively  and  affect- 
ing participation  of  His  flesh  and  blood, 
and  nourishment  thereby  of  the  spiritual 
and  eternal  life,  here  below,  j  59.  These 
things  said  he  in  the  synagogue— which  seems 
to  imply  that  what  follows  took  place  after 
the  congregation  had  broken  up.  60-65. 
Many  of  his  disciples— his  pretty  constant 
followers,  though  an  outer  circle  of  them. 
hard  saying — not  merely  harsh,  but  insuffer- 
able, as  the  word  often  means  in  the  O.  T. 
who  can  hear— submit  to  listen  to  it.  Doth 
this  offend  .  .  .  What  and  if,  &c.— g.d.  '  K  ye 
are  stumbled  at  what  I  have  said,  how  will 
j-e  bear  what  I  novj  say?  Not  that  His 
ascension  itself  would  stumble  them  more 
than  His  death,  but  that  after  recoiling 
from  the  mention  of  the  one  they  would  not 
be  in  a  state  of  mind  to  take  in  the  other, 
the  flesh  profiteth  nottiing— ]\Iuch  of  his  dis- 
course was  about  "flesh;"  but  flesh  as  such, 
mere  flesh,  could  profit  nothing,  much  less 
impart  that  lije  which  the  Holy  Spirit 
alone  communicates  to  the  soul,  the  words 
I  speak  are  spirit  and  life— the  whole  burden 
of  the  discourse  is  "spirit,"  not  mere  flesh, 
and  "  life"  in  its  highest,  not  its  lower  sense; 
and  the  words  I  have  employed  are  to  be  in- 
terpreted solely  in  that  sense.  But  there  are 
some,  (fcc. — q.d.  '  But  it  matters  little  to  some 
of  you  in  what  sense  I  speak,  for  ye  believe 
not.'  This  was  said,  adds  the  Evangelist. 
not  merely  of  the  outer  but  of  the  inner 
circle  of  his  disciples ;  for  He  knew  the 
traitor,  though  it  was  not  yet  time  to  expose 
him.  Therefore  said  I,  &,c.—q.  d.  '  That  was 
why  I  spoke  to  you  of  the  necessity  of  divine 
teaching,  which  some  of  you  are  strangers 
to.  except  it  were  given  him— plainly  show- 
ing that  by  the  Father's  "drawing  ^i;.  44,) 
was  meant  an  internal  and  efficacious  opera- 
tion, for  in  recalling  the  statement  here  He 
says,  it  must  be  "aiven  to  a  man  to  come" 
to  Christ.  66-71.  From  that  time.  <fec.— or,  in 
consequence  of  this.  Those  last  words  of  our 
Lord  seem  to  have  given  them  the  finishing 
stroke— they  could  stand  it  no  longer,  walked 
no  more— Many  a  journey,  it  may  be.  they  had 
taken  with  Him.  but  now  they  gave  Him 
finally  up!  the  Twelve— the  first  time  they 
are  thus  mentioned  in  this  gospel.  Will  ye  also 
go  away ?— AiTectini  appeal!  Evidently  (_  hri  st 
felt  the  desertion  of  Him  even  by  those  mis- 
erable men  who  could  not  abide  His  state- 
ments ;  and  seeing  a  disturbance  even  of 
the  wheat  by  the  violence  of  the  wind  which 
blew  away  the  chajf'  inot  yet  visibly  showing 
itself,  but  open  to  His  eyes  of  fire).  He 
would  nip  it  in  th^  bud  by  this  home  ques- 
'  tiou.    Theu  Simon  Pet^r— whose  forwardness 


thought,  might  have  been  retained  by  teach- 
ing a  little  less  hard  to  take  in.  our  own  en- 
durance has  been  severely  tried,  nor  have 
we  been  able  to  stop  short  of  the  question. 
Shall  ive  follow  the  rest,  and  give  it  up  ?  But 
when  it  came  to  this,  our  light  returned  and 
our  hearts  were  re-assured.  Eor  as  soon  as  we 
thought  of  going  away,  there  rose  upon  us 
that  awful  question,  "To  whom  shall  we 
go  V "  To  the  lifeless  formalism  and  wretched 
traditions  of  the  elders?  to  the  gods  many 
and  lords  many  of  the  heathen  around  us?  or 
to  blank  unbelief  ?  Nay,  Lord,  we  are  shut 
up.  They  have  none  of  that  "etee-nal 
life"  to  offer  us  whereof  Thou  hast  been 
discoursing,  in  words  rich  and  ravishing  as 
well  as  in  words  staggering  to  human  wis- 
dom. Tliat  life  we  cannot  want;  that  life 
we  have  learnt  to  crave  as  a  necessity  of 
the  deeper  nature  which  Thou  hast  awak- 
ened; "the  loorcU  of  that  eternal  life"  (the 
authority  to  reveal  it  and  the  power  to  con- 
fer it)  Thou  hast:  Therefore  will  we  stay 
with  Thee—'  we  must.'  And  we  believe,  <fcc. — 
(See  on  M.  16.  16.)  Peter  seems  to  have  ad- 
ded this  not  merely  —  probably  not  so 
much— as  an  assurance  to  His  Lord  of  his 
heart's  belief  in  Him.  as  for  the  pui-pose 
of  fortifying  himselj  and  his  faithful  ore- 
thren  against  that  recoil  from  His  Lord's 
harsh  statements  which  he  was  probably 
struggling  against  with  difiiculty  at  that, 
moment,  n.  b.  There  are  seasons  when 
one's  faith  is  tried  to  the  utmost,  particu- 
larly by  speculative  difticidties;  the  spiritual 
eye  then  swims,  and  all  truth  seems  ready  to 
depart  from  us.  At  such  seasons,  a  clear 
peiception  that  to  abandon  the  faith  of 
Christ  is  to  face  blank  desolation,  ruin  and 
death;  and,  on  recoiling  from  this,  to  be  able 
to  fall  back,  not  merely  on  Jirst  principles 
and  immoveable  foundations,  but  on  personal 
experience  of  a  Living  Lord,  imchom  all  truth 
is  wrapt  up  and.  made  Jtcsh  for  our  very  benefit 
— this  is  a  relief  unspeakable.  Under  that 
blessed  Wing  taking  shelter,  until  we  are 
again  fit  to  grapple  with  the  questions  that 
have  staggered  us,  we  at  length  either  find 
our  way  through  them,  or  attain  to  a  calm 
satisfaction  in  the  discovery  that  they  lie 
beyond  the  limits  of  present  apprehension. 
Have  not  I  chosen  .  .  .  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil : 
—q.d.  '  Well  said,  Simon-Barjonas,  but  that 
"  we"  embraces  not  so  wide  a  circle  as  in  the 
simplicity  of  thine  heart  thou  thinkest;  for 
though  I  have  chosen  you  but  twelve,  one 
even  <3f  these  is  a  'devil'  (the  temple,  the 
tool  of  that  wicked  one*. 

CHAFiEE  VU. 
Ver.  1-53.  ChPvIst  at  the  Feast  of  Ta- 
bernacles. 1,  2.  After  these  things— i.e.,  all 
that  is  recorded  after  ch.  5.  18.  walked  iu 
Galilee— continuing  His  labours  there,  in- 
stead of  goiu^  to  Judea,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  sought  to  kill  him,  A:c.— referring 
back  to  ch.  5.  18.  Hence  it  appears  that  our 
Lord  did  not  attend  the  Passover  mentioned 
at  ch.  6.  4 — being  the  third  since  His  ministry 
began,  if  the  feast  mentioned  in  ch.  5.  l,  was 
a  Passover,  feast  of  tabernacles  at  hand— This 
was  the  last  of  the  three  annual  festivals, 
celebrated  oa  the  15th,  of  the  Uh  iaouc]i,i 


testis  attends  the  feast  of  tnhervflrles,     JOTTN,  TTTI. 


and  teaeheth  in  the  temple. 


disciples  also  may  Bee  the  works  that  thou 

doest. 

_  4  For  tJiere  is  no  man  that  docth  any  thin? 

in  secret,  and  he  himseli'  secketh "  to  be 

know-n  openly.    If  thou  do  these  things, 

ehow  thyself  to  the  world. 

5  For  <<  neither  did  his  brethren  believe  in 
him. 

6  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them,  *  My  time  is 
not  yet  come:  but  your  time  is  alway  ready. 

7  The /world  cannot  hate  you;  but  me  it 
bateth,  "  because  I  testify  of  it,  that  the 
works  thereof  are  e^il. 

8  Go  ye  up  unto  this  feast:  I_go  not  up  yet 
nnto  this  feast;  '^  for  my  time  is  not  yet  full 
come. 

9  When  he  had  said  these  words  nnto 
them,  he  abode  still  in  Galilee. 

10  IT  But  when  his  brethren  were  gone  up, 
then  went  he  also  up  unto  the  feast,  not 
openly,  but  as  it  were  in  secret. 

11  Then  » the  Jews  sought  him  at  the  feast, 
and  said.  Where  is  he? 

12  And  >  there  was  much  murmuring 
among  the  people  concerning  him:  for 
Bome  *  said.  He  is  a  good  man:  others  said. 
Nay;  but  he  deceiveth  the  people. 

13  Howbeit  no  man  spake  openly  of  him 
for  fear  of  the  Jews. 

14  H  Now  about  the  midst  of  the  feast, 
Jesus  went  up  into  the  temple,  and  taught. 

15  And  'the  Jews  maiTelled,  saying,  llow 
knoweth  this  man  i  letters,  having  never 
learned? 

16  Jesus  answered  them,  and  said,  "'My 
doctrine  is  not  mine,  but  his  that  sent 
jpe. 

17  If*  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he  shali 
know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God, 
or  whether  I  speak  of  myself. 

13  He  "  that  speaketh  of  himself  seeketh 
his  own  glory:  but  he  that  seeketh  his 
glory  that  sent  him,  the  same  is  true,  and 
jio  imrighteousness  is  in  him. 

19  Did  P  not  Moses  give  you  the  law,  and 
yet  none  of  you  keepeth  the  law?  2  Why  go 
ye  about  to  Kill  me? 

20  The  people  answered  and  said,  ^  Thou 
hast  a  devil:  who  goeth  about  to  kill  thee? 

21  Jesus  answered  and  said  imto  them,  I 
have  done  one  work,  and  ye  aU  marvel. 

22  Moses  *  therefore  gave  unto  you  cir- 
cumcision ;  (not  because  it  is  of  Moses, 
but  *  of  the  fathers ;)  and  ye  on  the  sabbath 
day  circumcise  a  man. 

23  If  a  man  on  the  sabbath  day  receive 
circumcision,  2  that  the  law  of  Moses  should 
not  be  broken;  are  ye  angry  at  me,  because 
1  "  have  made  a  man  every  whit  whole  on 
the  sabbath  day? 

24  Judge  "  not  according  to  the  appear- 
ance, but  judge  righteous  judgment. 

26  Then  said  some  of  them  of  Jerasalem, 
Is  not  this  he  whom  they  seek  to  kill? 

26  But,  lo,  he  speaketh  boldly,  and  they 
Bay  nothing  unto  him.  Do  the  rulers  know 
indeed  that  this  is  the  very  Christ? 

27  Howbeit  we  know  this  man  whence 
he  is:  but  when  Christ  cometh,  no  man 
knowfith  whence  he  is. 

'26  Then  cried  Jesus  in  the  temple,  as  he 
taught,  sa\ii)g,  *"  Ye  both  know  me,  and  ye 
know  whence  I  am:  and  'I  am  not  come 
of  myself,  but  he  that  sent  me  "  is  true, 
whom  *  ye  know  not. 

29  But  "  I  know  liim:  for  I  am  from  him, 
and  he  hath  sent  mo. 

30  Then  they  bought  to  take  him:  but  no 

75 


A.  D,32. 


CHAP.  7- 

dMjirk3.21, 
«  ch.  2.  4. 
/  ch.  15  19. 
0  tb.  3.  19. 
A  ch.  8.  21). 
i  ch.  11.  56. 
j  ch.  9.  16. 

ch.  10.  19. 
t  Mat.  ::i.46. 

Lu.  7.  16. 


n  Hob.  6.2,3. 
ch.  8.  43. 

0  ch.  5.  41. 

ch.  8.  60. 
P  Acts  7.  S 
«  Mat.  12  14. 

Mark  3.  6. 

ch.  5.  IB. 
»■  ch.  8.  48. 
8  Lev.  12.  3. 
t  Gen.  17. 10. 

2  Or, 
without 
breakJDg 
the  law  of 

«  ch.  5.  8. 
V  Deu.  1.  16. 

Pro.  24.  23. 

ch.  8.  1&. 

Jam.  2.  1. 
«-  ch.  8.  14. 
*  ch  5.  43. 

ch.  8.  42. 
y  ch.  6.  32. 

ch.  8.  26. 

Kom.  3.  4, 
Scb.  1.18. 

ch.  8.  55. 
a  ilat.  11.27. 

ch.  10.  15. 
6  ch.  13.  33. 
e  Hos.  5.  6. 

ch.  8.  21. 

eh.  1.3.  33. 
d  U.  11.  12. 

Jam.  1.  1. 

1  Pet.  1. 1. 

3  Or, 
Greeks. 

e  Is.  55. 1. 

Kev.  3.  20. 

Kev.  22.17. 
/Deu.  18.16. 
n  la.  12.  3. 
%  U  44.  3. 

Joel  2.  28. 

eh.  16.  7. 

Acts  2. 17. 
t  ch  12.  16. 
j  Deu.  18.15. 

ch.  1.  21. 

ch.  6.  14. 
k  ch.  4.  42. 

ch.  6.  C9. 

1  ch.  1.  46. 
»»  Pa.  132.11. 

Mat.  2.  5. 

Luke  2.  4. 

n  1  Sa.  16.  I. 

0  ch.  12.  42. 

Acta  6   7. 

1  Cor.  1.20. 

P  ch.  3.  2. 

4  to  him. 
Deu.  1.  17. 


?1 


Ki.  17  1. 
;  Ki.  14.26. 


man  laid  hands  on  him,  because  his  hour 
was  not  yet  come. 

31  And  many  of  the  people  believed  on 
him,  and  said.  When  Chn.'st  cometh,  wiU 
he  do  more  miracles  than  these  which  this 
man  hath  done? 

32  H  The  Pharisees  heard  that  the  people 
murmured  such  things  concerning  him; 
and  the  Pharisees  and  the  chief  priests 
sent  officers  to  take  him. 

3-j  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  *Yet  a 
little  while  am  1  with  you,  and  tlien  I  go 
unto  him  that  sent  me. 

34  Ye  "  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  not  find 
me:  and  where  I  am,  thither  ye  cannot 
come. 

;a  Then  said  the  Jews  among  themselves. 
Whither  will  he  go,  that  we  shall  not  find 
him?  will  he  go  unto  ''the  dispersed  among 
the  3  Gentiles,  and  teach  the  Gentiles? 

36  What  manner  o/ saying  is  this  that  he 
said.  Ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  not  find 
me:  and  where  I  am,  thither  ye  cannot 
come? 

37  f  In  the  last  day,  that  great  dai/  of  the 
feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying,  'If 
ariy  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and 
drink. 

38  He /that  believeth  on  me,  as  the  Scrip- 
tm-e  hath  said,  "  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow 
rivers  of  living  water. 

39  (But ''  this  spake  he  of  the  Spuit,  which 
they  that  believe  on  him  shoiild  receive: 
for  the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  given; 
because  that  Jesus  was  not  yet  »glori. 
fied.) 

40  Alany  of  the  people  therefore,  when 
they  heard  tliis  saying,  said,  Uf  a  truth 
this  is }  the  Prophet. 

41  Others  said,  *  This  is  the  Christ.  But 
some  said,  Shall  Chiist  come  *out  of 
GalUee? 

42  Hath  "*  not  the  Scripture  said.  That 
Chiist  cometh  of  the  seed  of  Da\id,  and 
out  of  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  "  where 
David  was? 

43  So  there  was  a  division  among  the 
people  because  of  him. 

44  And  some  of  them  would  have  taken 
him ;  but  no  man  laid  hands  on  him. 

45  IT  Then  came  the  officers  to  the  chief 
priests  and  Pharisees ;  and  they  said  unto 
them.  Why  have  ye  not  brought  him? 

46  The  ofiicers  answered,  Never  man  spake 
hke  this  man. 

47  Then  answered  them  the  Pharisees, 
Are  ye  also  deceived? 

48  Have  "  any  of  the  rulers  or  of  the 
Pharisees  believed  on  him? 

49  But  this  people  who  knoweth  not  the 
law  are  cursed. 

50  Nicodemus  saith  tmto  them,  (^he  that 
came  *  to  Jesus  by  night,  being  one  of 
them,) 

51  Doth  9  our  law  judge  any  man  before  it 
hear  him  and  know  what  he  doeth? 

52  They  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Art 
thou  also  of  Galilee?  Search,  and  look:  for 
out  *■  of  Gahlee  ariseth  no  prophet. 

53  And  every  man  went  unto  his  own 
house. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

1   ChrUt  reltaseth  a  woman  tuktn  in  adultery:  12 

he  preacheth  himself  the  light  of  the  world,  ami 

justijieth  his  doctrine;  33  Miswereth  the  Jews. 

TESUS  went  unfo  the  mount  of  Olives. 

2  Atid  e;uly  in    the  nioniing    he  came 
again  into  the  temple,  ana  iUi  the  people 


Christ  teacheth  in  the  Temple 


JOHN,  vn. 


at  tJie  Feast  of  Tabernacles. 


(September.;  See  Le.  23.  33.  (Src;  Deu.  16. 13, 
&c. ;  Ne.  8.  14-18.  3-5.  His  brethren  said— See 
on  M.  13.  54-56.  Depart... into  Judea,  &c.— In 
V.  5  this  speech  is  ascribed  to  their  unbelief. 
But  as  they  were  in  the  "  up)  >er  room"  among 
the  120  disciples  who  waited  for  the  de.scent 
of  the  Spirit  after  the  Lord's  ascension,  A. 
1.  14,!  they  seem  to  have  had  their  prejudices 
removed,  perhaps  after  His  resurrection. 
Lideed  here  their  lancrua;:e  is  more  that  of 
strong  prejudice  and  suspicion,  .such  as  near 
relatives,  even,  the  best,  too  frequently  shovj  in 
such  causes,)  than  formed  unbelief.  Tliere 
was  also,  probably,  a  tincture  of  vanity  in  it. 
*Thou  hast  many  disciples  in  Judea;  here 
in  Galilee  they  are  fast  dropping  off;  it  is  not 
like  one  who  advances  the  claims  thou  dost 
to  linger  so  long  here,  away  from  the  city  of 
our  solemnities,  where  surely  "the  kingdom 
of  our  father  David"  is  to  be  set  up:  "  seek- 
ing," as  thou  dost,  "  to  be  known  openly," 
tJiose  miracles  of  thine  ought  not  to  be  con- 
fined to  this  distant  corner,  but  submitted 
at  head-quarters  to  the  inspection  of  "  the 
world."'  (See  Ps.  69.  8,  "I  am  become  a 
stranger  to  my  brethren,  an  alien  unto  my 
mother's  children!")  6-10.  My  time  not  yet 
come— i.e.,  for  "  showing  Himself  to  the 
world."  your  time  always  ready,  &c.—q.d., 
*  It  matters  little  when  ye  go  up.  for  ye  have 
no  great  plans  in  life,  and  nothing  hangs 
upon  your  movements:  With  Me  it  is  other- 
wise ;  on  every  movement  of  Mine  there 
hangs  what  ye  know  not:  Tlie  world  has  no 
quarrel  with  you,  for  ye  bear  no  testimony 
against  it,  and  so  draw  down  upon  yourselves 
none  of  its  wrath ;  but  I  am  here  to  lift  up  my 
voice  against  its  hypocrisy,  and  denounce  its 
abominations  ;  therefore  it  cannot  endure 
Me,  and  one  false  step  might  precipitate  its 
fury  on  its  Victim's  head  before  the  time: 
Away,  therefore,  to  the  feast  as  soon  as  it 
suits  you;  I  follow  at  the  fitting  moment, 
but  "my  time  is  not  yet  full  come.'"  then 
went  he... not  openly— not  "in  the  vcaravanl 
company."  [Mey.]  (See  on  L.  2.  41.)  as  it 
were  in  secret— rather,  '  in  a  manner  secretly;' 
perhaps  by  some  other  route,  and  in  a  way 
not  to  attract  notice.  11-13.  Jews  the  rulers! 
sought  him— for  no  good  end.  Where  is  he?— 
He  nad  not  been  at  Jerusalem  for  probably 
a  year  and  a  ho'j^  much  murmiuing— '  buz- 
zing.' among  the  people—'  the  multitudes;' 
'■the  natural  expression  of  a  Jewish  writer, 
indicating;  without  design  the  crowded  state 
of  Jerusalem  at  this  festival.'  [w.  6c  w.]  a  good 
man . .  .Nay . .  .deceiveth,  &:c.— the  two  opposite 
views  of  His  claims,  that  they  were  honed, 
and  that  they  were  an  imposture,  none  spake 
op  nly  of  him— i.e.,  in  his  favour,  "  for  fear  of 
the  {rulinc)  Jews.  14, 15.  about  the  midst  of 
the  feast— the  4th  or  5th  day  of  the  8,  during 
which  it  lasted,  went  up  into  the  temple  and 
taught— The  word  denotes  formal  and  con- 
tinuous teaching,  as  distinguished  from  mere 
casual  sayings.  This  was  probably  the  first 
time  that  He  did  so  thus  openly  in  Jerusa 


human  teacher— an  important  admission 
agamst  ancient  and  modern  attempts  to 
trace  our  Lord's  wisdom  to  human  sources. 
[Mey.J  Probably  His  teaching  on  this  occa- 
sion was  expository,  manifesting  that  un- 
nvaUed  faculty  and  depth  which  in  the 
Sermon  on  the  mount  had  excited  the  as- 
tonishment of  all.  16-18.  doctrine . .  .not  mine 
&c.— 1.€,.  from  Myself,  unauthorized;  I  am 
here  by  commission.  If  any  will  do  the  will, 
<fcc.— '  is  willing,'  or  '  wishes  to  do.'  whether 
of  God  or... of  myself— from  above  or  from 
beneath;  is  divine  or  an  imposture  of  mine. 
A  principle  of  immense  importance;  show- 
ing, on  the  one  hand,  that  singleness  of  desire 
to  please  God  is  the  grand  inlet  to  light  on  all 
questions  vitally  affecting  one's  eternal  in- 
terests, and,  on  the  other,  that  the  tcant  of 
this,  whether  perceived  or  not,  is  the  chief 
cause  of  infidelity  amidst  the  lu/ht  of  revealed 
religion,  seeketh  his  own  glory,  &;c.— see  oa 
ch.  5.  41-44.  19,  20.  Did  not  Moses,  &:c.—q.d., 
'  In  opposing  Me  ye  pretend  zeal  for  Moses, 
but  to  the  spirit  and  end  of  that  law  which 
he  gave  ye  are  total  strangers,  and  in  "  going 
about  to  kill  Me,"  ye  are  its  greatest  uut- 
niies. '  The  people  answered,  Tnou  hast  a 
devil:  who  goeth  about  to  kill  thee?— This 
was  said  by  '  ihe  multitude,'  who  as  yet 
had  no  bad  feeling  to  Jesus,  and  were  not 
in  llie  secret  of  the  plot  hatching,  as  our 
Lord  knew,  against  Him.  21-24.  I  have  done 
one  work,  &c.— Taking  no  notice  of  the  popu- 
lar appeal,  as  there  were  those  there  who 
knew  well  enough  what  He  meant.  He  recalls 
His  cure  of  the  impotent  man,  and  the  mur- 
derous rage  it  had  kindled,  ;ch.  6.  9.  10,  18.) 
It  may  seem  strange  that  He  should  refer  to 
an  event  a  year  and  a  half  old,  a.'^  if  but  newly 
done.  But  their  present  attempt  "  to  kUl 
Him"  brought  the  past  scene  all  fresh  up. 
not  only  to  Him,  but  %vithout  doubt  to  them 
too,  if  indeed  they  had  ever  forgotten  it; 
and  by  this  fearless  reference  to  it,  exposing 
their  hj'poci'isy  and  dark  designs,  He  gave 
His  position  great  moral  strength.  Moses 
gave  you  circumcision,  «tc.— Though  servile 
work  was  forbidden  on  the  sabbath,  the  cir- 
cumcision of  males  on  that  day  iwhich  cer- 
tainly was  a  servile  work)  was  counted  no 
infringement  of  the  law:  How  much  less 
ought  fault  to  be  found  with  One  who  had 
made  a  man  "every  whit  whole"— or  rather, 
'a  man's  entire  body  whole'— on  the  sabljath 
day  ?  ^S'hat  a  testimony  to  the  reality  of  the 
miracle,  none  daring  to  meet  the  bold  appeal! 
judge  not,  drc— g.d.,  "Bise  above  the  letter 
into  the  sinrit  of  the  law.'  25-27.  some  of 
themof  Jerusalem— the  citizens,  who,  knowing 
the  long  formed  purpose  of  the  rulers  to  put 
Jesus  to  death,  wondered  they  were  now 
letting  him  teach  openly.  Do  the  rulers  know, 
&c.— Have  they  got  some  new  light  in  favour 
of  His  claims?  Howbeit  we  know  this  man. 
&c.— This  seems  to  refer  to  some  current 
opinion  that  Messiah's  origin  would  be 
mysterious,  (nut  altogether  wTong.i  from 
lem.  He  had  kept  back  till  the  feast  was  which  they  concluded  that  Jesus  could  not 
half  through,  to  let  the  stir  about  Him  sub- '  be  he,  since  they  knew  all  about  his  family 
side,  and  entering  the  city  unexpectedly,  had  at  Nazareth.  28,  29.  Jesus  cried— in  a  louder 
begun  his  "teaching"  at  tl.e  temple,  and  tone,  and  more  solemn,  witnessing  style  than 
created  a  certain  awe,  before  the  wrath  of  usual.  Yeboth,  &c.— o.a.,  '  Yes,  ye  know  both 
the  rulers  had  time  to  break  it.  How  kuoweth  myself  and  my  local  parentage,  "and  yet) 
letters— learning.  (A.  26.  24.)  having  never  1  am  not  come  of  myself.'"  he  that  sent  mo 
learned— at  any  rabbinical  school,  as  Paul! is  true,  &c.— Probably  the  meaning  is,  'He 
under  Gamaliel.  These  rulers  knew  well :  that  sent  me  is  the  only  real  Sender  of  any 
enougli  that  He  had  not  studied  luider  any  i  one.  30-33.  sought  to  take... none  laid  hauds— 
75 


S' 


Christ  Teachefh 


JOHN,  vn. 


in  tJie  Temple. 


their  impotence  being  equal  to  their  malig- 
nity. When  Christ  cometh,  will  he,  <foc.— '/.rf., 
*  it'  this  be  not  the  Chnst,  what  can  the  Christ 
do,  when  he  does  come,  which  has  not  been 
anticipated  and  eclipsed  by  this  man/  This 
■was  evidently  the  language  of  friendly  per- 
sons, overborne  by  their  spiteful  superiors, 
but  unable  to  keep  quite  silent,  heard  tliat 
they  murmured— that  mutterings  to  this  etfect 
were  going  a'bout,  and  thought  it  high  time  to 
stop  him  if  he  was  not  to  be  allowed  to  carry 
away  the  people.  33, 34.  Yet  a  little  while,  &c. 
— g.d.'  Your  desire  to  be  rid  of  Me  will  be  for 
you  all  too  soon  fulfilled:  Yet  a  little  while 
and  we  part  company— for  ever ;  for  I  go 
whither  ye  cannot  come,  nor,  even  when  ye 
at  length  seek  to  Him  whom  now  ye  despise, 
shall  ye  be  able  to  find  Him,'— referring  not 
to  any  penitential,  but  to  purely  selti.sh  cries 
in  their  time  of  desperation.  35,  36.  Whither 
will  he  go,  <S;c.— Theycannot  comprehend  him, 
but  seem  awed  by  the  solemn  grandeur  of 
His  warning.  He  takes  no  notice,  however, 
of  their  questions.  37-39.  the  last,  the  great 
day  of  the  feast— the  8th,  (Le.  23.  39'.  It  was 
a  Sabbath,  the  last  feast-day  of  the  year, 
and  distinguished  by  very  remarkable  cere- 
monies. '  The  generally  joyous  character  of 
this  feast  broke  out  on  this  day  into  loud 
jubilation,  particularly  at  the  solemn  mo- 
ment when  the  priest,  as  was  done  on  every 
day  of  this  festival,  brought  forth,  in  golden 
vessels,  water  from  the  stream  of  biloah, 
•which  flowed  under  the  temple-mountain, 
and  solemnly  poured  it  upon  the  altar.  Then 
the  words  of  Is.  12.  3,  were  sung,  "  With  joy 
shall  ye  draio  water  out  of  the  wells  ofSalva- 
tian,"  and  thus  the  symbolical  reference  of 
this  act,  intimated  in  v.  39,  was  expressed.' 
[Olsh.I  So  ecstatic  was  the  joy  with  which 
this  ceremony  was  performed— accomiianied 
■with  sound  of  trumpets— that  it  used  to  be 


said,  'Whoever  had  not  witnessed  it  Jiad 
high  occasion,  then.  He  who  had  already 


never  seen  rejoicing  at  all.'  [Lft.]  On  this 
high  occasion,  then.  He  who  had  alreadj 
drawn  all  eyes  upon  Him  by  His  supernatu 
ral  power  and  unrivalled  teaching—"  Jesus 
stood,"  probably  in  some  elevated  position, 
"  and  cried,"  as  if  making  proclamation  in 
the  audience  of  all  the  people,   "  If  any 

MAN  THIRST  LET  HIM   COME  UNTO  Me  AND 

brink!"  >Vhat  an  offer!  The  deepest  crav- 
ings of  the  human  spirit  are  here,  as  in  the 
O.  T.,  expressed  by  the  figure  of  "  thirst," 
and  the  eternal  satisfaction  of  them  by 
"  drinking."  To  the  woman  of  Samaria  He 
had  said  almost  the  same  thing,  and  in  the 
same  terms,  J.  4.  13,  14.  But  what  to  her 
was  simply  affirmed  to  her  as  a  fact  is  here 
turned  into  a  world-wide  proclamation;  and 
whereas  there,  the  gift  by  Him  of  the  li-vriug 
■water  is  the  most  prominent  idea— in  con- 
trast with  her  hesitation  to  give  Him  the 
perishable  water  of  Jacob's  well— here,  the 
prominence  is  given  to  Himself  as  the  WeU- 
spring  of  all  satisfaction.  He  had  in  Galilee 
invited  all  the  weary  and  heavy-laden 
of  the  human  family  to  come  under  His  wing 
and  they  should  find  rest,  (M.  11.  2s,j  which 
is  just  the  same  deep  want,  and  the  same 
profound  relief  of  it,  under  another  and 
equally  grateful  figure.  He  had  in  the  syna- 
f;ogue  of  Capernaum  ch.G.)  announced  Him- 
eelf,  in  every  variety  of  form,  as  "  the  Bread 
of  Life,"  and  as  both  alile  and  authorized 
to  appease  the  "  iiunger,"  and  quench  the 
'•THiRax."  of  all  that  apply  to  Him.  There  is, 
75*- 


and  there  can  be,  nothing  beyond  that  here. 
But  what  was  on  all  those  occasions  uttered  in 
private,o;addressed  to  a  provincial  audience, 
is  here  sounded  forth  in  the  streets  of  the 
great  religious  metropohs,  and  in  language 
of  surpassing  majesty,  simplicity,  and  grace. 
It  i<just  Jehovah's  ancient  proclamation  now 
sounding  forth  through  human  flesh,  "Ho, 

EVERY  ONE  THAT  THIRSTETH,  COME  YB 
TO  THE  WATERS,  AND  HE  THAT  HATH  NO 

money!"  (Is.  55. 1.)  In  this  light,  we  have  but 
two  alternatives ;  either  to  say  with  Caiaphaa 
of  Him  that  uttered  such  words,  "ife  is  guilty 
0/  death"  or  falling  down  before  Him  to 
exclaim  with  Thomas,  "  My  Lord  and  my 
God!"  as  the  Scripture  hath  said— These 
words  belong  to  what  follows,  "Out  of  his 
beUy,  as  the  Scripture  hath  said,  shall  flow," 
<S:c.,  referring  not  to  any  particular  passage, 
but  to  such  as  Is.  58. 11;  Joel,  3.  18;  Ze.  14.  8; 
Ez.  47.  1-12;  in  most  of  which  the  idea  is  that 
of  waters  issuing  from  beneath  the  Temple, 
to  which  our  Lord  compares  Himself  and 
those  who  believe  in  Him.  out  of  his  belly— ^ 
i.e.,  his  inner  man,  his  soul,  as  in  Pro  v.  20.  27. 
rivers  ol  living  water— See  on  ch.  4. 13,  14.  It 
refers  primarily  to  the  copiousness,  but  indi- 
rectly also  to  the  diffusiveness,  of  this  living 
water  to  the  good  of  others.  This  spake  ho 
of  the  Spirit— Who,  by  His  direct  personal 
agency,  opens  up  this  spring  of  living  waters 
in  the  human  spirit,  (ch.  3.  6,)  and  by  His 
indwelling  in  the  renewed  soul  ensures  their 
unfailing  floto.  they  that  believe,  <fec.— As 
the  Holy  Ghost  is,  in  the  redemption  of  man, 
entirely  at  the  service  of  Christ,  as  His  Agent, 
so  it  is  only inhelieving connexionwith Christ 
that  any  one  "receives"  the  Spirit,  for  the 
Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  [given]— Beyond  aU 
doubt  the  word  "given,"  or  some  similar 
word,  is  the  right  supplement.  In  ch.  16.  7, 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  represented  not  only  as 
t)ie  Gift  of  Christ,  but  a  Gift  the  communica- 
tion of  which  was  dependent  %ii)on  His  own 
di:jiarture  to  the  Father.  Now  as  Christ  was 
not  yet  gone,  so  the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet 
given.  Jesus  not  yet  glorified  — The  word 
"glorified"  is  here  used  advisedly,  to  teach 
the  re"ader  not  only  that  the  departure  of 
Christ  to  the  Father  was  indispensable  to  the 
giving  of  the  Spirit,  but  that  this  illustrious 
Gift,  direct  from  the  hands  of  the  ascended 
Saviour,  was  God's  intimation  to  the  world 
that  He  whom  it  had  cast  out,  crucified  and 
slain,  was  "  His  Elect,  in  whom  His  soul 
delighted."  and  that  it  was  through  the 
smiting  of  that  Eock  that  the  waters  of  the 
Spirit— for  which  the  Church  was  waiting 
and  with  pomp  at  the  feast  of  Tabernacles 
proclaiming  its  expectation  —  had  gushed 
forth  upon  a  thirsty  world.  40-43.  Many  .  . . 
when  they  heard  this  .  . .  said.  Of  a  truth,  &c.— 
The  only  wonder  is  they  did  not  all  say  it. 
"  But  their  minds  were  blinded."  others. 
This  is  the  Christ— See  on  ch.  1.  21.  Shall 
Christ  come  out  of  Galilee  .  .  .  Scriptuie  said. . . 
of  the  seed  of  David  and  out  of  Bethlehem,  &c. 
—We  accept  this  spontaneous  testimony  to 
our  David-descended,  Betldehem-born  Sa- 
■viour.  Had  those  Who  gave  it  made  the 
inquiry  which  the  case  demanded,  they 
would  have  found  that  Jesus  "came  out 
of  Galilee  "  and  "  out  of  Bethlehem"  both, 
alike  in  fulfilment  of  proi)hecy  as  in  point 
of  fact.  (M.  2.  23;  4.  13-16.)  44-49.  would 
have  taken  him,  but,  (to.  —  See  on  v, 
30.     Then  came  the  officers— "sent  to  ta  e 


Chriit  DeKwrc'h  the 


JOHN-,  VJIT. 


Woman  tal-en  in  Advtfenj. 


him,"  V.  32.  Why  not  brought  him?— already 
thirsting  for  their  Victim,  and  thinking  it  an 
easy  matter  to  seize  and  bring  Him.  Never 
man  spake  like  this  man— Noble  testimony  of 
unsophisticated  men  !  Doubtless  they  were 
strangers  to  the  profoimd  intent  of  Christ's 
teaching,  but  there  was  that  in  it  which  by 
its  mysterious  grandeur  and  transparent 
purity  and  grace,  held  them  spell-bound. 
Ko  doubt  it  was  of  God  that  they  should  so 
feel,  that  their  arm  might  be  paralysed,  as 
Christ's  "hour  was  not  come;"  but  even  in 
human  teacliing  there  has  sometimes  been 
felt  such  a  divine  power,  that  men  who  came 
to  kill  them  e.g.  Rowland  Hill)  have  con- 
fessed to  all  that  they  were  unmanned. 
ye  also  deceived?— In  their  own  servants  this 
seemed  intolerable,  any  of  the  rulers  and 
Pharisees  believed  1 —" Many  of  them"  did, 
including  IS'icodemus  and  Joseph,  but  not 
one  of  these  had  openly  "confessed  him," 
(ch.  12.  42,  and  this  appeal  must  have  stung 
such  as  of  them  as  heard  it  to  the  (luick.  But 
this  people— Zii.  '  multitude,' meaning  the  ig- 
norant rabble.  Pity  these  important  dis- 
tinctions, so  marked  in  the  original  of  this 
eospel,  should  not  be  also  in  our  version.) 
knoweth  not  the  law— -i.e.,  by  school  learning, 
v  hich  only  subverted  it  by  human  traditions, 
are  cursed— a  cursed  set  a  kind  of  swearing  at 
them,  out  of  mingled  rage  and  .scorn).  50-53. 
Nicodemus— re-appearing  to  us  after  nearly 
three  years'  absence  from  the  history,  as  a 
member  of  the  council,  probably  then  sit- 
ting. Doth  our  law,  (fee— a  very  proper,  but 
all  too  tame  rejoinder,  and  evidently  more 
from  pressure  of  conscience  than  any  design 
to  pronounce  positively  in  the  case.  'The 
feebleness  of  his  defence  ot  Jesus  has  a  strong 
contrast  in  the  fierceness  of  the  rejoinders  of 
the  Pharisees.'  [w.  &  w.]  Thou  of  Galilee  ?— 
in  this  taunt  expressing  their  scorn  of  the 
party.  Even  a  word  of  caution,  or  the  gen- 
tlest proposal  to  enquire  before  condemning, 
■was  with  them  equivalent  to  an  espousal  of 
the  hated  One.  Search. ..out  of  Galilee. ..no 
prophet— Strange !  For  had  not  Jonah  :of 
Gathhepher  and  even  Elijah  of  Thisbe/ 
arisen  out  of  Galilee  ?  and  it  may  be  more, 
of  whom  we  have  no  record.  But  rage  is 
blind,  and  deep  prejudice  distorts  all  facts. 
Yet  it  looks  as  if  they  were  afraid  of  losing 
Kicodemus,  when  they  take  the  trouble  to 
reason  the  point  at  aD.  It  was  just  because 
he  had  "  searched,"  as  they  advised  him, 
that  he  went  the  length  even  that  he  did. 
eveij  man  went  to  his  own  tiome— finding  their 
filot  could  not  at  that  time  be  carried  into 
ejf'ect    Is  your  rage  thus  impotent,  ye  chief 

priests  2  

,  CHAPTER  Vni. 

'  Ver.  1-11.  The  Woman  Taken  in  Adjtl- 
TPRY.  1,  2.  Jesus  went  unto  the  mount  of 
Olives  —  Iliis  should  have  formed  the  last 
verse  of  the  foregoing  chapter.  '  The  return 
of  the  people  to  the  inert  quiet  and  security 
of  their  dicellings  ich.  7.  63,)  at  the  close  of 
the  feast,  is  designedly  contrasted  with  our 
Lord's  homeless  way,  so  to  speak,  of  spending 
the  short  night,  who  is  early  in  the  morning 
on  the  scene  again.  One  cannot  well  see  why 
what  is  recorded  in  L.  21. 37, 38,  may  not  even 
thus  early  have  taken  place;  it  might  have 
been  the  Lord's  ordinary  custom  from  the 
beginning  to  leave  the  brilliant  misery  of  the 
city  every  night,  that  so  He  might  compose 
His  sorrowful  and  interceding  heart,  and  col- 1 
7ot 


1ect  His  energits  for  new  labours  of  love;  pre- 
ferring for  His  resting-place  Bethany,  and  the 
Mount  of  Olive'',  the  scene  thus  consecrated 
by  many  preparatory  prayers  for  His  final 
humiliation  and  exaltation.'  [!Stieb.]  3-6. 
Scribes  and  Pharisees— foiled  in  their  yester- 
day's attempt,  and  hoping  to  succeed  better 
in  this,  woman... in  adultery... Moses  com- 
manded...should  be  stoned— simply  put  to 
death,  Deut.  22.  22,)  but  in  aggravated  cases, 
at  least  in  later  times  this  was  probably  by 
stoning.  (Ez.  16.  40J  but  what  sayest  thou— 
hoping,  whatever  He  might  answer,  to  put 
Him  in  the  wrong:— if  He  said.  Stone  her, 
that  would  seem  a  stepping  out  of  His  pro- 
vince; if  He  forbade  it,  that  would  hold  Him 
up  as  a  relaxer  of  the  public  morals.  But 
these  cunning  hypocrites  were  overmatched, 
stooped  down  — It  wiU  be  observ^ed  He  was 
'sitting"  when  they  came  to  Him.  wrote  with 
his  finger  on  the  ground— Tlie  words  of  our 
tran.sIators  in  Italics  ("as  though  he  heard, 
them  not";  have  hardly  improved  the  sense, 
for  it  is  scarcely  probable  He  could  wish  that 
to  be  thought.  Eather  He  wLshed  to  show 
them  His  aversion  to  enter  on  the  subject. 
But  as  this  did  not  suit  them,  they  "  con- 
tinue asking  him,"  pressing  for  an  answer. 
At  last,  raising  Himself  He  said,— He  that  is 
without  sin— not  meaning,  sinless  altogether; 
nor  yet,  guiltless  of  a  literal  breach  of  the 
Seventh  Commandment;  but  probably,  he 
whose  conscience  acquits  him  of  any  S2i.ch 
sin.  cast  a  stone— 'the  stone,'  meaning  the 
first  one.  (Deut.  17.  7.)  again  stooped  down 
and  wrote— The  design  of  this  second  stoop- 
ing and  writing  on  the  ground  was  evidently 
to  give  her  accusers  an  opportunity  to  slink 
away  unobserved  by  Him.  and  so  avoid  an 
exposure  to  His  eye  which  they  could  ill 
have  stood.  Accordingly  it  is  added,— they 
...convicted... went  out  one  by  one... Jesus  left 
alone — i.e..  without  one  of  her  accusers  re- 
maining; for  it  is  added,— the  woman  in  the 
midst— I.e.,  of  the  remaining  audience.  AVhile 
the  trap  failed  to  catch  Him  for  whom  it 
was  laid,  it  caught  those  who  laid  it.  Stun- 
ned by  the  unexpected  home-thrust  they 
immediately  made  off— which  makes  the 
impudence  of  those  impure  hypocrites  in 
dragging  such  a  case  before  the  public  eye 
the  more  disgusting.  Woman,  (fee. —What 
inimitable  tenderness  and  grace !  Conscious 
of  her  own  guilt,  and  till  now  in  the  hands 
of  men  who  had  talked  of  stoning  her,  won- 
dering at  the  skill  with  which  her  accusers 
had  been  dispersed  and  the  grace  of  the  few 
words  addressed  to  herself,  she  would  be 
disposed  to  listen,  with  a  reverence  and 
teachableness  before  unknown,  to  our  Lord's 
admonition,  "  And  Jesus  said  unto  her. 
Neither  do  I  condemn  thee,  go  and  sin  no 
more."  He  pronounces  no  pardon  upon  the 
woman,  bke  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee"— 
"  Go  in  peace,"  much  less  does  He  say  that 
she  had  done  nothing  condemnable  ;He  sim- 
ply leaves  the  matter  where  it  was.  He 
meddles  not  with  the  magistrate's  office,  nor 
acts  the  Judge  in  any  sense,  (ch.  12.  47.1  But 
in  saying  "  Go  and  sin  no  more,"  which  had 
been  before  said  to  one  who  undoubtedly 
believed  ch.  6.  14,  i  more  is  probably  im- 
plied than  expressed.  If  brought  suddenly 
to  conviction  of  sin,  admiration  of  her  De- 
liverer, and  a  willingness  to  be  admonished 
and  giiided  by  Him,  this  call  to  begin  a 
new  me  may  kave  canied  with  it  what 


Tin  woman  taken  in  adultery. 


came  unto  him;  and  he  sat  Uown,  and 
taught  them. 

a  And  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  brought 
niito  him  a  woman  taken  in  adaltery;  and 
when  they  had  set  her  in  the  midst, 

4  They  say  unto  him,  Mast^'r,  this  woman 
was  talven  m  adultery,  in  the  very  act. 

5  Now  "  Moses  in  tlie  law  commanded  ns, 
that  such  should  be  stoned :  but  what 
saypst  thou? 

6  This  they  said,  tempting:  him.  that  they 
mii,'ht  have  to  accuse  him.  But  Jesus 
stooped  down,  and  with  his  finger  wrote 
on  the  ground,  as  though  he  heard  them 
not. 

7  So  when  thev  continued  asking  him,  he 
lifted  up  himself,  and  said  unto  them,  *  He 
that  is  without  sin  among  you,  let  him  first 
cast  a  stone  at  her. 

8  And  again  he  stooped  down,  and  wrote 
on  the  ground. 

9  And  they  which  heard  it,  '  being  con- 
victed by  their  oivn  conscience,  went  out 
one  by  one.  beginning  at  the  eldest,  even 
unto  the  last:  and  Jesus  was  left  alone, 
and  the  woman  suinding  in  the  midst. 

10  When  J  esus  had  lifted  up  himself,  and 
saw  none  but  the  woman,  he  said  unto  her. 
Woman,  where  are  those  thine  accusers? 
hath  no  man  condemned  thee? 

11  She  said,  No  man,  Lord.  And  Jesus 
said  unto  her,  <*  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee: 
go.  and  sin  no  more. 

1211  Then  spake  Jesus  again  unto  them, 
saying,  1  am  the  light  of  the  world:  he  that 
foUoweth  me  shall  not  walk  in  darkness, 
but  shall  have  the  lii^ht  of  life. 

13  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  unto  him, 
Thou  *  bearest  record  of  thyself;  thy  record 
is  not  true. 

14  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
Though  1  bear  record  of  myself,  yet  my 
record  is  tnie:  for  1  know  whence  1  came, 
and  whither  I  go;  but  /  ye  cannot  tell 
whence  1  lome,  and  whither  I  go. 

15  Ye  '^  judge  after  the  tiesh;  '>*  1  judge  no 
man. 

16  And  yet  if  I  judge,  my  judgment  is 
tme ;  for  'I  am  not  alone,  but  I  and  the 
Father  that  sent  me. 

17  It  /  is  also  written  in  your  law,  that  the 
testimony  of  two  men  is  true. 

18  1  am  one  that  bear  witness  of  myself, 
and  *  the  Father  that  sent  me  beareth 
witness  of  me. 

19  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Where  is  thy 
Father?  Jesus  answered, '  Ye  neither  know 
me,  nor  my  Father:  ""if  ye  hiid  known 
me,  ye  should  have  known  my  Father 
also. 

20  These  words  spake  Jesus  in  "  the  treas- 
ury, as  he  taught  in  the  temnle:  and  "no 
man  laid  hands  on  him;  for  ^ nis  hour  was 
not  yet  come. 

21  Then  said  Jesus  again  unto  them,  I  go 
niy  way,  and  «ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall 
die  in  your  sins:  whither  I  go,  ye  caimot 
come. 

22  Then  said  the  Jews,  Will  he  kill 
himself?  because  he  saith.  Whither  1  go,  ye 
cannot  come. 

2a  And  he  said  unto  them,  •■  Ye  are  from 
beneath;  I  am  from  above:  *  ye  are  of  this 
World;  i  am  not  of  this  world. 

24  1  said  therefore  unto  you,  that  ye  shall 
die  in  your  sins:  'for  it  ye  believe  not  that 
1  am  he,  ye  sliail  die  in  your  sins. 

2^  Then  said  they  uuto  him.  Who  art 
76 


CHAP.  8. 

o  Lev.  20. 10. 

Deu.  !i*2.22. 
6  Deu.  17.  7 

Job  6.  12. 

Bom.  2.  1. 
e  Horn.  2.  23. 
d  Lu  9.  56. 

Lu.  12.  11. 

ch.  3.  17. 


■eh. 


.31. 


JOHN,  VUL  TTie  unbelieving  Jews  reproved. 

thou?  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Even 
the  same  that  I  said  unto  you  from  the  be- 
ginning. 

2(j  I  have  many  thmgs  to  say  and  to  judge 
of  you:  but  "he  that  sent  me  is  true;  and 
I  "  speak  to  the  world  those  things  which  I 
have  heard  of  him. 

27  They  understood  not  that  he  spake  to 
them  of  the  Father. 

28  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them.  When  ve 
have  "'  lifted  up  the  Son  of  man,  *  then  shall 
ye  know  that  1  am  he,  and  *'  that  1  do  no- 
thing of  myself;  but  'as  my  Father  hath 
taught  me,  I  speak  these  things. 

29  And  "  he  that  sent  me  is  with  me:  the 
Father  hath  not  left  me  alone:  *fur  I  do 
always  those  things  that  please  nim. 

30  As  he  spake  these  words  many  believed 
on  him. 

31  Then  said  Jesus  to  those  Jews  which 
believed  on  him.  If  ye  continue  in  my  word, 
then  are  ye  my  disciples  indeed; 

32  And  ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  *the 
truth  shall  make  you  free. 

33  They  answered  him,  <*  We  be  Abraham's 
seed,  and  were  never  in  bondage  to  any 
man:  how  sayest  thou.  Ye  shall  be  made 
tree? 

34  Jesus  answered  them,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  *  Whosoever  committeth  sin 
is  the  servant  of  sin. 

35  And  /the  serAant  abidcth  not  in  the 
house  for  ever:  Init  the  Son  abideth  ever. 

36  If  ^  the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you 
IVee,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed. 

37  1  know  that  ye  are  Abraham's  seed; 
but  ye  ''seek  to  kill  me,  because  my  woid 
hath  no  place  in  you. 

38  1  speak  that  which  1  have  seen  with  my 
Father;  and  ye  do  that  which  ye  have  seen 
with  vom-  father. 

39  They  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
Abraham  »is  our  father.  Jesus  saith  uuto 
them,  3  If  ye  were  Abraham's  children,  ye 
would  do  the  works  of  Abraham. 

40  But  now  ye  seek  to  kill  me,  a  man  that 
hath  told  you  the  truth,  which  I  have 
heard  of  God:  this  did  not  Abraham. 

41  Ye  do  the  deeds  of  your  father.  Then 
said  thev  to  him.  We  be  not  born  of  foiTU- 
cation;  *  we  have  one  Father,  even  God. 

42  Jesns  said  unto  them,  '  If  God  were 
your  Father,  ye  would  love  me:  "» for  1  pro- 
ceeded forth  and  came  from  God;  "neither 
came  1  of  myself,  but  he  sent  me, 

43  Why  "  do  ye  not  understand  my  speech? 
eve7i  because  ye  cannot  hear  my  word. 

44  Ye  Pare  of  yotir  father  the  devil,  and 
the  lusts  of  yom-  father  ye  will  do.  lie  was  a 
nmnlerer  from  the  beginning,  and  '  abode 
not  in  the  truth,  because  there  is  no  truth 
in  him.  When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speak- 
fcth  of  his  own:  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the 
father  otit. 

45  And  because  I  tell  you  the  truth,  ye 
believe  me  not. 

4(i  Which  of  you  convinceth  me  of  sin? 
And  if  1  say  the  truth,  why  do  ye  not  be- 
lieve me? 

47  He  ''that  is  of  God  heareth  God's 
words:  ye  therefore  hear  them  not,  because 
ye  are  not  of  God. 

48  1  hen  answered  the  Jews,  and  said  unto 
him.  Say  we  not  well  thai  thou  art  a 
Samaritan,  and  hast  a  devil? 

49  Jesus  answered,  1  have  not  a  devil;  but 
1  honour  mj  Father,  aud  ye  do  dishonour 
me. 


g  1  Sa.  iti.  7. 

ch.  7.  24. 
A  ch.  18.  o6. 
t  ch.  16.  32. 
;■  Deu.  17.  6. 

Deu.  19  15. 

Mat    13.16. 

2  Cor.  13.1. 

Heb.  10.28. 
It  ch.  6.  37. 

2  Pet.  1.17. 
J  ch.  16.  3. 
m  ch.  14.  7. 
n  Mar.  12.41. 
0  ch.  7.  30. 
P  ch.  7.  8. 
9  ch.  13.  33. 
r  ch.  3.  31. 
»  ch.  16.  19. 

ch.  17  16, 

1  John  4.6. 
(  ^Urk  16.16. 
«  ch.  7.  28. 

f  ch.  3.  32. 

ch.  16.  15. 
«"  ch.  3.  14. 

ch.  12.  32. 
«  Kom.  1.  4. 
y  ch.  6.  19, 

30. 
2  ch.  3.  11. 
«  ch.  14.  10. 
b  ch.  4.  34. 

ch.  6.  38. 
c  Kom.  6.14, 

18.  22. 

Rom.  8.  2. 

Jam.  1   25. 

Jam.  2.  12. 
(i  Lev.  25.42. 

Mat.  3.  9. 
«  2  Pet.  2.19. 
/  Gal.  4.  30. 
i/  la.  48.  24. 

Kom.  8.  2. 

2  Cor.  3.17. 
Gal.  5.  1. 
Ke*  1.  5. 
Bev.  2.7,10, 
Key.  6.  9. 

h  ch.  7.  19. 
i  Mat.  3.  9. 
}  Kom.  2.  28. 

Kom.  9   7. 

Gal.  3.  7, 


k  la.  63.  16. 

la.  t4.  8. 

>lal.  1.  6. 

I  1  John  4. 

19. 

1  John  5.1. 
"»  ch.  1.  14. 
ch.  3.  10. 
ch.  16.  27, 
eh.  17.  8, 
25. 

Gal.  4  4. 
n  ch.  5.  43. 
»ch.  7  17. 
P  .Mat.  13.38. 
(/  Gin.  3.  1. 
2C..r.  U.3. 


FurtJier  Biscmirses  of  Jesus, 


JOHN.  VLU. 


Attempt  to  Stone  Him. 


vould  ensure  and  naturally  bring  about 
a  permanent  change.  iThis  whole  narra- 
tive is  wanting  in  some  of  the  earliest  and 
most  valuable  MSS.  of  the  gospels,  and 
tho^e  which  have  it  vary  to  some  extent  in 
the  text  of  it.  But  the  reason  is  not  far  to 
seek.  Tlie  notions  of  the  early  Gmrch  on 
such  subjects  were  of  the  mo.st  ascetic  de- 
scription, and  to  them  the  whole  narrative 
must  have  been  most  confounding.  Augus- 
tin  and  others  among  the  fathers  ascribe  the 
omission  to  this  cause.  Tlie  internal  evid- 
ence in  its  favour  is  almost  overpowering.  It 
is  easy  to  account  for  its  omission,  though 
genuine;  but  if  not  so,  it  is  next  to  impos- 
sible to  account  for  its  hisertion.) 

12-59.  Further  Discourses  of  Jesus— 
Attejipt  to  Stone  Him.  12. 1  am  the  light 
of  the  world— As  the  former  references  to 
vmter  ch.  4.  and  7.)  and  to  bread  ch.  6.)  were 
occasioned  by  outward  occurrences,  so  this 
one  to  light.  In  "  the  Treasury  "  where  it  was 
spoken  (see  on  v.  20,)  stood  two  colossal  gold- 
en lamp-stands,  on  which  hung  a  multitude 
of  lamps,  lighted  after  the  evening  sacrifice 
(probably  every  evening)  during  the  feast  of 
vLabemacles,  diffusing  their  brilliancy,  it  is 
said,  over  all  the  city.  Around  these  the 
people  danced  with  great  rejoicing.  Now  as 
amidst  the  festivities  of  the  ivater  from  Si- 
loam  Jesus  cried,  saying,  "  If  any  man  thirst 
let  him  come  unto  me  and  drmk,"  so  now 
amidst  the  bla^e  and  the  joyousness  of  this 
illumination,  ne  proclaims,  "  I  am  the 
Lightoftheworld"— plainly  in  the  most 
absolute  sense.  For  though  He  gives  his  dis- 
ciples the  same  title,  they  are  only  "light  in 
the  Lord"  lEph.  5.  8);  and  though  He  calls 
the  Baptist  "  the  burning  and  shining  light " 
(or  'lamp'  of  his  day,  ch.  5.  35,)  yet  "  he  was 
not  that  Light,  but  was  sent  to  bear  witness 
of  that  Light:  Tliat  was  the  true  light 
which,  coming  into  the  world,  lighteth  every 
wan,"  ich.  1.  8,  9.)  Under  this  magnificent 
title  Messiah  was  promised  of  old.  Is.  42.  6; 
Mai.  4.  2,  &c.  followeth  me— as  one  does 
a  light  going  before  him,  and  as  the  Israelites 
did  the  pillar  of  bri-^ht  cloud  in  the  wilder- 
ness, the  light  of  life— the  light,  as  of  a  new 
•world,  a  newly  awakened  spiritual  and  eter- 
nal life.  13-19.  bearest  record  of  thyself... not 
tnie— How  does  He  meet  this  specious  cavil? 
Not  by  disputing  the  wholesome  human 
maxim  that '  self  praise  is  no  praise,'  but  by 
affirming  that  He  was  an  exception  to  the 
rule,  or  rather,  that  it  had  no  application 
to  Him.  for  I  know  whence... and  whither, 
&c.— See  on  ch.  7.  28,  29.  Ye  judge  after  the 
flesh— with  no  spiritual  apprehension.  I 
judge  no  man... yet  if  I  judge,  &c.— g.cZ. 'Ye 
not  only  form  your  carnal  and  warped  judg- 
ments of  Me,  but  are  bent  on  carrying  them 
into  effect;  I,  though  I  form  and  utter  my 
judgment  of  you,  am  not  here  to  carry  this 
into  execution— that  is  reserved  to  a  future 
day;  yet  the  judgment  I  now  pronounce  and 
the  witness  I  now  bear  is  not  mine  only,  as 
ye  suppose,  but  His  also  that  sent  me.  (See 
on  ch.  5.  31,  32.)  And  these  are  the  two  wit- 
nesses to  any  fact  which  your  law  reauires.' 
20.  in  the  treasury— a  flivision.so  called,of  the 
fore-court  of  the  temple,  part  of  the  court  of 
the  women  (Joseph.  Ant.,  xix.  6.  2,  <fec.), 
which  mayconfli-m  the  genuinenessof  v.  2-11, 
as  the  place  where  the  woman  was  brought. 
no  man  laid  hands,  ire— See  on  ch.  7.  30.  In 
the  dialogue  that  foUows,  the  conflict  waxes 
?S 


sharper  on  both  sides,  till  rising  to  its  climax. 
they  take  up  stones  to  stone  him.  21-25.  I 
go  my  way,  &c.— See  on  ch.  7. 34.  WUl  he  kill 
himself  ?— seeing  something  more  in  his  words 
than  before,  (ch.  7.  35,)  but  their  question 
more  malignant  and  sconiful.  Ye  are  from 
beneath. . .1  from  above— contrasting  Himself, 
not  as  in  ch.  3.  31,  simply  with  earth-bom 
messengers  of  God,  but  with  men  sprung  from 
and  breathing  an  opposite  element  from  His, 
which  rendered  it  impossible  that  He  and 
they  should  have  any  present  fellowship,  or 
dwell  eternally  together.  See  again  on  ch.  7. 
34;  also  v.  44.  If  ye  believe  not  that  I  am  he^ 
Tliey  knew  well  enough  what  He  meant. 
(Mk.  13.  6.  Gr.  cf.  M.  24.  5.)  But  He  would 
not,  by  speaking  it  out,  give  them  the  ma- 
terials for  a  charge  for  which  they  were 
watching.  At  the  same  time,  one  is  irresis- 
tibly reminded  by  such  language,  so  far 
transcending  what  is  becoming  in  men,  of 
those  ancient  declarations  of  the  God  of 
Israel,  "I  am  He,"  &c.  iDeu.  32.  39;  Is.  43. 
10,  13;  46.  4;  48.  12.)  See  on  ch.  6.  20.  Who 
art  thoul— hoping  thus  to  extort  an  explicit 
answer;  but  they  are  disappointed.  26,  27. 
I  have  many  things  to  say,  <!zc.—q.d.,  I  could, 
and  at  the  fitting  time,  wiU  say  and  judge 
many  things  of  you,  referring  perhaps  to 
the  work  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  for  judg- 
ment as  well  as  salvation,  ch.  16.  8,^  but  what 
I  do  say  is  just  the  message  my  Father  hath 
given  me  to  deliver.'  28-30.  When  ye  have 
lifted  up— The  plainest  intimation  He  had 
yet  given  in  public  of  the  manner  and  the 
autlwrs  of  His  death,  ye  shall  know  that  I 
am,  6cc.—i.e.,  find  out,  or  have  sufficient 
evidence,  how  true  was  all  He  said,  though 
they  would  be  far  from  owning  it.  the 
Father  hath  not  left  me  alone,  &:c.—q.d..  To 
you,  who  gnash  upon  me  with  your  teeth, 
and  frown  down  all  open  appearance  for  me, 
I  seem  to  stand  uncountenanced  and  alone; 
but  I  have  a  sympathy  and  support  trans- 
cending all  himian  applause;  I  came  hither 
to  do  my  Father's  will,  and  in  the  doing  of 
it  have  not  ceased  to  please  Him;  therefore 
is  He  ever  by  Me  with  His  approving  smile. 
His  cheering  words.  His  supporting  arm.* 
As  he  spake  these  words,  many  believed  on  him 
—Instead  of  wondering  at  tnis,  the  wonder 
would  be  if  words  of  such  unearth  ly,  surpass- 
ing grandeur  coidd  be  uttered  without  capti- 
vating some  that  heard  them.  And  just  as 
"all  that  sat  in  the  coimcil"  to  try  Stephen 
"salt'  7i,*s /ace "—though  expecting  nothing 
but  death—"  as  it  had  been  the  face  of  an 
angel,"  lA.  6.  15,)  so  may  we  suppose  that, 
full  of  the  sweet  supporting  sense  of  His 
Father's  presence,  amidst  the  rage  and  scorn 
of  the  rulers,  a  divine  benignity  beamed  from 
His  countenance,  irradiated  the  words  that 
fell  from  Him,  and  won  over  the  candid 
"  many  "  of  His  audience.  31-33.  said  to  those 
who  believed.  If  ye  contiuue,  &c.— The  impres- 
sion produced  by  the  last  words  of  our  Lord 
may  have  become  visible  by  some  decisive 
movement,  and  here  He  takes  advantage  of 
it  to  press  on  them  "continuance"  in  the 
faith,  since  then  only  were  they  "his  real 
disciples,"  cf.  ch.  15.  3-8,)  and  then  should 
they  experimentally  "  know  the  truth,"  and 
"  by  the  truth  be  made  (sviritufdly  free." 
They  answered  him,  We  be  Abraham's  seed,  &c. 
—Who  said  this?  Not  surely  the  very  class 
just  spoken  of  as  won  over  by  His  divine 
words,  and  exhorted  to  continue  in  them. 


A  Hind  man  restored  to  sigU. 


JOHN,  IX. 


The  Pharisees  cavil  at  the  miracle. 


50  And  « 1  seek  not  mine  own  (:;loiy:  there 
is  one  that  seeketh  and.jutlgcth. 

61  Verily,  verily,  1  say  unto  you,  « If  a 
man  keep  my  Baying,  he  shall  never  see 
death. 

52  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  him.  Now  we 
know  that  thou  hast  a  devil.  "Abraham 
is  dead,  and  the  prophets;  and  thou  sayest, 
If  a  man  keep  my  saying,  he  shall  never 
taste  of  death. 

53  Art  thou  gi-eater  than  our  father  Abra- 
ham, which  is  dead?  and  the  prophets  are 
dead:  whom  makest  thou  thyself? 

54  Jesas  answered,  If  I  honour  myself,  my 
honour  is  notliinsj:  "  it  is  my  Father  that 
honourethme;  of  whom  ye  say,  that  he  is 
your  God: 

55  Yet ""  j'e  have  not  known  him ;  but  I 
know  him:  and  if  I  should  say,  I  know  him 
not,  I  shall  be  a  liar  like  unto  you:  but  1 
know  hnn.  and  keep  his  saying. 

56  Your  father  Abraham  *  rejoiced  to  see 
my  day;  "and  he  saw  it,  and  was  fclad. 

67  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  him.  Thou  art 
not  yet  fifty  yeais  old,  and  hast  thou  seen 
Abraham? 

58  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  Before  Abraham  was,  *  1 
am. 

59  Then  took  they  up  stones  to  cast  at 
him:  but  Jesus  hid  himself,  and  went  out 
of  the  temple,  gointj  through  the  midst  of 
them,  and  so  passed  by. 

ClIAPTEU  IX. 
1  A  nan  that  was  born  Mind  is  restored  to  si<jht: 
13  he  is  brought  to  the  Fnarisees:  34  they  eicom- 
munieate  hnn:  ;t5  Chriit  receiveth  him.  i.9  He 
chargeth  the  I'harisees  wit/i  spiritual  biind- 
ness. 

A  ND  as  Jesus  passed  by,  he  saw  a  man 
■"■  which  was  blijidfrom  his  birth. 

2  And  his  disciples  asked  liim,  sayinp, 
Master,  wno  did  "sin,  this  man,  or  his 
parents,  that  he  was  bom  bUnd? 

3  Jesus  answered,  Neither  liath  this  man 
Binned,  nor  his  parents:  *  but  that  the 
works  of  God  should  be  made  manifest  in 
him. 

4  1'  must  work  the  works  of  him  that 
Bent  me,  while  it  is  day:  the  night  cometh, 
when  no  man  can  work. 

5  As  1<  ing  as  I  am  in  the  world,  <*  I  am  the 
light  of  the  world. 

6  When  he  had  thus  spoken,  'he  spat  on 
the  ground,  and  made  clay  of  the  spittle, 
and  he  i  anointed  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man 
with  the  clay, 

7  And  said  unto  him.  Go,  wash  /in  the 
pool  ot  Siloam,  (which  is,  by  interpretation. 
Sent.)  ^He  went  his  way  therefore,  and 
washed,  and  came  seeing. 

8  H  The  neighboms  therefore,  and  they 
which  before  had  seen  him  that  he  was 
blind,  said.  Is  not  thia  he  that  sat  and 
begged? 

9  Some  said.  This  is  he;  others  said.  He 
is  like  him:  but  he  said,  I  am  /le. 

10  Therefore  said  ihey  unto  him.  How 
were  thine  eyes  opened? 

11  lie  answered  and  said,  A  man  that  is 
called  Jesus  made  clay,  and  anointed  mine 
eyes,  and  said  unto  me.  Go  to  the  pool  of 
Siloam,  and  wash:  and  1  went  and  washed, 
ftiid  1  received  sight. 

12  Then  said  they  unto  him.  Where  is  he? 
He  said,  1  know  not. 

13  II  They  brought  to  the  Pharisees  hipi 
that  al'uretimu  wa£  blind.  , 

11 


ch.  7.  18. 
t  ch.  5.  24. 

ch.  n.  26. 
«  Zech.  1.  6, 

IIeb.U.13 
Wch.  11).  1*. 

ch.  17.  I. 

Acts  S.  13. 

V  ch   7.  28. 
'  Gen.  22.18. 

Lu.  10.  24. 
Gal.  3.  8, 
lb. 

V  Hob.  11.13 
»  Ex.  3.  14. 

Is.  9.  6. 
Is.  43.  13. 
Mic.  5.  2. 
Col.  1.  17. 
Heb.  13.  8. 
Kev.  1.  8. 


CHAP.  9. 

a  Acts  28.  4, 
J>ch.  11.  4. 
c  ch.  4.  34. 

ch.  6.  19, 

36. 

ch.  11.  9. 


eves  of  the 

blind  man. 
/  Neh.  3.  15. 

Is.  8.  6. 
ff  2  Ki.  6.  14. 
h  ch.  3.  2. 
i  ch.  7.  12, 

43. 

ch.  10.  19 
;•  Deu.  18.16. 

ch.  4.  19. 

ch.  6.  14. 
k  ch.  7.  13. 

ch.  12.  42. 

ch.  19.  38. 

Acts  6.  13. 

1  ch.  16.  2. 
m  Josh.  7.19. 

1  Sa.  6.  a. 
"  ch.  8.  14. 
o  ch.  3.  10. 
P  Job  27.  9. 

Job  36.  12. 

P..  18.  41. 

Pa.  34  15. 

Pb.  66. 18. 

Pro.  1  28. 

Pro.  15  29. 

Pro.  28.  9. 

I».  1.  15. 

Jer   11.11. 

Jer.l4.  12. 

Eie.  8.  18. 

ilic.  3.  4. 

Zoch.  7.13. 

2  Or.  excni. 
muuioiUMl 

q  Mat.  14.33. 

Wat.  15  lb. 

AUrk  1.1. 

ch.  10.  36. 

1  John  5. 

13. 
ret.  4. 26. 


14  And  Jt  was  the  sabbath  day  when 
Jesus  made  the  clay,  and  opened  his  eyes. 

15  Then  again  the  Pharisees  also  asked 
hinr  how  he  had  received  his  sight,  lie 
said  unto  them.  He  put  clay  upon  mine 
eyes,  and  I  washed,  and  do  see. 

16  Therefore  said  some  of  the  Pharisees, 
This  man  is  not  of  God,  because  he  keepeth 
not  the  sabbath  day.  Others  said,  ''  How 
can  a  man  that  is  a  sinner  do  such  miracles? 
And  » there  was  a  division  among  them. 

17  They  say  unto  the  blind  man  again. 
What  sayest  thou  of  him,  that  he  hath 
opened  thine  eyes?  He  said,  /He  is  a  pro- 
phet. 

18  But  the  Jews  did  not  believe  concern- 
ing him,  that  he  had  been  blind,  and 
received  his  sight,  until  they  called  the 
parents  of  him  that  had  received  his  sight. 

19  And  they  asked  them,  saying.  Is  thia 
yoiu-  son,  who  ye  say  was  born  blind?  how 
then  doth  he  now  see? 

'20  His  pai'ents  a.nswered  them,  and  said. 
We  know  that  this  is  oui*  son,  and  that  he 
was  born  blind: 

21  But  by  what  means  he  now  seeth,  we 
know  not;  or  who  hath  opened  his  eyes,  we 
know  not:  he  is  of  age;  ask  him:  he  shall 
speak  for  himself. 

'J2  These  ivords  spake  his  parents,  because 
they  *  feared  the  Jews:  for  the  Jews  had 
agreed  already,  that  if  any  man  did  confess 
that  he  was  Christ,  <  he  should  be  put  out 
of  the  synagogue. 

23  Therefore  said  his  parents.  He  is  of 
age;  ask  him. 

24  Then  agahi  called  they  the  man  that 
was  blind,  and  said  unto  him,  "'  Give  God 
the  praise:  we  know  that  tliis  man  is  a 
sinner. 

25  He  answered  and  said,  Whether  he  be 
a  sinner  or  no,  1  know  not:  one  thing  I 
know,  that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  1  see. 

26  Then  said  they  to  him  agnin.  What  did 
he  to  thee?  liow  opened  he  thine  eyes? 

27  He  answered  them,  I  have  told  you 
ah'eady,  and  ye  did  not  hear:  wherefore 
would  ye  hear  it  again?  will  ye  also  be  his 
disciples? 

28  Then  they  reviled  him,  and  said.  Thou 
art  his  disciple ;  but  we  are  Moses'  disciples. 

29  We  know  that  God  spake  unto  Moses: 
as  for  this  fellow,  "we  know  not  from 
whence  he  is. 

30  The  man  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
Why  "  herein  is  a  marvellous  thing,  that  ye 
know  not  from  whence  he  is,  and  yet  he 
hath  opened  mine  eyes. 

31  Now  we  know  that  P  God  heareth  not 
sinners:  but  if  any  man  be  a  worshipper  of 
God,  and  doeth  his  will,  him  he  heareth. 

32  Since  the  world  began  was  it  not  heard 
that  any  man  opened  tne  eyes  of  one  that 
was  born  blind. 

33  If  this  man  were  not  of  God,  he  could 
do  nothhig. 

34  They  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Thou 
wast  altogether  born  in  sins,  and  dost  thou 
teach  us?  And  they  2  cast  him  out. 

35  H  Jesus  heard  that  they  had  cast  him 
out;  and  when  he  had  found  him,  he  said 
unto  him.  Host  thou  believe  on  *  the  Son  of 
God? 

36  He  answered  and  said.  Who  is  he.  Lord, 
that  1  might  believe  on  him? 

37  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Thou  hast 
both  seen  him,  and ''it  is  he  that  talketh 
with  thee. 


'  Christ  Beproveth 


JOHN,  vni. 


the  TJnbeliemng  Jews. 


Most  interpieters  seem  to  think  so;  \mi  it  is  but  were  descended  from  his  own  chosen 
hard  to  ascribe  such  a  petulant  speech  to  Abraham.  42.  43.  If  God  were  your  father— 
newly-gained  disciples,  even  in  the  lowe.st  g.d.,  '  If  ye  had  any  thing  of  his  moral  image, 
sense,  much  less  persons  so  gained  as  they  as  children  have  their  father's  likeness  ye 
were.  It  came,  prooably,  from  persons  mixed  would  love  me,  for  1  am  immediately  of  him 
tip  with  them  in  the  same  part  of  the  crowd,  [  and  directly  from  him.  But  "my  speech," 
but  of  a  very  different  spirit.  The  pride  of  i  (meaning  his  peculiar  style  of  expres.sing 
the  Jewish  nation,  even  now  after  centuries !  himself  on  these  subjects,)  is  unintelligible 
of  humiliation,  is  the  most  striking  feature  i  to  you  because  ye  cannot  take  in  the  truth 
of  their  character.  '  Talk  of  freedom  to  tis?  which  it  conveys.'  44.  Ye  are  of  your  father 
Pray  when  or  to  whom  were  we  ever  in !  the  devil—'  This  is  one  of  the  most  decisive 
bondage?'  This  bluster  sounds  almost  ludic-  testimonies  to  the  ohjcdive  outward)  persoti- 
rous  from  such  a  nation.  Had  they  forgotten !  ality  of  the  devil.  It  is  quite  impossible  to 
their  long  and  bitter  bondage  in  Egypt?  their  |  suppose  an  accommodation  to  Jewish  views, 
dreary  captivity  in  Babylon?  their  present  or  a  metaphorical  form  of  speech,  in  so 
bondage  to  the  Roman  yoke,  and  their  rest-  solemn  an  assertion  as  this.'  [Alf.]  the 
less  eagerness  to  throw  it  off?  But  probably  lusts  of  your  father— his  impure,  malignant, 
theysawthat  our  Lord  pointed  to  something  I  ungodly  propensities,  inclinations,  desires, 
else— freedom,  perhaps,  from  the  leaders  of  j  ye  will  do—'  are  willing  to  do,'  i.e.,  '  willingly 
sects  or  parties— and  were  not  willing  to  allow  I  do;'  not  of  any  bliml  necessity  of  nature,  but 
their  subjection  even  to  these.  Our  iMrd,  \  of  pure  naturalinclination.  a  murderer  from 
therefore,  though  He  knew  what  slaves  they !  the  beginning— The  reference  is  not  to  Cain, 
were  in  this  sense,  drives  the  ploughshare  ;  [as  Lcke.,  De  W.,  Alf.,  <fec.,l  but  to  Adam. 
somewhat  deeper  than  this,  to  a  bondage  [Gr.,  Calv.,  Mey.,  Lthdt.,  &;c.]  The  death 
they  little  dreamt  of.  34,  35.  Whosoever  com-  j  of  the  human  race,  in  its  widest  sense,  is  as- 
mitteth  sin— i.e.,  liveth  in  Vie  commission  of  i  cribed  to  the  murderous  seducer  of  our  race, 
it.  (cf.  1  J.  3.  8;  M.  7.  23.)  is  the  servant  of ;  and  abode  not  in  the  truth— As,  strictly  speak- 
sm— i.e.,  the  bomi-servant,  or  slave  of  it;  for  ling,  the  vvord  means  '  abideth,'  it  has  been 
the  question  is  not  about  free-service,  but  denied  that  the  fall  of  Satan  from  a  former 
^\ho  Are  in  bondage^    (cf.  2  Pe.  2.  19;  E.  6.  i '    •  •     -  -    —  -      - 

16.)  The  great  truth  here  expressed  was  not  • 
unknown  to  heathen  moralists;  but  it  was 
applied  only  to  vice,  for  they  were  total  stran- 
gers to  what  in  revealed  religion  is  called  sin. 
The  thought  of  slaves  and  freemen  in  the 
house  suggests  to  our  Lord  a  wider  idea. 
And  the  servant  abideth  not,  &c.—q.d.,  'And 
if  your  connexion  with  the  family  of  God  be 

that  of  BOND-SERVANTS,  ye  have  no  natural  j  statement  itself,  properly  interpreted  and 
<i€  to  the  house;  your  tie  is  essentially  un-  brought  out.  no  truth  in  him— void  of  all  that 
certain  and  precarious.  But  the  Son's  re- '  holy,  transparent  rectitude  which,  as  his 
lationship  to  the  Father  is  a  natural  and  '•  creature,  he  originally  possessed,  speaketh 
essential  one;  it  is  an  indefeasible  tie;  His  of  his  own— perhaiis  his  own  resources,  trea- 
Sihoie  in  it  is  perpetual  a.nd  of  right:  Tha.t  is  sures.  M.  12.  ,35.  [Alf.J  (The  word  is  p/wra^.) 
My  relationsliip.  My  tie:  If,  then,  ye  would  It  means  that  lie  has  no  temptation  to  it 
have  your  connection  with  Gods  {a.mily  from ivithout;  it ispureiy self-beyotten,swms- 
niade  real,  rightful,  permanent,  ye  must  by  ing  from  a  nature  which  is  nothing  but  obli- 
the  Son  be  manumitted  and  adopted  as  sons  quity.  the  father  of  it— i.e.,  of  lying:  all  the 
and  daughters  of  the  Lord  Ahnighty.  In  falsehood  in  the  world  owes  its  existence  to 
this  sublime  statement  there  is  no  doubt  a ;  Him.  What  a  verse  is  this!  It  holds  up  the 
subordinate  allusion  to  Ge.  21.  10,  "  Cast  out  \  devil,  (1. )  as  the  murderer  of  the  human  race; 


holy  state  is  here  expressed,  [Lcke.,  &c.,] 
and  some  superior  interpreters  think  it  only 
implied.  [Olsh.,  &c.]  But  though  the /orm. 
of  the  thought  is  present— not  past— this  is 
to  express  the  important  idea,  that  his  whole 
character  and  acti^dty  are  just  a  continual 
aberration  from  his  oivn  original  truth  or 
rectitude;  and  t-hus  his  fall  is  not  only  the 
implied  basis  of  the  thought,  but  part  of  the 


this  bondwoman  and  her  son,  for  the  son  of 
this  bondwoman  sluill  not  be  heir  with  my 
son,  with  Isaac."  (cf.  Gal.  4.  22-30.)  37-41. 
seek  to  kill  me— He  had  said  this  to  their  face 
before;  He  now  repeats  it,  and  they  do  not 


but  as  this  is  meant  here  in  the  more  pro- 
found sense  of  spiritual  death,  it  holds  liim 
up  2.)  as  the  parent  of  this  fallen  human 
family,  communicating  to  his  offspring  his 
own  evil  passions  and  universal  obliquity. 


yd 
deny  it:  yet  are  they  held  back,  as  by  some  and  stimulating  these  into  active  exercise, 
marvellous  spell— it  was  the  awe  which  His  But  as  there  is  "  a  stronger  than  he,"  who 
combined  dignity,  courage,  and  benignity  -  conies  upon  him  and  overcomes  him,  L.  11. 
struck  into  them,  because  my  word  hath  no  ;  21,  22,1  it  is  only  such  as  "  love  the  darkness" 
place  in  you — When  did  ever  hunutn  prophet  who  are  addressed  as  children  of  the  devil, 
so  speak  of  his  words?  They  tell  us  of  "  the  (M.  13.  38;  1  J.  3.  8-10.)  45-47.  And  because  I 
word  of  the  Lord  "coming  to  them.  But  tell  you  the  truth,  &c.— not  a/i/iowfifft,  but  just 
here  is  One  who  holds  up  "  His  word"  as  that  because  He  did  so,  for  the  reason  given  in 
which  ought  to  find  entrance  and  abiding  the  former  verse.  Had  He  been  less  tnie 
room  for  itself  in  the  souls  of  all  who  hear  they  would  have  hailed  Him  more  readily, 
it.  my  father .. .your  father— See  on  r.  23.  If  convinceth  me  of  sin— '  Convicteth,' bringetli 
ye  were  Abraham's  children— He  had  just  said  home  a  charge  of  sin.  Glorious  dilemma! 
He  "knew  they  were  Abraham's  children,"  !  'Convict  me  of  sin,  and  reject  me:  If  not, 
i.e.,  according  to  the  flesh;  but  the  children  why  stand  ye  out  against  my  claims  f  Of 
of  his  faith  and  holiness  they  were  not,  but  course,  they  could  only  be  supposed  to  im- 
the  reverse,  this  did  not  Abraham— In  so  do-  peach  his  life;  but  in  One  who  had  already 
ing  ye  act  in  direct  opposition  to  him.  we  passed  through  unparalied  complications, 
be  not  born  of  fornication . . .  we  have  one  father,  and  had  continually  to  deal  with  friends  ana 
God— meaning,  as  is  generally  allowed,  that  foes  of  every  sort  and  degree,  such  a  chal- 
they  vvere  nut  an  illegitimate  race  in  point  of ,  lenge  thrown  wide  amongst  his  bitterest 
rdi-ijioit,  preteudiug  only  to  be  God's  people,  I  enemies,  can  amount  to  nothing  short  of  a 
77  M 


Girist  Judifidh  His  Doctrine. 


JOHN,  IX. 


The  Tlind  Receiveth.  Sighi. 


claim  to  absolute  sinkifsnesx.  48-51.  Say  we 
not  well... Samaritan... devil?— What  intense 
and  virulent  scorn!  i^ee  He.  12.  3.)  The 
"say  we  not  well"  refei-s  to  ch.  7.  20.  "A 
Samaritan"  means  more  than  'no  Israelite 
at  all;'  it  means  one  who  pretended,  but  had 
no  munner  of  cluim  to  the  title— retorting, 
perhaps,  this  denial  of  their  true  descent 
from  Abraham.  I  have  not  a  devil— What 
calm  dignity  is  here!  Verily,  "when  reviled, 
he  reviled  not  again."  (1  Pe.  2.  23;)  cf.  Paul, 
A.  26.  25,  "I  am  not  mad,"  fcc.  He  adds 
not,  '  Nor  am  I  a  Samaritan,'  that  He  might 
not  even  seem  to  partake  of  their  contempt 
for  a  race  tliat  had  already  welcomed  Him 
as  the  Christ,  and  begun  to  be  blessed  by 
Him.  I  honour . .  .dishonour  me— the  language 
of  Viounded  feehnrj.  But  the  interior  of  His 
soul  at  such  moments  is  only  to  be  seen  in 
such  prophetic  utterances  as  these,  "For  thy 
sake  I  have  borne  reproach ;  shame  hath 
covered  my  face:  I  am  become  a  stranoer 
unto  my  brethren,  an  aZie?i  unto  my  mother's 
children.  For  the  zeal  of  thine  house  hath 
eaten  me  up,  and  the  reproaches  of  them  that 
reproached  thee  are  fallen  upon  mc."  (Ps. 
69.  7-9.)  I  seek  not  mine  own  glory:  there  is 
one  that  seeketh  —  i.e.,  '  that  secketh  my 
glory:'  requiring  "  aU  men  to  honour  the 
Son  even  as  they  honour  the  Father;"  judi- 
cially treating  him  "  who  honoureth  not  the 
Son  as  honouring  not  the  Father  that  hath 
sent  him,"  ch.  5.  23;  and  cf.  M.  17.  6;'  but 
giving  to  Him  (ch.  6. 37,)  such  as  will  yet  cast 
their  crowns  before  His  throne,  in  whom  He 
"  shaU  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be 
satisfied.  "  (Is.  53. 11.)  51.  If  a  man  Jieep  my 
saying,  he  shall  never  taste  of  death— Partly 
thus  vindicating  His  lofty  claims,  as  Lord  of 
the  kingdom  of  life  everlasting,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  holding  out  even  to  His  revilers 
the  sceptre  of  grace.  The  word  '"keep"  is  in 
harmony  with  v.  31,  "If  ye  continue  in  my 
word,"  expressing  the  permanency,  as  a  living 
and  paramount  principle,  of  that  faith  to 
which  He  referred.  '"Never  see  death,"  though 
virtually  uttered  before,  (ch.  5.  24;  6.  40,  47, 
51,)  is  the  strongest  and  most  naked  state- 
ment of  a  very  glorious  truth  yet  given.  (In 
ch.  11.  2C,  it  is  repeated  in  nearly  identical 
terms.)  52,  53.  Now  we  know  &c.— 'Thou  art 
now  self-convicted;  only  a  demoniac  could 
speak  so;  the  mo.st  illustrious  of  our  fathers 
are  dead,  and  thou  promisest  exempiion 
from  death  to  anyone  wlio  will  keep  tliy  say- 
ing! pray,  who  art  thour"  54-56.  If  I  honour 
myself.  &c.— See  on  ch.  5.  31,  &c.  I  should  be 
a  liar  like  unto  you— now  rising  to  the  summit 
of  holy,  naked  severity,  thereby  to  draw  this 
long  dialo-ue  to  a  head.  Abraham  rejoiced  to 
see  my  day,  &c.— 'exulted,'  or  'exceedingly 
rejoiced  that  he  should  see,' he  'exulted  to 
see'  it.  i.e.,  by  anticipation.  Nay,  he  saw  it 
and  was  ^lad— he  adually  beheld  it,  to  his 
joy.  If  this  mean  no  more  than  that  he  had 
a  prophetic  foresight  of  the  gospel  day— the 
second  clause  just  repealing  the  first— how 
could  the  Jews  understand  our  Lord  to  mean 
that  He  "had  seen  Abraham'/"  And  if  it 
mean  that  Abraham  was  then  beholding,  in 
his  disembodied  spirit,  the  incarnate  5les- 
siah,  IStier,  Alf.,  &c.,]  the  words  seem  very 
unsuitable  to  express  it.  It  expresses  some- 
thing past—"  he  saiv  my  day,  and  was  glad," 
i.e..  surely  i''/ute  he  lived.  He  seems  to  refer 
to  the  familiar  intercourse  which  Abraham 
had  with  God,  who  is  once  and  again  iu  the 
W    li] 


history  called  "tlie  Angel  of  the  Lord,"  and 
whom  Christ  here  identifies  with  Himself. 
On  those  occasions,  Abraham  "  saw  Me." 
[Olsh.,  though  he  thinks  the  reference  is  to 
some  unrecorded  scene.]  If  this  be  the 
meaning,  aU  that  follows  is  quite  natural. 
67-59.  not  yet  50  years  old—'  No  inference  can 
be  drawn  from  this  as  to  the  age  of  our  Lord 
at  tlie  time  as  man.  Fifty  years  was  with 
the  Jews  the  completion  of  manhood.'  [Alf.] 
thou  seen  Abraham?— He  had  said  Abraham 
saw  Hi7n,  as  being  his  peculiar  privilege. 
They  give  the  opposite  turn  to  it—"  Hast 
thou  seen  Abraham^"'  as  an  honour  too 
great  for  Him  to  pretend  to.  Before  Abraham 
was,  I  am— The  words  rendered  "  was"  and 
"am"  are  quite  different.  The  one  clause 
means,  'Abraham  was  brought  into  being;' 
the  other,  '  I  exist.'  The  statement  therefore 
is  not  that  Chrit  came  into  existence  before 
Abraham  did,  (as  Arians  affirm  is  the  mean- 
ing) but  that  He  never  came  into  being  at 
all,  but  existed  before  Abraham  had  a  being; 
in  other  words,  existed  before  creation,  or 
eternally,  as  ch.  1.  1.  In  that  sense  the  Jeivs 
plainly  understood  him,  since  "then  took 
they  up  stones  to  cast  at  him,"  jxist  as  they 
had  before  done  vjhen  they  saw  that  He  made 
Himself  equal  with  God,  ch.  5. 18.  hid  him- 
self—See on  L.  4.  30. 

CHAPTEE  IX. 
Ver.  1-41.  The  Opening  of  the  Etes  of 
OxVE  BoKN  Bund,  and  what  Followed 
on  it.  1-5.  blind  from  his  birth— and  who 
"  sat  begging,"  v.  8.  who  did  sin,  this  man,  (fee, 
—not  in  a  former  .state  of  existence,  in  which, 
as  respects  the  wicked,  the  Jews  did  not  be- 
lieve; but,  perhaps,  expressing  loosely  that 
sin  somewhere  had  surely  been  the  cause  of 
Ifc's  calamity.  Neither  this  man,  &c.—q.il., 
'  The  cause  was  neither  in  himself  nor  his 
parents,  but,  in  order  to  the  manifestation 
of  "the  works  of  God,"  in  his  cure.'  I  must 
v;ork,  &c.— amost  interesting  statement  from 
the  mouth  of  Christ;  intimating,  (1.)  that  Pie 
had  a  precise  work  to  do  upon  earth,  with 
every  particular  of  it  arranged  and  laid  out 
to  Him;  (2.)  that  all  He  did  upon  earth  was 
just  "  the  works  of  God"— particularly  "  go- 
ing about  doing  good,,"  though  not  ex- 
clusively by  miracles;  (3.)  that  each  work  had 
its  precise  time  and  place  in  His  progi-amme 
of  instructions,  so  to  speak;  hence,  (4.  that 
as  His  period  for  work  had  a  definite  termi- 
nation, so  by  letting  any  one  service  pass 
by  it?  allotted  time,  the  whole  would  be  dis- 
arranged, marred,  and  driven  beyond  its  des- 
tined period  for  comitletion;  (5.)  that  He 
acted  ever  under  the  impulse  of  these  con- 
siderations, as  man—"  the  night  cometh 
when  no  man  or  no  onei  can  work."  \\  hat 
lessons  are  here  for  others,  and  what  en- 
couragement from  such  Example!  As  Ions 
as  I  am  in  the  world,  &c.— not  as  if  He  would 
cease,  after  that,  to  be  so;  but  that  He  must 
make  full  proof  of  His  fidelity,  while  His 
earthly  career  lasted,  by  displaying  His  glory. 
'  As  before  the  raising  of  Lazarus,  (ch.  11.  25,) 
He  announces  Himself  as  the  Resui-rection 
and  the  Life,  so  now  He  sets  Himself  forth 
as  the  source  of  the  archetypal  spiritual 
light,  of  which  the  natural,  now  about  to  be 
conferred,  is  only  a  derivation  and  symtiol.' 
[Alf.]  6,7.  spat... made  clay... and  anointed 
the  eyes,  &c.— Tnese  operations  were  not  so 
incongruous  in  their  nature  as  might  appear, 
thouyh  it  were  absurd  to  imagine  that  they 


Christ  Giveth  Sighl 


JOHN.  IX. 


to  a  Man  Bom  EUnd. 


contributed  in  the  least  degree  to  the  effect  the  people  in  the  things  of  God?  Out  upon 
which  followed.  (See  on  JVIk.  6.  13;  and  7.\  thee.'  tliey  cast  Mm  out— judicially,  no  doubt 
33,  34.)  Go,  wash  in  Siloam.  ..which  is.  Sent,  as  well  as  in  fact.  The  allusion  to  his  being 
&c.— vSee  2  Ki.  5.  10,  14.)  As  the  prescribed  i '"  born  in  sins"  seems  a  tacit  admission  of  his 
action  was  purely  symbolical  in  its  design,  being  blind  from  birth— the  very  thing  they 
so  in  connection  with  it  the  evangelist  had  been  so  unwilling  to  own.  But  rage  and 
notices  the  symbolical  name  of  the  pool,  as  enmity  to  truth  are  seldom  consistent  in 
in  this  case  bearing  testimony  to  Him  who  their  outbreaks.  The  friends  of  this  ex- 
was  sent  to  do  wJiat  it  only  symbolized.  (See  communicated  youth,  crowding  around  him 
Is.  8.  6,  where  this  same  pool  is  used  figur-  with  their  sympathy,  would  probably  ex- 
atively  to  denote  "the  streams  that  made  press  surprise  that  one  who  could  work  such 
glad  the  city  of  God,"  and  which,  humble  a  cure  should  be  unable  to  protect  liis  patient 
though  they  be,  betoken  a  present  God  of  from  the  persecution  it  had  raised  against 
Israel.)    8-15.  Tiie  neighbours,  &c.— Here  are  ■  him,  or  should  possess  the  power  without 

_  _^  j_i..-,-  ._  :j-_i:^..  i.,_ ,_.    ugjjjgjt^    Kor  would  it  be  wonderful  if  such 

thoughts  should  arise  in  the  youth's  own 
mind.  But  if  they  did,  it  is  certain,  from 
what  follows,  that  they  made  no  lodgment 
there,  conscious  as  he  was  that  "whereas  he 
was  blind,  now  he  saw,"  and  satisfied  that  if 
his  Benefactor  "were  not  of  God  he  could 
do  nothing,"  [v.  33.)    There  was  a  word  for 


a  number  of  details  to  identify  the  newly 
seeing  with  the  long-known  blind  beggar, 
brought  to  the  Pharisees— sitting  probably  in 
council,  and  chiefly  of  that  sect,  ;ch.  7. 47,  48.) 
16, 17.  not  of  God,  fcc— t?ee  on  ch.  5.  9,  16. 
Others  said,  &c.— as  Nicodemus,  and  Joseph. 
He  is  a  prophet— rightly  viewing  the  miracle 
as  but  a  "  sign"  of  his  prophetic  commission. 
18-23.  did  not  believe  he  had  been  bora  blind. . . 
till,  &c.— Foiled  by  the  testimony  of  the 
young  man  himself,  they  hope  to  throw  doubt 
on  the  fact  by  close-questioning  his  parents, 
who,  perceiving  the  snare  laid  for  them,  in- 
geniously escape  it  by  testifying  simply  to 
the  identity  of  their  son,  and  his  birth-blind- 
ness, leaving  it  to  hiuiself,  as  a  competent 
witness,  to  speak  to  the  cure.  They  pre- 
varicated, however,  in  saying  they  "knew 
not  who  had  opened  his  eyes,"  for  "they 
feared  the  Jews. '  who  had  come  to  an  under- 
standing, I  probably  alter  what  is  recorded, 
ch.  7.  50,  (tc,  but  by  this  time  pretty  well 
known.)  that  whoever  owned  him  as  the 
Christ  should  be  put  out  of  the  synagogue— 
i.e.,  not  simply  excluded,  but  excommuni- 
cated. 24-34.  Give  God  the  praise,  <S:c.— not 
wishing  him  to  own,  even  to  the  praise  of 
God,  that  a  miracle  had  been  WTOught  upon 
him,  but  to  show  more  regard  to  the  honour 
of  God  than  ascribe  any  such  act  to  one  who 
was  a  sinner.  Whether  a  sinner  or  no,  <S:c.— 
Kot  that  the  man  meant  to  insinuate  any 
doubt  in  his  own  mind  on  the  point  of  his 
being  "a  sinner,"  but  as  his  opinion  on  such 
a  point  would  be  of  no  consequence  to  others, 
he  would  speak  only  to  what  he  knew  us  fact 
in  his  own  case,  said  they  again,  etc.- hoping 
by  repeated  questions  to  ensnare  him,  but 
the  youth  is  more  than  a  match  for  them. 
I  have  told  you  already. ..will  ye  also  be  his 
disciples?— In  a  vein  of  keen  irony  he  treats 
their  questions  as  those  of  anxious  enquirers, 
almost  ready  for  discipleship !  fetuug  by 
this,  they  retort  upon  him  as  the  disciple, 
(and  here  they  plainly  were  not  wrong;)  for 
themselves,  they  tell  back  upon  Moses;  about 
him  there  could  be  no  doubt;  but  who  knew 
about  this  upstart?  The  man  answered,  dtc. 
—He  had  no  need  to  say  another  word;  but 
waxing  bolder  in  defence  of  his  Benefactor, 
and  his  views  brightening  by  the  very 
courage  wliich  it  demanded,  he  puts  it  to 
them  how  they  could  pretend  inability  to 
teU  whether  one  who  opened  the  eyes  of  a 
man  born  blind  was  "  of  God"  or  "  a  sinner"— 
from  above  or  from  beneath— and  proceeds 
to  argue  the  case  with  remarkable  power. 
So  irresi-stible  was  his  argument,  that  their 
xage  burst  forth  in  a  speech  of  intense  Phar- 
isaism, "  Thou  wast  altogether  born  in  sins, 
and  dost  thou  teach  usi"— '  tfwu,  a  base-born, 
uneducated,  impudent  youth,  teach  us,  the 
trained,  constituted,  recognised  guides  of 
77    [2] 


uu  uoimug,  {V.  ii;i.i  xiiere  was  a  wuru  lur 
him  too,  w-hich,  if  whispered  in  his  ear  from 
the  oracles  of  God,  would  seem  expressly 
designed  to  describe  his  case,  and  prepare 
him  for  the  coming  interview  with  his  gra- 
cious Friend.  "  Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord 
ye  that  tremble  at  His  word.  Your  brethren 
thathatedyou,  that  cast  you  ont  for  my  name' 
sake,  said.  Let  the  Lord  be  glorified;  but  Hb 
SHALL  APPEAR  TO  YOUR  JOY,  and  they  shall 
be  ashamed"  (Is.  63.  5.)  But  how  was  He 
engaged  to  whom  such  noble  testimony  had 
been  given,  and  for  whom  such  persecution 
had  been  borne?  Uttering,  perhaps,  in  secret, 
"with  strong  crying  and  tears,"  the  words 
of  the  prophetic  psalm,  "  Let  not  them  that 
wait  on  thee,  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  be 
ashamed  for  my  sake;  let  none  that  seek 
thee  be  confounded  for  my  sake,  O  God  of 
Israel;  because  for  thy  sake  I  have  borne  re- 
proach . .  .  and  the  reproaches  of  them  that 
reproached  ihee  are  fallen  upon  me,"  (Ps.  69. 
6,7,9.)  35-38.  Jesus  heard— i.e.,  by  intelligence 
brought  Him.  that  they  had  cast  out  the 
youth ;  and  when  He  had  found  bim— by  ac- 
cident? Kot  very  likely.  Sympathy  in  that 
breast  could  not  long  keep  aloof  from  its 
object.  Dost  thou  believe  in  the  Sou  of  God?— 
A  question  stretching  purposely  beyond  his 
present  attainments,  in  order  the  more 
quickly  to  lead  him— in  his  present  teach- 
able fiame— into  the  highest  truth.  Who  is 
He,  Lord,  that  I  may  beUeve  on  Him  ?— '  His 
reply  is  affirm.ative,  and  believing  by  antici- 
pation, promising  faith  as  soon  as  Jesus 
shall  say  who  He  is.'  [Stier.]  Thou  hast 
both  seen  Him— the  new  sense  of  sight  having 
at  that  moment  its  highest  exercise,  in  gazing 
upon  "  the  Liyht  of  the  world."  Lord,  I  be- 
lieve: and  he  worshipped  Him— a  faith  and  a 
worship,  beyond  doubt,  meant  to  express 
far  more  than  he  would  think  proper  to  any 
human  "prophet"  [v.  I7,i— the  unstucUtd. 
resistless  expression,  probably  of  supreme 
faith  and  adoration,  though  without  the  lull 
understanding  of  what  that  impUed.  39-41. 
Jesus  said— perhaps  at  the  san^e  time,  but 
after  a  crowd,  including  some  of  the  sceptical 
and  scornful  rulers,  had,  on  seeing  Jesus 
talking  with  the  healed  youth,  hastened  to 
the  spot,  that  they  which  see  not  might  see. 
Arc— Pdsing  to  that  sight  of  which  the  natu- 
ral vision  communicated  to  the  youth  was 
but  the  symbol.  (See  on  v.  5,  and  cf.  L.  4. 18.) 
they  wliich  see  be  made  blind— judicially  in- 
capable of  apprehending  and  receiving  the 


Christ  the  good  i^hepherd. 


JOHN.  X.  XT. 


Bis  unity  mth  the  Father. 


38  And  he  said,  Lord,  I  beliere.  And  he 
worshipped  him. 

3y  'i  And  Jesus  said,  •For  judgment  I  am 
come  into  this  world, '  that  they  which  see 
not  might  see,  and  that  they  which  see 
might  be  made  blind. 

40  And  some  of  the  Pliarisees  which  were 
with  him  heard  these  words, "  and  said  unto 
him.  Are  we  blind  also? 

41  Jesus  said  mito  them,"  If  j'e  were  blind, 
ye  should  have  no  sin:  but  now  ye  say.  We 
Bee ;  therefore  your  sin  remaineth. 

CHAPTER  X. 

1  Christ  is  the  door,  and  the  good  shepherd.    19 

Divers  opinions  of  him.     '£i  He  proveth  bti  his 

works  that  he  is  Christ,  and  asserteth  his  unitt/ 

with  the  father. 

■yERILY,  verily,  I  say  nnto  you, "  He  that 
'    entereth   not   by  the   door  into   the 
Bheep-fold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other 
way ,  the  same  is  a  thief  and  a  robber. 

2  13ut  he  that  entereth  in  by  *  the  door  is 
the  shepherd  of  the  sheep. 

3  To  him  "the  porter  openeth;  and  the 
sheep  hear  his  voice:  and  he  calleth  his  own 
sheep  by  name,  and  leadeth  them  out. 

4  And  when  he  putteth  forth  his  own 
eheep,  he  goeth  before  them,  and  the  sheep 
follow  him:  for  they  know  his  voice. 

6  And''  a  stranger  will  they  not  follow,  but 
will  flee  from  him:  for  they  know  not  the 
voice  of  strangers. 

6  This  parable  spake  Jesus  unto  them : 
but  they  understood  not  what  things  they 
were  which  he  spake  unto  them. 

7  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  again.  Verily, 
Terily,  I  say  unto  you,  1  am  •  the  door  of 
the  sheep. 

8  All  /that  ever  came  before  me  are 
thieves  and  robbers:  but  the  sheep  did  not 
hear  them. 

9  I  am  the  door:  by  me  if  any  man  enter 
in,  he  shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and 
out,  and  hud  pasture. 

10  The  ^  thief  Cometh  not,  but  for  to  steal, 
and  to  kill,  and  to  destroy :  I  am  come  that 
they  might  have  life,  and  that  they  might 
have  it  more  abundantly. 

11  1  A  am  the  good  shepherd:  the  good 
shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep. 

12  ikit  he  that  is  an  hireling,  and  not  the 
shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are  not, 
seeth  the  wolf  coming,  and  « leaveth  the 
slieep,  and  tieeth:  and  the  wolf  catcheth 
ttieni,  and  scattereth  the  sheep. 

16  The  hireling  fleeth,  because  he  is  an 
hireling,  and  careth  not  for  the  sheep. 

14  1  am  the  good  shepherd,  aud>  know  my 
sheep,  and  *  am  known  of  mine. 

15  As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so 
know  1  the  Father:  and  1  lay  down  my  life 
tor  the  sheen. 

16  And  '  otuer  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not 
of  this  fold:  them  also  1  must  bring,  and 
they  shall  hear  my  voice ;  "*  and  there  shall 
be  one  fold,  and  one  shepherd. 

17  Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me, "  be- 
cause 1  lay  down  my  lil'e,  that  1  might  take 
It  again. 

18  iSo  man  taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay 
it  down  of  myself.  1  have  power  to  lay  it 
down,  and  1  have  power  to  take  it  again. 
1  his  commandment  have  1  received  of  my 
i'ather. 

ly  'i  There  was  a  division  therefore  again 
among  the  Jews  for  tiitse  sayings. 

liO  And  many  of  tliem  said.  He  hath  a 
dc\il,  and  is  mad;  wliy  hear  ye  him? 

la 


CHAP.  8. 
»  ch.  5.  22. 

ch.  3.  17. 

ch.  12.47. 
t  Mat.  13.1S. 

Lu.  2.  34. 

2  Cor.  2.16. 
«  Rom  2  19. 
f  ch.  16.  2a. 


CHAP.  10. 

a  U.  66. 10. 


c  1  Pet.  1.12. 

1  Cor.  16.9. 
d  Pro.  19.27. 

<Jal.  1.  8. 

Egh.  4. 14. 

Col.  2.  8. 
«  £ph.  2.  18. 

Heb.  10.19. 
/  Jer.  23.  1. 

Jer.  50.  6. 

Act!  &  36, 

37. 
a  ActH  20.29. 

2  Pet.  2. 1. 
h  Is.  40.  U. 

Eze.  34.-J3. 

Ezo.  37  ■.;4. 

Heb.  13.'.0. 

1  Pet.  2  !i5. 

1  Pet.  6  4. 
i  Zech.11.16. 
j  2  Ti.  2.  19. 
k  EpK  1.  17. 

Phil.  3.  10. 


I  Is.  56.  8. 
m  Em.  3722. 

hyh.  2. 14. 
n  Is  53.  7. 

Hob.  2.  9. 

0  Acts  2.  24. 
P  Ex.  4.  11. 

Ps.  94.  9. 

Pa.  146.  8. 

q  Acts  3.  11. 

Acts  5.  12. 

1  Or,  hoU 


r  ch.  8.  47. 

1  John  4.  6. 
»  ch.  14  28. 
t  ch.  17.  2,  6. 
u  eh.  17.  11. 

1  John  5.7. 

V  ch.  5.  18. 
«-  Pi.  82  6. 
X  Rom.  13. 1. 

V  ch.  6  27. 
»  ch.  3.  17. 

ch.  6.  36. 

ch.  8.  42. 
a  Lu.  1.  35. 

ch.  9.  35. 
6  ch.  15.  24. 
c  ch.  14.  10. 

fb.  17.  21. 
d  ch.  1.  28. 
e  ch.  3.  aO. 
/ch  8.30. 

ch.  11.  45. 


CHAP.  11. 

a  Lu.  10.  38. 
6  Milt.  26.  7. 


21  Others  saVd,  These  are  not  the  words  of 
him  that  hath  a  devil.  P  Can  a  devil  open 
the  eyes  of  the  blind? 

22  H  And  it  was  at  Jerusalem  the  feast  of 
the  dedication,  and  it  was  winter. 

23  And  Jesus  walked  in  the  temple,  'in 
Solomon's  porch. 

24  Then  came  the  Jews  round  about  him, 
and  said  nnto  him.  How  long  dost  thou 
imake  ns  to  doubt?  If  thou  be  the  Christ, 
tell  us  plainly. 

25  Jesus  answered  them,  I  told  you,  and 
ye  believed  not:  the  woi-ks  that  I  do  in  my 
Father's  name,  they  bear  w  itness  of  me. 

26  liut  •"  ye  believe  not,  because  ye  are  not 
of  my  sheep,  as  1  said  unto  you. 

27  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know 
them,  and  they  follow  me: 

28  And  1  give  unto  them  eternal  life:  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand, 

29  My  •  Father,  *  which  gave  them  me,  i8 
greater  than  all*  and  none  is  able  to  pluck 
them  out  of  my  Father's  hand. 

30  1  **  and  my  Father  are  one. 

31  H  Then  the  Jews  took  up  stones  again 
to  stone  him. 

32  Jesus  answered  them.  Many  good  works 
have  I  showed  you  fiom  my  Father;  for 
which  of  those  woiks  do  ye  stone  me? 

33  The  Jews  answered  him,  saying,  For 
a  good  work  we  stone  thee  not;  but  for 
blasphemy ;  and  because  that  thou,  being  a 
man,  makest  "  thyself  (jod. 

34  Jesus  answered  them, ""  Is  it  not  written 
in  your  law,  1  said,  Ye  are  gods? 

35  If  he  called  them  gods  *  mito  whom  the 
word  of  God  came,  and  the  Scripture  can- 
not be  broken ; 

36  Say  ye  of  him,  "  whom  the  Father  hath 
sanctitied,  and  *  sent  into  the  world.  Thou 
blaspheniest;  because  I  said,  I  am  "  the  Son 
of  God? 

37  If  i  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father, 
believe  me  not. 

38  liut  if  1  do.  though  ye  believe  not  me, 
believe  the  works ;  that  ye  may  know  and 
believe  "that  the  Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in 
him. 

39  H  Therefore  they  sought  again  to  take 
him :  but  he  escaped  out  of  their  hand, 

40  And  went  away  again  beyond  Jordan, 
into  the  place  <*  where  John  at  ftrst  bap- 
tized; and  there  he  abode. 

41  And  many  resorted  unto  him,  and  said, 
Jolin  did  no  miracle:  *  but  all  things  that 
John  spake  of  this  man  were  tme. 

42  And /many  believed  on  him  there. 

CHAFTEU  XI. 
1  Christ  raiseth  Lazarus  to  Hie.    45  Many  Jewi 

btiieve.    49  Caiaphas  propheiieth,    64  Jesut  hid 

himself. 
NJOW  a  certain  man  was  sick,  named 
^^  Lazarus.of  Bethany,  the  town  of"  Mary 
and  her  sister  Martha. 

2  (It  ^Wiis  that  Mary  which  anointed  the 
Lord  with  ointment,  and  wiped  his  feet 
with  her  hair,  whose  brother  Lazarus  was 
sick.) 

3  Therefore  bis  sisters  sent  unto  him,  say- 
ing. Lord,  behold,  he  whom  thou  lovest  is 
sick. 

4  When  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said.  This 
sickness  is  not  unto  death,  *  but  lor  the 
glory  of  God,  that  the  Si.n  of  God  might  be 
glorified  tliereby. 

5  iNow  Jesus  loved  Martha,  and  her  sister, 
and  La^ai'us. 


Christ  the.  Door, 


JOHN,  X. 


and  the  Good  Shepherd. 


truth,  to  which  they  have  wilfully  shut  their 
eyes,  we  blind  also  1— We,  the  constituted, 
recognised  guides  of  the  people  in  spiritual 
things  ?  pride  and  rage  prompting  the  ques- 
tion. If  ye  were  blind— wanted  light  to  dis- 
cern My  claims,  and  only  waited  to  receive 
it.  ye  should  have  no  sin  — none  of  the 
guilt  of  shutting  out  the  light,  ye  say.  We 
see;  therefore  your  sin  remaineth— Your  claim 
to  possess  light,  while  rejectiug  Me,  is  that 


which  seals  you  up  in  the  guilt  of  unbelief. 
CHAPTER  X. 
Ver.  1-21.  The  Goer)  Shepherd.— This 
discourse  seems  plainly  to  be  a  continuation 
of  the  closing  verses  of  ch.  9.  The  figure  was 
familiar  to  the  Jewish  ear,  from  Je.  23;  Ez. 
34;  Ze.  11,  <fcc.  'This  simple  creature  (the 
sheep)  has  this  special  note  among  all  ani- 
mals, that  it  quickly  hears  the  voice  of 
the  shepherd,  follows  no  one  else,  de- 
pends entirely  on  him.  and  seeks  help  from 
nim  alone,  cannot  help  itself,  but  is  shut 
up  to  another's  aid. '  [Luther  in  Stier.] 
1,  2.  entereth  not  in  by  the  door— the  legitimate 
way  (without  saying  what  that  was,  as  yet. 
into  the  sheep-fold— the  sacred  enclosure  of 
God's  true  people,  some  other  way— not  re- 
ferring to  the  assumption  of  ecclesiastical 
office  without  an  external  caU,  for  those 
Jewish  rulers,  specially  aimed  at,  had  this 
(M.  23.  2.),  but  to  the  want  of  a  true  call,  a 
spiritual  commission,  the  seal  of  heaven 
going  along  with  the  outward  authority:  it 
is  the  assumption  of  the  spiritual  guidance 
of  the  people  without  this  that  is  meant,  is 
the  shepherd  of  the  sheep— a  true,  divinely-re- 
cognised she)iherd.  3.  to  him  the  porter  openeth 


— i.e.,  right  of  free  access  is  given,  by  order  of 
Him  to  whom  the  sheep  belong;  for  it  is 
better  not  to  give  the  allusion  a  more  specific 
interpretation.    [Cal.,  Mey.,  Lthdt.J 


only  an  echo  of  aU  His  teaching ;  and  He 
who  uttered  these  and  like  words  must  be 
either  a  blasphemer,  all  worthy  of  the  death 
He  died,  or  "Gk)d  with  us:"— there  can  be 
no  middle  course.  I  am  the  good  SteDherd— 
emphatically,  and,  in  the  sense  intended, 
exclusively  so.  (Is.  40.  11;  Ez.  34.  23  ;  37.  24; 
Ze.  13.  7.)  the  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for 
the  sheep — Though  this  maybe  said  of  literal 
shepherds  who,  even  for  their  brute  flock 
have,  like  Da\id,  encountered  "  the  lion  aud 
the  bear*  at  the  risk  of  their  own  lives,  and 
still  more  of  faithful  pastors  who,  like  the 
early  bishops  of  Eome.have  been  the  foremost 
to  brave  tne  fury  of  their  enemies  against 
the  flock  committedto  their  care;  yet  here, 
beyond  doubt,  it  points  to  the  struggle  which 
was  to  issue  in  the  willing  surrender  ol  the 
Eedeemei-'s  o\vn  life,  to  save  His  sheep  from 
destruction,  anhireling . .  whose  own  the  sheep 
are  not— who  has  no  property  in  them.  By 
this  He  points  to  His  own  peculiar  relation 
to  the  sheep,  the  same  as  His  Father's,  the 
great  Proprietor  and  Lord  of  the  flock,  who 
styles  Him  "  My  Shepherd,  the  Man  that  is 
my  Fellow"  (Ze.  13.  7.;;  and  though  faithful 
under-shepherds  are  so  in  their  Master's  inte- 
rest, that  they  feel  a  measure  of  His  own  con- 
cern for  their  charge,  the  language  is  strictly 
applicable  only  to  "the  Son  over  His  owu 
house."  I  He.  3.  6.)  seeth  the  wolf  coming— not 
the  devil  distinctively,  as  some  take  it  [Stier, 
"  but  generally  whoever  comes  upoa 


going  along  with  the  outward  authority:  it  ALF.,<fec_ 

is  the  assumption  of  the  spiritual  guidance  the  flock  with  hostile  intent,  in  whatever 

fomi;  though  the  wicked  one,  no  doubt,  is 
at  the  bottom  of  such  movements.  [Lthdt.] 
know  my  sheep— in  the  peculi  ar  sense  of  2  Ti.  2. 
19.  am  known  of  mine— the  soul's  response  to 
the  voice  that  has  inwardly  and  efficaciously 
called  it;  for  of  this  mutual  loving  acquaint- 
ance ours  is  the  effect  of  His.  'The  Re- 
the  sheep  hear  his  voice— Tliis  and  all  that  deemer's  knowledge  of  us  is  the  active  ele- 
follows,  though  it  admits  of  important  ment,  penetrating  us  with  His  power  and 
application  to  every  faithful  shepherd  of  life;  that  of  believers  is  the  pcwsf I'e  principle, 
God's  flock,  is  in  its  direct  and  highest  sense  the  reception  of  His  life  and  light.  In  this 
true  only  of  "  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  reception,  however,  an  assimilation  of  the 
sheep,"  who  in  the  first  five  verses  seems  soul  to  the  subUme  Object  of  its  knowledge 
plainly,  under  the  simple  character  of  a  true  and  love  takes  place;  and  thus  an  activity, 
shepherd,  to  be  drawing  His  own  portrait,  though  a  derived  one,  is  unfolded,  which 
[Lmpe.,  Stier,  <fcc.]  7-14.  I  am  the  door  of  shows  itself  in  obedience  to  His  commands.' 
the  sheep— i.  e..  the  way  in  to  the  fold,  with  [Olsh.]  From  this  mutual  knowledge  Jesus 
all  its  blessed  privileges,  both  for  shepherds  rises  to  another  and  loftier  reciprocity  of 
and  sheep,  (cf.  ch.  14.  6;  Eph.  2.  18.)  All  knowledge.  15-18.  As  my  Father  knoweth 
that  ever  came  before  me— the  false  prophets;  me,  even  so  know  I  the  Father— What  claim 
aot,  as  claiming  the  prerogatives  of  Messiah,  to  absolute  equality  -with  the  Father  could 
but  as  perverters  of  the  people  from  the  exceed  this?  ;See  on  M.  11.  27.)  and  I  lay 
way  of  life,  all  pointing  to  Him.  [Olsh.]  down  my  life  for  the  sheep— How  sublime  this, 
the  sheep  did  not  hear  them— the  instinct  of  .immediately  following  the  lofty  claim  of  the 
their  divinely-taught  hearts  preserving  them  preceding  clause  !  'Tis  the  riches  and  the 
from  seducers,  and  attaching  them  to  the  poverty  of  "the  Word  made  flesh"— one 
heaven-sent  prophets,  of  whom  it  is  said  glorious  Person  reaching  at  once  up  to  the 
that  "  the  Spirit  of  Christ  was  in  them."  (1  Tlirone  and  down  even  to  the  dust  of  death, 
Pe.  1. 11.)  by  me  if  any  man  enter  in— whether  "  that  we  might  live  through  Him."  A  can- 
shepherd  or  sheep,  shall  be  saved— the  great '  did  interpretation  of  the  words,  "  for  th& 
object  of  the  pastoral  oflJce,  as  of  all  the  s/ieep."  ought  to  go  far  to  establish  the  special 
divine  arrangements  towards  mankind,  and  relation  of  the  vicarious  death  of  Christ  to 
shall  go  in  and  out  and  find  pasture— iii,  as  to  the  Church,  other  sheep  I  have,  not  of  this 
a  place  of  sa/e^y  and  repose;  owi,  as  to  "green  fold:  them  also  I  must  bring— He  means  the 
pastures  and  still  waters,"  (Ps.  23.  2.)  for  perishing  Gentile.s,  already  His  " sheep"  in 
nourishment  and  refreshing,  and  all  this  the  love  of  His  heart  and  the  purpose  of  His 
only  transferred  to  another  clime,  and  en-  grace  to  "  brina  them "  in  due  time.  th(iy 
joyed  in  another  manner,  at  the  close  of  shall  hear  my  voice— T/u's  is  rio<  </ie  language 
this  earthly  scene.  (Ee.  7.  17.)  that  they  of  mere  foresight  that  they  would  believe,  Init 
might  have  life,  and  more  abundantly  —  not  the  expression  of  a  purpose  to  draw  them  to 
merely  to  preserve  but  impart  life,  and  Himself  by  an  inward  and  efficacious  call, 
communicate  it  in  rich  and  unfailing  ivhich  loould  infallibhj  issue  m  their  spori' 
exuberance.     What  a  claim  1    Yet  it  is ,  taneous  accession  to  Him.   aM  tJxere  shall  i)9 


Discourse  at  the 


JOHN,  X. 


Feast  of  Bed'ca'fon. 


onefold— rather 'one flock' (for  the  word  for  plainly— But  when  the  plainest  evidence  of 

*  fold,'  as  in  the  foregoing  verses,  is  quite  ir  was  resisted,  what  weight  could  a  mere 

different'.    Therefore  dotli  my  Father  love  me,  assertion  of  it  have?    25,  26.  I  told  you— ^.c, 

because  I  lay  down,  ic— As  the  luKhest  act  of  in  substance,  what  I  am,  (e.g.  ch,  7. 37, 38;  8. 12, 

the  Son's  love  to  the  Father  was  tiie  laying  35,  36,  58. )     ye  believe  i.ot,  because  not  of 

down  of  fiis  lire  for  the  sheep  at  His  "  com-  my  sheep,  as  I  said— referring  to  the  whole 

niandment,"  so  the  Father's  love  to  Him  as  strain  o:  the  parable  of  the  sheep,  v.  1,  <S:c. 

Hisi?icarHa<eSonreacheditsconsummatiou,  27-30.  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  <fec. — (See  on 

and  finds  its  highest  justification,  in  that  v.  ?.)    I  give  unto  them  eternal  lif 3— not  *' will 

sublimest  and  most  afiecting  of  all  acts,  give  them;"  for  it  is  a  present  gift.    (See  on 


that  I  might  take  it  again— li is  resurrection- 
life  being  indispensable  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  fruit  of  His  death. 


ch.  3.  36;  5.  24.)    It  is  a  very  grand  utterance, 

couched  in  the  language  of  majestic  autho- 

■fy.    My  Father,  wiiich  gave  them  me— See 


taketh  my  lii'e  from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  myself :  on  ch.  6.  37-39.)  greater  than  all— with  whom 
I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have  power  no  adverse  power  can  contend.  It  is  a  gene- 
to  takeit  again— It  is  impossible  for  language  ral  expression  of  an  admitted  truth,  and 
more  plainly  and  emphatically  to  express  i  what  follows  shows  for  what  purjiose  it  was 
the  absolute  voluntariness  of  Christ's  death,  uttered,  "  and  none  is  able  to  pluck  them 
Burh  a  voluntariness  as  it  would  be  manifest '  out  of  ray  Father's  hand."  "  The  impossi- 
presumption  in  any  mere  cieature  to  afiirm  I  bility  of  true  believers  being  lost,  in  the 
of  his  own  death.    It  is  beyond  all  doubt 'midst  of  all  the  temptations  which  they  m.ty 


encounter,  does  not  consist  in  their  fidelity 
and  decision,  but  is  founded  upon  the  power 
of  God.     Here  the  doctrine  of  predestina- 
tion is  presented  in  its  sublime  and  sacred 
aspect;  there  is  a  predestination  of  the  holy, 
which  is  taught  from  one  end  of  the  Scrip- 
_     tures  to  the  other:  not,  indeed,  of  such  a 
ascribed  to  the  Father,  m  the  sense  we  shall  j  nature  that  an  "irresistible  grace"  compels 
presently   see,  was  i_ ;  vertheless   His  ou;?i-  the  opposing  will  of  man  (of  course  not),  but 


the  language  of  One  who  was  conscious  that 
His  life  tens  His  own  (which  no  creature's  is  , 
and,  therefore.  His  to  surrender  or  retain  at 
will.  Here  lay  the  glory  of  His  sacrifice,  that 
it  was  purely  voluntarily.  The  claim  of 
"  power.to  take  it  .again"  is  no  less  important, 
as  showing  that  His  rpsurrection,  though 


assertion  of  His  oivn  right  to  life  as  soon  as  so  that  that  will  of  man  which  receives  and 
the  purposes  of  His  voluntary  death  were 
accomplished.     This  commandment— to  "lay 
downHis  life,  that  He  might  take  it  again." 


have  I  received  of  my  Father— So  that  Christ 
died  at  once  by  "  command"  of  His  Father, 
and  by  such  a  voluntary  obedience  to  that 
command  as  has  made  Him  so  to  speak'  in- 
finitely dear  to  the  Father.  The  necessity  of 
Christ's  death,  in  the  light  of  these  profound 
sayings  must  be  manifest  to  all  but  the  su- 
perficial student.  19-21.  a  division  again  for 
these  sayings— the  light  and  the  darkness  re- 
vealing themselves  with  increasing  clearness 
in  the  separation  of  the  teachable  from  the 
obstinately  prejudiced.  The  one  saw  in  Him 
only  '■  a  devil  and  a  madman;"  the  other  re- 
volted at  the  thought  that  such  words  could 
come  from  one  possessed,  and  sight  be  given 
to  the  blind  by  a  demoniac;  showing  clearly 
thatadeeper  impression  had  been  made  upon 
them  than  their  words  expressed. 

22-42.  Discourse  at  the  Feast  op  Dedi- 
cation—From  THE  Fury  of  his  Enemies 
Jesus  escapes  beyond  Jordan,  where 
Many  believe  on  Him.  22,  23.  It  was  .  . . 
the  Feast  of  Dedication— Celebrated  rather 
more  than  two  montlis  after  the  feast  of 
tabernacles,  during  which  intermediate 
period  our  Lord  seems  to  have  remained  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Jerusalem.  It  was 
instituted  by  Judas  Maccabeus,  to  com- 
memorate the  purification  of  the  temple 
from  the  profanations  to  which  it  had  been 
subjected  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes  B.C.  I65i, 
and  kept  for  eight  days,  from  the  2r.th  Chisleu 
(December  ,  the  day  on  which  Judas  began 
the  first  joyous  celebration  of  it,  (l  Mace.  4. 
62,  56,  59;  and  Joseph.  Antiq.  xii.  7.  7.) 
it  was  winter— implying  some  incleinency. 
Therefore,  Jesus  walked  in  Solomon's  porch— 
for  shelter.  This  portico  was  on  the  east 
side  of  the  temiile,  and  Josephus  says  it  was 
part  of  the  original  structure  of  Solomon. 
(Antici.  XX.  9.  7.)  came  the  Jews— i/ie  rulers, 
(See  on  ch.  1.  19.)  make  us  to  doubt— "hold 
us  in  fiuspeuse."  imarg.)  If  the  Christ,  tell  us 
78    [1] 


loves  the  commands  of  God  is  produced  only 
by  God's  grace."    [Olsh.— a  testimony  all 


the  more  valuable,  being  given  in  spite  of 
Lutheran  prejudice.]  I  and  my  Father  are 
one— Our  language  admits  not  of  the  pre- 
cision of  the  original  in  this  great  saying. 
"Are"  is  in  the  masculine  gender— "we  (two 
persons)  are;"  while  "one  is  neuter— "one 
thing."  Perhaps  "one  interest"  expresses,  as 
nearly  as  may  be,  the  purport  of  the  saying. 
There  seemed  to  be  some  contradiction  be- 
tween His  saying  they  had  been  given  by  His 
Father  into  His  own  hands,  out  of  which 
they  could  not  be  plucked,  and  then  saying 
that  none  could  pluck  them  out  of  His 
Father's  hands,  as  if  they  had  not  been  given 
out  of  them.  'Neither  they  have,'  says  He; 
'  Though  He  has  given  them  to  me,  they  are 
as  much  in  His  own  almighty  hands  as  ever 
—they  caniiot  be.  and  when  given  to  me  they 
are  not,  given  away  from  Himself;  for  He 
and  I  have  all  iNcoaiMON.'  Thus  it  will 
be  seen,  that,  though  07ieness  of  essence  is  not 
the  precise  thing  here  affirmed,  that  truth  is 
the  basis  oj  what  is  affirmed,  without  which 
it  would  not  be  true.  And  Augustin  was 
right  in  saying  the  "  We  are"  condemns  the 
Sabellians  iwho  denied  the  distinction  of 
Persons  in  the  Godiiead),  while  the  "one"  (as 
explained)  condemns  the  Arians  (who  denied 
the  unity  of  their  essence'.  31-33.  took  up 
stones  again  to  stone  Him— and  for  precisely 
the  same  thing  as  before,  (ch.  8. 58, 59.)  Many 
good  works— i.e.,  works  of  pure  benevolence 
(as  A.  10.  38,  "  ^Vlio  went  about  doing  good," 
&c.;  see  Alark  7  37.)  from  my  Father- not  so 
much  by  His  power,  but  as  directly  com- 
missioned by  Him  to  do  them.  This  He  says 
to  meet  the  imputation  of  unwarrantable 
assumption  of  the  divine  prerogatives. 
[Lthdt.]  do  ye  stone  me?— "are  ve  stoning 
[i.e.,  going  to  stone)  me?"  for  blasphemy — 
whose  legal  punishment  was  stoning  (Le.  24. 
11-16.)  thou,  being  a  man— i.e.,  a  man  only. 
makest  thyself  God— Twice  before  they  under- 
stood Hi  in  to  advance  the  same  claim,  and 


ChrisPs  Unity  with  the  Father. 


both  times  they  prepared  themselves  to 
avenge  what  they  took  to  be  the  insulted  | 
honour  of  God,  as  here,  in  the  way  directed 
by  their  law,  ,ch.  5.  18;  8.  69.)  34-33.  written 
in  your  law— in  Ps.  82.  6,  respecting  judges  or  i 
magistrates,  ye  are  gods— being  the  official  re- 

f<resentatives  and  commUnoned agents  of  ( jod. 
f  he  called  them  gods  to  whom  the  word  of  God  ! 
came,  say  ye  of  Him  whom  the  Father  hath  sauc- 1 
titled  and  sent  into  the  world— The  whole  force 
of  this  reasoning,  which  has  been  but  in  part  I 
seized  by  the  commentators,  lies  in  what  is  ' 
said  of  the  two  parties  compared.  The  com-  i 
parison  of  Himself  with  mere  men,  divinely 
commissioned,  is  intended  to  show,  [as 
Neander  well  expresses  it,]  that  the  idea 
of  a  communication  of  the  Divine  Majesty  to 
human  nature  was  by  no  means  foreign  to 
the  revelations  of  the  O.  T. ;  but  there  is  also 
a  contrast  betsveen  Himself  and  all  merely 
human  representatives  of  God— the  one 
*' sanctified  by  the  Father  and  sent  into  tlie  , 
world:"  the  other,  "  to  whom  the  v;ordofGod 
(merely)  came"  which  is  expressly  designed 
to  prevent  His  being  massed  up  with  them  as 
only  one  of  manyhuman  ofhcials  of  God.  It  is 
never  said  of  Christ  that  '"the  word  of  the 
Lord  came  to  Him;"  whereas  this  is  the  well- 
known  formula  by  which  the  divine  com- 
mission even  to  the  highest  of  mere  m^n,  is 
expressed,  as  John  the  Baptist,  (L.  3. 2.)  Tire 
reason  is  that  given  by  the  Baptist  himself, 
(See  on  ch.  3.  Slj.  Tlie  contrast  is  between 
those  "to  whom  the  word  of  God  came"— men 
ot  the  earth,  earthy,  who  were  merely  privi- 
leged to  get  a  divine  message  to  utter  ^if  pro- 
phets ,  or  a  divine  office  to  discharge  (if 
judges;— and  *'  Him  whom  (not  being  of  the 
earth  at  all),  tlie  Father  sandijicd  (or  set 
apart),  And  sent  into  the  ivorld"  an  expression 
never  used  of  any  merely  human  messenger  of 
God,  and  used  only  of  Himself,  because 
I  said,  I  am  the  Son  of  God— It  is  worthy  of 
special  notice  that  our  Lord  had  not  said,  in 
so  many  words  that  He  was  the  Son  of  God, 
on  this  occasion.  But  He  had  said  what  be- 
yond doubt  amounted  to  it— namely,  that  He 
gave  His  sheep  eternal  life,  and  none  could 
pluck  them  out,  of  His  hand;  that  He  had  got 
them  froniHis  Father,  in  whose  hands,though 
given  to  Him,  they  still  remained,  and  out  of 
whose  hand  none  could  pluck  them;  and 
that  they  were  the  iiulefeasible  property 
of  both,  inasmuch  as  "He  and  His  Father 
were  one."  Our  Lord  considers  all  this  as 
just  saying  of  Himself,  "lam  the  Son  of 
God"— 07ie  nature  with  Him,  yet  mysteri- 
ously of  Rim.  The  parenthesis  xV.  Soj.  "  and 
the  Scripture  cannot  be  broken,"  referring 
to  the  terms  used  of  magistrates  in  the  S2nd 
Psabn,  has  an  important  bearing  on  tlie 
authority  of  the  living  oracles.  '  The  Scrip- 
ture, as  the  expressed  will  of  the  unchange- 
able God,  is  itself  unchangeable  and  indis- 
soluble.' [Olsh.J  (ci.  M.  5.  17.)  37-39. 
Taough  ye  beueve  not  me,  believe  the  works- 
There  was  in  Chnst's  words,  independently 
of  any  miracles,  a  self-evidencing  truth, 
majesty,  and  grace,  which  those  who  had  any 
spiritual  susceptibility  were  unable  to  re- 
sist, (ch.  7.  40;  8.  30.J  But,  for  those  who 
wanted  this,  "the  works"  were  a  mighty 
help.  When  these  failed,  the  case  was  des- 
perate indeed,  that  ye  may  know  and  believe 
tliat  the  Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in  Him— thus 
reiterating  His  claim  to  essential  oneness 
ViiLh.  Ui6  Fatiier,  which  He  h^d  only  seemadi 


JOHX.  XI. Sickness  ofLazarnx 

to  soften  down,  that  He  might  calm  their 
rage  and  get  their  ear  again  for  a  moment, 
therefore  they  sought  again  to  take  Him— true 
to  their  original  understanding  of  His  wor.  is, 
for  they  saw  perfectly  well  that  He  meant  to 
"make  Himself  God"  throughout  all  this 
dialogue,  escaped  out  of  their  hand—  See  on 
L.  4.  30- ch.  8.  59.)  40-42.  went  away  agaia 
beyond  Jordan  ...  the  place  where  John  at  first 
baptized— See  on  ch.  l.  2S.  many  resorted  to 
him— on  whom  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist 
had  left  permanent  impressions.  John  did 
no  miracle,  but  ail  things  John  spake  of  this 
man  were  true— what  they  now  heard  and  saw 
in  Jesus  only  confirming  in  their  minds  the 
divinity  of  His  torerunnei-'s  mission,  though 
unaccompanied  by  any  of  His  Master's 
miracles.  And  thus,  "  many  believed  on 
him  there." 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Ver.  1-46.  Lazakus  Kaisbd  from  the 
Dead— The  Consequences  of  this.  1,  2. 
Of  Bethany— at  the  east  side  of  mount  Olivet, 
the  town  of  Mary  and  her  sister  Martha— thug 
distinguishing  it  from  the  other  Bethany 
"  beyond  Jordan."  iSee  on  ch.  l.  28;  10.  40.) 
it  was  chat  Mary  who  anointed,  (fec.--This, 
though  not  recorded  by  our  evangelist  till 
ch.  12.  3,  &c.,  was  so  well  knowTi  in  the  teach- 
ing of  all  the  churches,  according  to  our 
Lord's  prediction  (M.  26.  13.  ,  that  it  is  here 
alluded  to  by  anticipation,  as  the  most  na- 
tural way  of  identifying  her;  and  she  is  first 
named,  though  the  younger,  as  the  more 
distiiiguished  of  the  two.  She  "  anointed 
THE  Lord,"  says  the  evangelist— led  doubt- 
less to  the  use  of  this  term  here,  as  he  was 
about  to  exhibit  Him  illustriously  as  tlie 
Lord  of  Life.  3-6.  He  whom  thou  lovest  is 
sick— a  most  womanly  appeal,  yet  how  rever- 
ential, to  the  known  affection  ot  her  Lord  for 
the  patient.  (See  v.  5,  11.)  'Those  whom 
Christ  loves  are  no  more  exempt  than  others 
from  their  share  of  earthly  trouble  and  an- 
guish; rather  are  they  bound  over  to  it  more 
surely.'  [Trench.]  this  sickness  is  not  imto 
death— to  residt  in  death,  but  for  the  glory  of 
God,  that  the  Sou  of  God  may  be  glorified  there- 
by—i.e.,  by  this  glory  of  God.  iSee  (??•.)  Ee- 
markable  language  this,  which  from  creature 
lips  would  have  been  intolerable.  It  means 
that  the  glory  of  God  manifested  in  the  re- 
surrection of  dead  Lazarus  would  be  shown 
to  be  the  glory,  personcdly  and  immediately, 
of  the  Son.  Jesus  loved  Martha  and  lier  sister 
and  Lazarus— What  a  picture!  one  that  in 
every  age  has  attracted  the  admiration  of 
the  whole  Christian  Church.  No  wonder 
that  those  miserable  sceptics  who  have 
carped  at  the  ethical  system  of  the  Gospel, 
as  not  embracing  private  friendships  in  the 
list  of  its  virtues,  have  been  referred  to  the 
Saviour's  peculiar  regard  for  this  family  as  a 
triumphant  retutation,  if  such  were  needed, 
when  he  heard  he  was  sick,  he  abode  two  days 
still  where  he  was— at  least  25  miles  off.  Be- 
yond all  doubt  this  was  just  to  let  things 
come  to  their  worst,  in  order  to  the  display 
of  His  glory.  But  how  trjing,  meantime,  to 
the  faith  of  his  friends,  and  how  unlike  the 
way  in  which  love  to  a  dying  friend  usually 
shows  itself,  on  which  it  is  plain  that  Mary 
reckoned.  But  the  ways  of  divine  are  not 
as  the  ways  of  human,  love.  Often  they  are 
the  reverse.  When  His  people  are  sick,  in 
body  or  spirit;  when  their  case  is  waxing 
more  and  more  desperate  every  day;  when 


SicTaness  and  death  of  Lazarus. 


JOHN,  XT. 


Christ  rafseth  Mm  to  life. 


6  When  he  had  heard  therefore  that  he 
was  sick,  ^  he  abode  two  days  still  in  the 
same  place  where  he  was. 

7  Then  after  that  saith  he  to  his  disciples, 
Let  us  go  into  J  udea  a^ain. 

8  His  disciples  say  unto  him.  Master,  '  the 
Jews  of  late  sought  to  stone  thee ;  and  goest 
thou  thither  again? 

9  Jesus  answered,  Are  there  not  twelve 
hours  in  the  day?  /If  any  man  walk  in  the 
day,  he  stumbleth  not,  because  he  seeth 
the  Hght  of  this  world. 

10  But  » if  a  man  walk  in  the  night,  he 
stumbleth,  because  there  is  no  light  in 
him. 

11  These  things  said  he:  and  after  that  he 
Baith  unto  them.  Our  friend  Lazarus  '^  sleep- 
eth:  but  1  go,  that  I  may  awake  him  out 
of  sleep. 

12  Then  said  his  disciples.  Lord,  if  he 
Bleep,  he  shall  do  well. 

13  liowbeit  Jesus  spake  of  his  death:  but 
they  thought  that  he  had  spoken  of  taking 
of  rest  ill  sleep. 

14  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  plainly, 
Lazarus  is  dead. 

15  And  I  am  glad  for  your  sakes  that  I  was 
not  there,  to  the  intent  ye  may  believe; 
nevertheless  let  us  go  unto  him. 

16  Then  said  Thomas,  which  is  called 
DidjTnus,  unto  his  feUow-disciples,  Let  us 
also  go,  that  we  may  die  with  him. 

17  Then  when  Jesus  came,  he  found  that 
he  had  lain  in  the  grave  four  da.vs  already. 

18  Now  Bethany  was  nigh  unto  Jerusalem, 
1  about  fifteen  furlongs  off. 

19  And  many  of  the  Jews  came  to  Martha 
and  Mary,  to  comfort  thera  concerning 
their  brother. 

20  Then  Martha,  as  soon  as  she  heard 
that  Jesus  was  coming,  went  and  met  him: 
but  Mary  sat  still  in  the  house. 

21  Then  said  Martha  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  if 
thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother  had  not 
died. 

22  But  I  know,  that  even  now,  « what- 
soever thou  wilt  ask  of  God,  God  will  give 
it  thee. 

23  J  esus  saith  unto  her,  Thy  brother  shall 
rise  J  again. 

24  Martha  saith  unto  him,  *I  know  that 
he  shall  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at 
the  last  day. 

25  Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am  '  the  resur- 
rection, and  the  "*  life:  he  "that  believeth 
in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he 
live: 

26  And  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in 
me  shall  never  die.    Believest  thou  this? 

27  She  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord:  "  1  be- 
lieve that  thou  art  the  Chiist,  the  Son  of 
God,  which  should  come  into  the  world, 

28  And  when  she  had  so  said,  she  went 
her  way,  and  called  Mary  her  sister  secretly, 
saying.  The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  lor 
thee. 

29  As  soon  as  she  heard  that,  she  arose 
quickly,  and  came  unto  him. 

30  Now  Jesus  was  not  yet  come  into  the 
town,  but  was  in  that  place  where  Martha 
met  him. 

31  The  Jews  then  which  were  with  her  in 
the  house,  and  conit'oited  her,  when  they 
saw  Mary,  that  slie  rose  up  hastily  and 
went  out,  followed  her,  saving,  She  goeth 
unto  the  grave  to  weep  there. 

32  Then  wlien  Mfuy  was  come  where 
Jesui*  was,  and  saw  him,  she  fell  down  at 


A.  D.  33. 


CHAP.  11. 
d  ch.  ID.  40. 
e  ch.  10.  31. 
/ch.  9.  4. 

ch.  12.  35. 
ft  Deu.  31.16. 

Dan.  12.  2. 

Mat.  9.  24. 

Acts  7.  60. 

1  Cor.  15. 

V.  51. 
I  That  is, 

about  two 

miles. 
i  ch.  9.  31. 
;"  Dan.  12.  2. 

1  Thes.  4. 

14. 

Phil.  3.  21. 
k  Lu.  14.  14. 

ch  5.  29. 
I  ch.  5.  21. 

ch.  6.  39, 

40,44. 


1  John  1. 

1,2. 

1  John  5. 


10. 
o  Mat.  16.16. 

ch.  4.  42. 

ch.  6,14,09. 
2  he 

troubled 

himself 
P  Is.  53.  3. 

Lu.  19  41. 

Ro.  12.  15. 

Heb.  2. 17, 

18. 

Heb.  4. 15. 

<2  ch.  n.  6. 

r  ch.  12.  30. 

«  Deu.  32.o9. 

1  Sam.  2.6. 

Ps.  m.  9. 

Lu.  7.  14. 


Lu. 


.64. 


Acts  3.  15. 
Acts  9.  40. 
Rom.  4.  17. 
t  ch.  20.  7. 
»  ch.  2.  23. 
ch.  10.  42. 
ch.  12.  11, 
18. 

V  Ps.  2.  2. 
Mat.  26.  3. 
Mar.  14.  1. 
Lu.  22.  2. 

V  ch  12. 19. 
Acts  4  16. 

X  Dan.  9.  26, 

V  Lu.  3.  2. 
ch.  18.  14. 
Acts  4.  6. 

»  ch.  18.  14. 

ch.  19.  12. 
a  Is.  49.  6. 

1  John  2.2 
6  ch.  10.  16. 

Acts  13.47 

Gal.  3.  23. 

Eph  3.  6. 

1  Pet.  5.  9. 
e  ch.  4.  1.  3. 
d  2  Cbr.  13. 

19. 
«  ch.  2. 13. 

ch.  6. 1. 

ch.  6.  4. 
/  Ex.  19.  10. 
a  ch.  7.  U. 


his  feet,  saying  unto  him.  Lord,  if  thou 
hadst  been  here,  my  brother  had  not  d'ed. 

33  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  her  weeping, 
and  the  Jews  also  weeping  which  f^uie 
with  her,  he  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  2  was 
troubled, 

34  And  said.  Where  have  ye  laid  him? 
They  said  unto  him.  Lord,  come  and  see. 

35  J  esus  ^  wept. 

36  Then  said  the  Jews,  Behold  how  he 
loved  him! 

37  And  some  of  them  said.  Could  not  this 
man,  «  which  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind, 
have  caused  that  even  this  man  should  not 
have  died? 

Jesus  therefore,  again  groaning  in  him- : 
self,  Cometh  to  the  grave.  It  was  a  cave,  I 
and  a  stone  lay  upon  it. 

39  Jesus  said.  Take  ye  away  the  stone. 
Martha,  the  sister  of  him  that  was  dead, 
saith  unto  him.  Lord,  by  this  time  he 
stiuketh:  for  he  hath  been  dead  four  days. 

40  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Said  I  not  unto 
thee,  that,  if  thou  wouldest  believe,  thoa 
shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God? 

41  Then  they  took  away  the  stone  from 
the  place  where  the  dead  was  laid.  And 
Jesus  lifted  up  Ids  eyes,  and  said,  Father,  I 
thank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me. 

42  And  I  knew  that  thou  hearest  me 
always:  but  ''because  of  the  people  which 
stand  by  1  said  it,  that  they  may  believe 
that  thou  hast  sent  me. 

43  And  when  he  thus  had  spoken,  he  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  Lazarus, '  come  forth. 

44  And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth, 
bound  hand  and  foot  with  grave-clothes; 
and  'his  face  was  bound  about  with  a  nap- 
kin.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Loose  him, 
and  let  him  go. 

45  Then  many  of  the  Jews  which  came  to 
Mary,  "  and  had  seen  the  things  which 
Jesus  did,  believed  on  him. 

46  But  some  of  them  went  their  ways  to 
the  rharisees,  and  told  them  what  things 
Jesus  had  done. 

47  H  Then  "  gathered  the  chief  priests  and 
the  Pharisees  a  council,  and  said,  "*  What 
do  we?  for  this  man  doeth  many  miracles. 

48  If  we  let  him  thus  alone,  all  men  will 
believe  on  him:  and  *  the  Romans  shall 
come  and  take  away  both  our  place  and 
nation. 

49  And  one  of  them,  vamed  v  Caiaphas, 
being  the  high  priest  that  same  year,  said 
unto  them.  Ye  know  nothing  at  all, 

50  Nor* consider  that  it  is  expedient  for 
us,  that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people, 
and  that  the  whole  nation  perish  not. 

51  And  this  spake  he  not  of  himself:  but 
being  high  priest  that  year,  he  prophesied 
that  Jesus  should  die  lor  that  nation; 

52  And  "  not  for  that  nation  only,  *  but 
that  also  he  should  gather  together  in  one 
the  children  of  God  that  were  scattered 
abroad. 

53  Then  from  that  day  forth  they  took 
counsel  together  for  to  put  hiin  to  death. 

54  J  esus '  tlierefore  walked  no  more  openly 
among  the  Jews;  but  went  thence  unto  a 
country  near  to  the  wilderness,  into  a  city 
called  <*  Ephraim,  and  there  continued  with 
his  disciples. 

55  H  And « the  Jews'  passover  was  nigh  at 
hand  :  and  many  went  out  of  the  country 
up  to  Jerusalem  before  the  passover,  to 


Jesus,  and  spake 


purify/ themselves. 
56  Then  "  sought  they  for 


Sickness  and  Death 


JOHN.  XL 


of  Lamms, 


all  hope  of  recovery  is  about  to  expire— just  said  to  have  died.'  [Beng.J  that  ye  may  be- 
then  and  therefore  it  is  that  "  He  ahiiks  tico  lieve— This  is  added  to  explain  His  "  glad- 
diiys  stillin  the  same  place  where  He  is."  Can  uess"  at  not  having  been  present.  His 
they  still  hope  aga'nst  hope  ?  Often  they  do  friend's  death,  as  such,  could  not  have  been 
not;  but  '■  this  is  their  intirmity."  For  it  is  to  Him  '"joyous;"  the  sequel  shows  it  was 
His  chosen  style  of  acting.  We  have  been  :  "gi'ievous;"  but  "for  them  it  was  safe."  (Ph. 
•well  taught  it,  and  should  not  now  have  the  3.  l.;  Tliomas,  called  Didymus— or  '  the  twin  ' 
lesson  to  learn.  From  the  days  of  Moses  let  us  also  go,  that  we  may  die  with  him— lovely 
•was  it^dven  sublimely  forth  as  the  character  spirit,  though  tinsed  with  some  sadness,  such 
of  His  grandest  interpositions,  that  '"  the  !  as  re-appears  at  ch.  14.  5,  showing  the  tend- 
Lord  will  judge  his  people  and  repent  him- 1  ency  of  this  disciple  to  take  the  dark  view  of 
self  for  his  servants— i/;/ien  he  seeth  that  their  things.  On  a  memorable  occasion  this  tend- 
pov-er  is  gone.  (Deu.  32.  36.)  7-10.  Let  us  ency  opened  the  door  to  downright,  though 
go  into  Judea  again— He  was  now  in  Perea,  j  but  momentary,  unbelief,  icb.  20.  25.)  Here, 
'*  beyond  Jordan."  the  Jews  of  late  sought, !  however,  though  alleged  by  many  interpre- 
&c.—lit.,  'were  just)  now  .seeking'  "to  stone  ters,  there  is  nothing  of  the  sort.  He  per- 
thee."  (ch.  10.  31.)  goest  thou  thither  again?  I  ceives  clearly  how  this  journey  to  Judea  will 
— to  certoiwcfcaf/t.,  as  I'.  16  shows  they  thought,  lend,  as  respects  His  Master,  and  not  only 
Are  there  not  twelve  hours  in  the  day?— See  on   sees  in  it  peril  to  themselves,  as  they  all  did, 

'  but  feels  as  if  he  could  not  and  cared  not  to 
survive  His  Master's  sacrifice  to  the  fury  of 
His  enemies.  It  was  that  kind  of  affection 
which,  living  only  in  the  light  of  its  Object, 
cannot  contemplate,  or  has  no  heart  for,  life 
without  it.  17-19.  had  lain  in  the  grave  four 
days— If  he  died  on  the  day  the  tidings  came 
of  his  illness— and  was,  according  to  the 
Jewish  custom,  bm-ied  the  same  day  (see 
Ja/; ?i'sArch?col.  and  v.  39;  A.  5.  5, 6,10.^— and 
if  Jesus,  after  two  days'  farther  stay  in  Perea, 
set  out  on  the  day  following  for  Bethany, 
some  ten  hours'  journey),  that  would  make 
out  the  4  days;  tlie  first  and  last  being  in- 
complete. [Mey.]  Bethany  was  nigh  Jerusa- 
lem, about  fifteen  furlongs- rather  less  than  2 
miles;  mentioned  to  explain  the  visits  of  sym- 
pathy, noticed  in  the  following  words,  which 


ch.  9.  4.  Our  Lord's  day  had  now  reached 
its  11th  hour,  and  having  till  now  "  walked 
in  the  day,"  He  would  not  mistime  the  re- 
maining and  more  critical  part  of  His  work, 
which  would  be  as  fatal,  He  says,  as  omitting 
it  altogether;  for  '"if  a  man  iso  He  speaks, 
putting  Himself  under  the  same  great  law 
of  duty  as  all  other  men— if  a  man;  walk  in 
the  night,  he  stumbleth,  because  there  is  no 
light  in  him."  11-16.  Our  friend  Lazarus 
sleepeth,  but  I  go  that  I  may  awake  him  out  of 
Bleep— Illustrious  title,  '"  Oiir  friend  Laza,- 
rus.^'  To  Abraham  only  is  it  accorded  in  the 
O.  T.,  and  not  till  after  his  death,  2  Chr.  20. 
7;  Is.  41.  8.  to  which  our  attention  is  called 
in  the  N.  T.  (Ja.  2.  23.)  AVhen  Jesus  came 
in  the  flesh.  His  forerunner  applied  this 
name,  in  a  certain  sense,  to  himself,  ch.  3.  29, 
and  into  the  same  fellowship  the  Lord's 
cliosen  disciples  are  declared  to  have  come, 
ch.  15.  13-15.  '  The  phrase  here  employed, 
"our  friend  Lazarus,"  means  more  than  "he 
whom  thou  lovest"  in  v.  3,  for  it  implies  that 
Clirist's  affection  was  reciprocated  by  Laza- 
rus.' [Lmpe.]  Our  Lord  had  been  told  only 
that  Lazarus  was  "  sick."  But  the  change 
which  his  tw-o  days'  delay  had  produced  is 
here  tenderly  alluded  to.  Doubtless,  His 
sinrit  was  all  the  while  with  His  dying,  and 
now  dead  "  friend."  The  symbol  of  "  sleep" 
for  death  is  common  to  all  languages,  and 
familiar  to  us  in  the  O.  T.  In  the  N.  T., 
however,  a  higher  meaning  is  put  into  it,  in 
relation  to  believers  in  Jesus,  (see  on  1  Th. 
4.  14,)  a  sense  hinted  at,  and  pretty  clearly, 
in  Ps.  17. 15.  [Lthdt.];  and  the  "  awaking  out 
of  sleep"  acquires  a  corresponding  sense  far 
transcending  bare  resuscitation,  if  he  sleep 
he  shall  do  well— ?ii.,  *be  preserved;'  i.e.,  're- 
cover.' q.d.,  '  Why  then  go  to  Judea  ? '  said 
plainly,  Lazarus  is  dead—'  Sleep  [says  Bexg. 
beautifully]  is  the  death  of  the  saints,  in  the 
language  of  heaven;  but  this  language  the 
disciples  here  understood  not:  incomparable 
is  the  generosity  of  the  Divine  manner  of 
discoursing,  but  such  is  the  slo-miess  of  men's 
apprehension  that  Scripture  often  has  to 
descend  to  the  more  miserable  style  of  hu- 
man discourse;  cf.  M.  16.  11,'  k.c.  I  am  glad 
for  your  sakcs  I  was  net  there— Tliis  certainly 
implies  that  if  He  had  been  present,  Lazarus 
would  not  have  died;  not  bee:.,  se  He  could 
not  have  resisted  the  importunities  of  the 
sisters,  but  because,  in  presence  of  the  per- 
sonal Life,  death  could  not  have  reached 
His  friend.  [Lthut.]  'It  is  beautifully 
congruous  to  the  divine  decorum  that  in 
presence  of  the  Piince  of  Life  no  one  is  ever 
79 


the  proximity  of  the  two  places  facilitated, 
many  of  the  Jews  came  ...  to  comfort  them— 
Thus  were  provided,  in  a  most  natural  way. 
so  many  witnesses  of  the  glorious  miracle 
that  was  to  follow,  as  to  put  the  fact  beyond 
possible  question.  20-2,^.  Martha,  as  soon  as 
she  heard  .  . .  went  and  met  him— true  to  the 
energy  and  activity  of  her  character,  as  seen 
in  L.  10.  38-42.  (See  notes  there.)  but  Mary 
sat  in  the  house— equally  true  to  ];er  placid 
character.  These  undesigned  touches  not 
only  charmingly  illustrate  the  minute  his- 
toric fidelity  of  both  narratives,  but  their 
in7ier  harmony.  Lorfi,  if  thou  hadst  been  here, 
my  brother  had  not  died— As  Mary  afterwards 
said  the  same  thing  (v.  32.  ,  it  is  plain  they 
had  made  this  very  natural  remark  to  each 
other,  perhaps  many  times  during  these  4 
sad  days,  and  not  without  having  their  con- 
fidence in  His  love  at  times  overclouded. 
Such  trials  of  faith,  however,  are  not  pecu- 
liar to  them,  but  I  know  that  even  now,  &c. 
—Energetic  characters  are  usually  sanguine, 
the  rainbow  of  hope  peering  through  the 
drenching  cloud,  whatever  thou  wilt  ask  of 
God,  God  wiU  give  it  thee— i.e.,  'even  to  the  re- 
storation of  my  dead  brother  to  life,'  for  that 
plainly  is  her  meaning,  as  the  sequel  shows. 
23-27.  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again— purposely 
expressingHimself  in  general  terms,  to  draw 
her  out.  1  know  that  he  shall ...  at  the  last 
day— o.  d,  'But  are  we  never  to  see  him  in 
life  till  then?  I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the 
Lite— q.d. ,  'The uhole power  to  restore,  impart, 
and  maintain  life,  resides  in  Me.'  (See  on 
ch.  1.  4;  5.  21.)  What  higher  claim  to  su- 
preme divinity  than  this  grand  saying  can  be 
conceived?  though  dead  .  . .  shall  live— q.d., 
'  The  believer's  death  shall  be  swallowed  up 
in  life,  and  liis  life  shall  never  sink  into 


John.  XL 


Lazarus  Raised  to  Life. 


Jtcsurredion  of  Lazarus. _^____  . 

tlcath.'  As  death  comes  by  sin,  it  is  His  to  of  tlie  blind  have  caused  that  this  man  should 
dissolve  it;  and  as  life  flows  through  His  |  not  have  died?— Tlie  former  exclamation  came 
righteousness,  it  is  His  to  connnunicate  and  from  the  better-feeling  portion  of  the  spec- 


eternally  maintain  it.  (R.  5.  21.)  The  tem- 
porary separation  of  soul  and  body  is  here 
regarded  as  not  even  interrupting,  much  less 
impairing,  the  new  and  everlasting  life  im- 
parted by  Jesus  to  His  believing  people.  Be- 
lievest  thou  this  ?— Canst  thou  take  this  in  ? 
Yea,  I  believe  that  thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God,  (fee— g.  fi..  And  having  s«c/i  faith  in 
Thee,  I  can  believe  all  which  that  compre- 
hends. While  she  had  a  glimmering  percep- 
tion that  Eesurrection,  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  belonged  to  the  Messianic  oliice  and 
Sonship  of  Jesus,  she  means,  by  this  way  of 
expressing  herself,  to  cover  much  that  she 
felt  her  ignorance  of— as  no  doubt  belonging 
to  Him.  28-32.  The  Master  .  .  .  caUeth  for 
thee— The  narrative  does  not  give  us  this  in- 
teresting detail,  but  Martha's  words  do. 
arose  quickly— affection  for  her  Lord,  assur- 
ance of  His  sympathy,  and  hope  of  His 
interposition,  putting  a  spring  into  her  de- 
pressed spirit.  The  Jews  followed  ...  to  the 
grave  — Thus  casually  were  provided  wit- 
nesses of  the  glorious  miracle  that  followed, 
not  prejudiced,  certainly,  in  favour  of  Him 
who  wrought  it.  to  weep  there— according  to 
Jewish  practice,  for  some  days  after  burial, 
fell  at  his  feet— more  impassioned  than  her 
sister,  though  her  words  were  fewer.  (See 
on  V.  21.)  33-38.  When  Jesus  saw  her  weeping, 
and  the  Jews  weeping,  he  groaned  in  spirit— 
the  tears  of  Mary  and  her  friends  acting  sym- 
pathetically upon  Jesus,  and  drawing  forth 


tators;  this  betokens  a  measure  of  suspicion. 
It  hardly  goes  the  length  of  attesting  the 
miracle  on  the  blind  man;  but  '  if  (as  every- 
body says)  He  did  that,  why  could  He  not 
also  have  kept  Lazarus  alive?  As  to  the 
restoration  of  the  dead  man  to  life,  they 
never  so  mnch  as  thought  of  it.  But  this 
disposition  to  dictate  to  Divine  pcncer,  and 
almost  to  peril  cnir  confidence  in  ituponits 
doing  our  bidding,  is  not  confined  to  men  of 
no  faith,  again  groaning  in  himself— i.e.,  as 
at  V.  33,  checked  or  repressed  His  rising  feel- 
ings, in  the  former  instance,  of  .sorrow,  here 
of  righteous  indignation  at  their  unreason- 
able unbelief,  (cf.  Mk.  3.  5.1  [w.  &  w.  ] 
But  here,  too,  struggling  emotion  was  deeper, 
now  that  His  eye  was  about  to  rest  on  the 
spot  where  lay,  in  the  still  horrors  of  death. 
His  fnend.  a  cave— the  cavity,  natural  or 
artificial,  of  a  rock.  This,  with  the  number 
of  condoling  visitors  from  Jerusalem,  and 
the  costly  ointment  with  which  Mary  after- 
wards anointed  Jesus  at  Bethany,  all  go  to 
show  that  the  family  were  in  good  circum- 
stances. 39-44.  Take  ye  away  the  stone  — 
spoken  to  the  attendants  of  Martha  and 
Mary;  for  it  was  a  work  of  no  little  labour. 
[Grot.]  According  to  the  Talmudists,  it  was 
forbidden  to  open  a  grave  after  the  stone  was 
placed  upon  it.  Besides  other  dangers,  they 
were  apprehensive  of  legal  impurity  by  con- 
tact with  the  dead.  Hence  they  avoided 
coming  nearer  a  grave  than  4  cubits.    [Mai- 


His  emotions."  AVhat  a  vivid  and  beautiful !  monides  in  Lmpe.]    But  He  who  touched 
outcoming  of  His  real  humanity!    The  word  |  the  leper,  and  the  bier  of  the  widow  of  Nain's 


here  rendered  "  groaned "  does  not  mean 
"sighed"  or  "grieved,"  but  rather  'power- 
fully checked  his  emotion'— made  a  visible 
effort  to  restrain  those  tears  which  were 
ready  to  gush  from  His  e.yes.  and  was  troubled 
—rather,  'troubled  himself  imarg.  ;  referring 
prol)ably  to  tliis  visible  difficulty  of  repress- 
ing His  emotions.  Where  have  ye  laid  him  ? 
Lord,  come  and  see— Perhai>s  it  was  to  retain 
composure  enough  to  ask  this  question,  and 
on  receiving  the  answer  to  proceed  with 
them  to  the  spot,  that  He  checlced  Himself. 
Jesus  wept— This  beautifully  conveys  the  su- 
blime brevity  of  the  two  original  words:  else 


son,  rises  here  also  above  these  .Judaic  me- 
morials of  evils,  every  one  of  which  He  had 
come  to  roll  away.  Observe  here  ivhcd  our 
Lord  did  Himself,  and  %rhat  He  made  others 
do.  As  Elijah  hunself  repaired  the  altar  on 
Carmel,  arranged  the  wood,  cut  the  victim, 
and  placed  the  pieces  on  the  fuel,  but  made 
the  bystanders  fill  the  surrounding  trench 
with  water,  that  no  suspicion  might  arise  of 
fire  having  been  secretly  apiJied  to  the  pile 
(1  Ki.  18.  30-35  ;  so  our  Lord  would  let  the 
most  sceptical  see  that,  without  laying  a 
hand  on  the  stone  that  covered  His  friend. 
He  could  recal  liim  to  life.    But  what  could 


sAcd<ears' might  have  better  conveyed  the  be  done  by  human  hand  He  orders  to  be 
difference  between  the  word  here  used  and  done,  reserving  only  to  Himself  what  trau- 
that  t\vice  employed  in  v.  33,  and  there  pro-  scended  the  ability  of  all  creatures.  Martha, 
perly  rendered  "weeping,"  denoting  the  loud  sister  of  the  dead— and  as  such  the  proper 
wail  for  the  dead,  while  that  of  Jesus  con-  guardian  of  the  precious  remains;  the  rela- 
sisted  of  silent  tears.  Is  it  for  nothing  that ,  tionship  being  here  mentioned  to  account 
the  evangelist,  some  .■'Mv  1/ears  after  it  oc-  for  her  venturing  gently  to  remonstrate 
curred,  holds  up  to  all  ages  with  such  touch-  against  their  exposure,  in  a  state  of  decern- 
ing brevity  the  sublime  spectacle  of  the  Son  position,  to  eyes  that  had  l9ved  him  so 
oj  God  in  tears  ?  AVliat  a  seal  of  His  perfect  i  tenderly  in  life.  Lord,  by  this  time  he  stmk- 
oneness  with  us  in  the  most  redeeming  fea-  i  eth,  for  he  hath  been  dead  four  days— (bee  on  v. 
ture  of  our  stricken  humanity!  But  was  17.)  It  is  wrong  to  suppose  from  this  [as 
there  nothing  in  those  tears  beyond  sorrow  Lmpe.  and  others  do]  that,  like  the  bystand- 
for  human  suffering  and  death?  Could  these  ers,  she  had  not  thought  of  hi.s  restoration  to 
effects  move  Him  without  suggesting  the  life.  But  the  glimmerings  of  hope  which  she 
cause?  Whocandoubt  that  in  His  ear  every  cherished  from  the  first  {v.  2.1\.  and  which 
feature  of  the  scene  proclaimed  that  stem  had  been  brightened  by  what  Jesus  said  to 
law  of  the  Kingdom,  "  The  wages  of  sin  is  her  [v.  23-27i,  had  suffered  a  momentary 
dmth,"  and  that  this  element  in  his  visible  eclipse  on  the  proposal  to  expose  the  now 
emotion  underlay  all  the  rest?  said  the  Jews,  sightless  corpse.  To  such  fluctuations  all  reai 
Behold  how  he  loved  him  I— We  thank  you,  O  faith  is  subject  in  dark  hours.^  See.  lor  ex- 
ye  visitors  from  Jerusalem,  for  this  spon-  ample,  the  case  of  Jo?>.!  Said  i  not  unto  thee, 
taneous  testimony  to  the  human  softness  of  that  if  thou  wouldest  believe,  thou  sliouldest  see 
the  8on  of  God.  Aud-rather  'But.'  some  the  glory  of  God?-He  had  not  said  thr)se  very 
said.  Could  not  this  man  which  opened  the  eyea  i  words,  but  this  was  the  scope  of  all  that  He 
T'J    (ij 


Lazarus  Raised  from  tTie  Bead. 


JOHN.  xn. 


TliA  Anointing  at  Bethany. 


had  uttered   to   her  about  His  life  giving  (cure  of  the  man  born  blind)  is  distinguished 

power  v.  23,  25,  26.1;  a  gentle  yet  emphatic  from  all  others  by  the  open  and  formal  in- 

and  most  instruciive  rebuke :   'Why  doth  vestigation  of  its  facts.     And   both   these 

the  restoration  of  life,  even  to  a  decomposing  miracles,  the  most  public  and  best  attested 
corpse,  seem  hopeless  in  presence  of  the  i^e-,  of  the  whole,  are  related  by  St.  John,  who 

surrection  and  the  Life?    Hast  thou  yet  to  wrote   long   after   the   other    Evangelists.' 

learn  that  "if  thou  canst  believe  ail  things  [w.  (few.]  47-54.  What  do  we?  fcc—g-.d.,  "Whilo 

are  possible  to  him  that  believeth?"    (JNlk.  i).  we  trifle.  "  this  man,"  by  his  "  many  mir- 

23.)    lifted  up  Ms  eyes— an  expression  mark-  acles,"  will  carry  ail  before  him;  the  popular 


ing  His  calm  solemnity,  cf.  c 


pres.sic 
•h.  17. 1 


Father,  enthusiasm  wUl  bring  on  a  revolution,  which 


I  thank  tliee  that  thou  hast  heard  me— rather,  will  precipitate  the  Hr.mans  upon  us,  and 
*  heardest  me,'  relerring  to  a  specific  prayer '  fiur  all  will  go  down  in  one  common  ruin.' 
offered  by  Him,  probably  on  intelligence  of  "What  a  testimony  to  the  reality  of  oui  Lord's 
the  case  reaching  Him  :v.  3, 4.);  for  His  living  miracles,  and  their  resistless  eifect.from  His 
and  loving  oneness  with  the  Father  was  bitterest  enemies  .'  Ciiiaphas  . ,  .  prophesied 
maintained  and  manifested  in  the  flesh,  not  that  Jesus  should  die,  &c.— He  meant  notJiing 
merelyby  the  spontaneous  and  uninterrupted  more  than  that  the  way  to  prevent  the  ap- 
outgoing  of  Each  to  Each  in  spirit,  but  by  prehended  ruin  of  the  nation  was  to  make  a 
specific  actings  of  faith  and  exercises  of  sacrifice  of  the  Disturber  of  their  peace, 
prayer  about  each  successive  case  as  it  [  But  in  giving  utterance  to  this  suggestion  of 
emerged.  He  prayed  [says  Lthdt.  well]  not '  political  expediency,  he  was  so  guided  as  to 
for  what  He  wanted,  but  for  the  manilesta- !  give  forth  a  Divine  prediction  of  deep  signi- 
tion  of  v/hat  He  had;  and  having  the  bright  ficance;  and  God  so  ordered  it  that  it  should 

come  from  the  lips  of  the  high  priest  for  that 
memorable  year,  the  recognised  head  of 
God's  visible  people,  whose  ancient  office, 
symbolised  by  the  Urim  andThimimim,  was 
to  decide  in  the  last  resort,  all  vital  ques- 
tions as  the  oracle  of  the  Divine  will,  and 
not  for  that  nation  only,  &c.— These  are  the 
Evangelist's  words,  not  Caiaphas's.  to  put 
him  to  death— Caiaphas  but  expressed  what 
the  party  were  secretly  wishing,  but  afraid 
to  propose.  Jesus  walked  no  more  openly 
among  the  Jews— How  could  He,  unless  He 
had  wished  to  die  before  His  time?  near  the 
wilderness— of  Judea.  a  city  called  Ephraim— 
between  Jerusalem  and  Jericho.  55-57. 
Passover  at  hand  . .  .  many  went  up  before  to 
purify  themselves— from  any  legal  unclean- 
ness  which  would  have  disqualified  them 
from  keeping  the  feast.  This  is  mentioned 
to  introduce  the  graphic  statement  whicli 

fnllowsi         Rniicrhf-.  fnr   .Tp«iia 


consciousness  of  the  answer  in  the  felt  liberty 
to  ask  it,  and  the  assurance  that  it  was  at 
hand.  He  gives  thanks  for  this  with  a  grand 
simplicity  beiore  performing  the  act.  And— 
rather  'Yet.'  I  knew  that  thou  h'jarest  me 
always,  hut  because  of  the  people  that  stand  by 
I  said  it,  that  they  might  beUeve  that  thou  hast 
sent  me— Instead  of  praying  now.  He  simply 

fives  thanks  for  answer  to  prayer  offered  ere 
£e  left  Perea,  and  adds  that  His  doing  even 
this,  in  the  audience  of  the  people,  was  not 
from  any  doubt  of  the  prevalency  of  His 
prayers  in  any  case,  but  to  show  the  people 
that  He  did  nothing  without  His  Father,  but 
all  by  direct  communication  with  Him.  43, 
44.  Cried  with  a  loud  voice— On  one  other  oc- 
casion only  did  He  this— on  the  cross.  His 
last  utterance  was  a  "loud  cry."  (M.  fl.  50.) 
**  He  shall  not  cry,"  said  the  prophet,  nor,  in 
His  ministry,  did  He.  What  a  subhme  con- 
trast is  this  "loud  cry"  to  the  magical 
"whisperings "and  "mutterings"  of  which 
we  read  in  Is.  8. 19;  29.  4.  [as  Grot,  remarks.] 
It  is  second  only  to  the  grandeur  of  that  voice 
which  shall  raise  all  the  dead,  ch.  6.  28,  29;  1 
Th.  4.  16.  loose  him  and  let  him  go— Jesus 
will  no  more  do  this  Himself  than  roll  away 
the  stone.  The  one  was  the  necessary  prepa- 
ration for  resurrection,  the  other  the  neces- 
sary seqweZ  to  it.  THELlFE-GlVlNGt  ACT  ALONE 

He  reserves  to  Himself.  So  in  the  quicken- 
ing of  the  dead  to  spiritual  life,  human  indni- 
meniality  is  emiJloyed  first  to  prepare  the  v:ay, 
and  then  to  turn  it  to  account.  45,  46.  Many 
. . .  which  had  seen  . .  .  believed,  but  some  went 
to  the  Pharisees  and  told  what  Jesus  had  done— 
The  two  classes  which  continually  re-appear 
in  the  Gospel  history;  nor  is  there  ever  any 
great  work  of  God  which  does  not  produce 
both.  '  It  is  remarkable  that  on  each  of  the 
three  occasions  on  which  our  Lord  raised 
the  dead,  a  large  number  of  persons  was 
assembled.  In  two  instances,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  widow's  son  and  of  Lazarus,  these 
were  all  witnesses  of  the  miracle;  in  the  third 
(of  Jairus'daughter)  they  were  necessarily  cog- 
nisant of  it.  Yet  this  important  circumstance 
is  in  each  case  only  incidentally  noticed  by  the 
historians,  not  put  forward  or  appealed  to  as 
a  proof  of  their  veracity.  In  regard  to  this 
miracle,  we  observe  a  greater  degree  of  pre- 
paration, both  in  the  provident  arrangement 
of  events,  and  in  our  Lord's  actions  and  words 


than  in  any  other 


The  preceding  miracle 


follows,  sought  for  Jesus,  and  spake  among 
themselves  as  they  stood  in  the  temple— giving 
forth  their  various  conjectures  and  specu- 
lations about  the  probability  of  His  coming 
to  the  feast,  tiiat  he  will  not  come?— The  form 
of  this  question  implies  the  opinion  that  He 
rather  would  come,  chief  priests  and  Phari- 
sees had  given  comnxandment  that  if  any  knew 
where  he  were,  they  should  show  it,  that  they 
might  take  him— This  is  mentioned  to  ac- 
count for  the  conjectures  whether  He  would 
come,  in  spite  of  this  determination  to  seize 

Him, 

CHAPTER  xn. 
ver.  1-11.  The  Ajs'ointing  at  Bethany. 
See  on  M.  26.  6-13.  1-8.  Six  days  before  the 
passover— f.e.,  on  the  6tti  day  before  it;  pro- 
bably after  sunset  on  Friday  evening,  or  the 
commencement  of  the  Jewish  Sabbath  pre- 
cedmg  the  Passover.  Martha  served— This, 
with  what  is  afterwards  said  of  Mary's  way 
of  honouring  her  Lord,  is  so  true  to  the 
character  in  which  those  two  women  appear 
in  L.  10.  33-42,  as  to  constitute  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  delit;htfiil  confirmations 
of  the  truth  of  both  narratives.  See  also  on 
ch.  11.  20.  Lazarus  sat  at  the  table— Between 
the  raised  Lazarus  and  the  healed  Leper 
Simon,  IVlk.  14.  3.)  the  Lord  probably  sits  as 
betiveen  tv:o  trophies  of  His  glory.'  [Stier.J 
spikenard— or  pure  7iard,  a  celebrated  aro- 
matic. (Cant.  1.  12.1  anointed  the  feet  of 
Jesus— and  "poured  it  on  his  head,"  M.  26. 
7;  JVLk.  14.  3.    The  only  use  of  this  was  to 


Christ  rldeth  into  Jerusalem. 


joim.  xn. 


He  foretelleth  hia  deatK 


among  themselves,  as  they  stood  in  the 
temple,  What  think  ye,  that  he  will  not 
cometo  the  least? 

67  Now  both  the  chief  priests  and  the 
Pharisees  had  given  a  commandment,  that, 
if  any  man  knew  where  he  were,  he  should 
ehow  it,  that  they  miirht  take  him. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
1  Jesus  exeuselh  Mary  anointing  his  feet.     10  The 

chief  priests  consult  to  kill  Lazarus.     12  Christ 

rideth  into  Jerusalem  with  triumph.      23  Me 

foretelleth  his  death. 

T'HEN  Jesus,  si.x  days  before  the  passover, 
■^  came  to  Bethany,  "  where  Lazarus  was 
which  had  been  dead,  whom  he  raised  from 
the  dead. 

2  There  ^they  made  him  a  supper;  and 
Martha  ser^'ed:  but  Lazarus  was  one  of 
them  that  sat  at  tlie  table  with  him. 

3  Then  took  *  Mary  a  pound  of  ointment 
of  spikenard,  very  costly,  and  anointed  the 
feet  of  Jesus,  and  wiped  his  feet  with  her 
hair:  and  the  house  was  filled  with  the 
odour  of  the  ointment. 

4  Then  saith  one  of  his  disciples,  Judas 
Iscariot,  Simon's  son,  which  should  betray 
him, 

5  Why  was  not  this  ointment  sold  for 
three  houdi-ed  pence,  and  given  to  the 
poor? 

6  This  he  said,  not  that  he  cared  for  the 
poor;  but  because  he  was  a  thief,  and  <*  had 
the  bag,  and  bare  what  was  put  therein. 

7  Then  said  Jesus,  Let  her  alone:  against 
the  day  of  my  burying  hath  she  kept  this. 

8  For  *  the  poor  always  ye  have  with  you; 
but  me  ye  have  not  always. 

9  IT  Much  people  of  the  Jews  therefore 
knew  that  he  was  there:  and  they  came 
not  for  Jesus'  sake  only,  but  that  they 
might  see  Lazarus  also,  whom  he  had 
raised  from  the  dead. 

10  But  /the  chief  priests  consulted  that 
they  might  put  Lazai  us  also  to  death ; 

11  Because  » that  by  reason  of  him  many 
of  the  Jews  went  away,  and  believed  on 
Jesus. 

12  IT  On  ft  the  next  day  much  people  that 
were  come  to  the  feast,  when  they  heard 
that  Jesus  was  coming  to  Jerusalem, 

13  Took  branches  of  palm  trees,  and  went 
forth  to  meet  him,  and  cried,  «llosanna: 
Blessed  is  the  King  of  Israel  that  cometh 
m  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

14  And  Jesus,  when  he  had  foimd  a  young 
ass,  sat  thereon;  as  it  is  written, 

15  Fear  /not,  daughter  of  Sion:  behold, 
thy  lung  cometh,  sitting  on  an  ass's  colt. 

16  These  things  «  understood  not  his  disci- 
ples at  the  first:  '  but  when  Jesus  was 
glorified,  "*  then  remembered  they  that 
these  thmgs  were  written  of  him,  and  that 
they  had  done  these  things  unto  him. 

17  The  people  therefore  that  was  with  him 
when  he  called  Lazarus  out  of  his  grave, 
and  raised  him  from  the  dead,  bare  record. 

18  For  this  cause  the  people  also  met  him. 
for  that  they  heard  that  he  had  done  this 
miracle. 

iy  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  among 
themselves.  Perceive  ye  how  ye  prevail 
nothmg?  behold,  the  world  is  gone  after 
hmi. 

20  U  Ajid  there  "were  certain  Greeks 
among  them  "  that  came  up  to  worsliin  at 
the  feast: 

21  The  same  came  therefore  to  Philip, 
Which  was  of  Betbsaida  of  Galilee,  aud 


CHAP.  12. 
a  ch.  n.1,43, 
6  Mat.  2ti.  e. 

Mark  14  3. 
e  Lu.  10.  38, 

39. 

ch.11.2. 
d  Pro.  20. 25. 

ch.  13.  29. 
•Deu.  15.11. 

Mat.  20.11. 

Mark  14.  7. 
f  Fro.  1.  16. 

Pro.  4.  16. 

Lu.  IB.  31. 
g  Mar.  16.10. 

ch.  11.  46. 

Act.  13.45. 
h  Lu.  19.  35. 
i  P».  72. 17- 

J9. 

P..  118. 25. 

1  Ti.  1.  17. 
}  U.  62.  11. 

Zech.  9.  9. 
k  Lu.  18.  34. 
{  ch.  7.  39. 

Heb.  1.  3. 
m  ch.  U.  26. 
n  Act»  17.  4. 
0  1  Ki.  8.  41. 

Act*  8.  27. 
p  ch.  13.  32. 

ch.  17.  1. 
q  1  Ccr.  15. 

36. 

Heb.  2.  10. 

1  John4.14. 
llev.  5.  9. 

r  Lu.  9.  24. 
Lu.  17.  33. 

•  lThes.4.17. 
t  Lu.  12.  50. 

ch.  13.  21. 
w  Lu.  22.  63. 

V  2  Pet.  1.17. 
tc  ch.  11.  42. 
«  Lu.  10.  18. 

ch.  14.  30. 
ch.  16.  11. 
Act>'J6.18. 

2  Cor.  4.4. 
E(.h.  2.  2. 
£l.h.  6.  12. 
1  John  3.8. 

V  Kom.  5.  IS. 
Het*.  2.  9. 

*  2  Sa.  7.  13. 
Ps.  89.  36. 
P».  no.  4. 
i».  9.  7. 
Is.  53.  8. 
£z6.  37.  25. 
I>an.  2.  44. 
Mic.  4.  7. 

a  U.  42.  a. 

ch.  1.  9. 

ch.  8.  12. 

ch.  9.  5. 
b  Jor.  13.  IG. 

£ph.  6.  8. 
e  ch.  11.  10. 

1  John  2. 

11. 
d  Lu.  16.  8. 

Epli.  5.  8. 

1  Th03.5.6. 

1  John  2. 

9-11. 
«  l9,  63.  1. 

Kom.10.16. 
/  Is.  6.  9. 

Mat.  13.14. 
g  Is.  6.  1. 

Heb.  11.13. 
h  ch.  6.  44. 
i  Mar.  9.  37. 

1  ret.  i.n. 


desired  him,  saying,  Sir,  we  would   see 

JfSU.S. 

22  Philip  cometh  and  telleth  Andrew:  and 
again  Andrew  and  Philip  tell  Jesus. 

23  TT  And  Jesus  answered  them,  saying, 
The^  hour  is  come,  that  the  Son  of  maa 
should  be  glorified. 

24  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  «  Except 
a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the  ground  and 
die,  it  abideth  alone:  but  if  it  die,  it  bring- 
eth  forth  much  fiaiit. 

25  He  ''that  loveth  his  life  shall  lose  it; 
and  he  that  hateth  his  life  in  this  world 
shall  keep  it  unto  life  eternal. 

26  If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him  follow 
me;  and  *  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my 
servant  be:  if  any  man  serve  me,  him  will 
my  Father  honour. 

27  Now  'is  my  soul  troubled;  and  what 
shall  I  say?  lather,  save  me  from  this 
hour:  "  but  for  this  cause  came  I  unto  this 
hour. 

28  Father,  glorify  thy  name.  *  Then  came 
there  a  voice  from  heaven,  sai/inp,  1  have 
both  glorified  it,  and  will  glorffy  it  again. 

29  The  people  therefore  that  stood  by,  and 
heard  it,  said  that  it  thmidered:  others 
said,  An  angel  spake  to  him. 

30  Jesus  answered  and  said,  ""This  voice 
came  not  because  of  me,  but  for  your 
sakes. 

31  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  world:  now 
shall  *  the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out. 

32  And  1,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  ^  all  men  unto  me. 

33  (This  he  said,  signifjiiig  what  death  he 
should  die.) 

34  The  people  answered  him,  *We  have 
heard  out  of  the  law  that  Christ  abideth 
for  ever:  and  how  sayest  thou.  The  Son  of 
man  must  be  lifted  apt  who  is  this  Son  of 
man? 

35  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Yet  a  little 
while  "  is  the  light  with  you.  *  Walk  while 
ye  have  the  light,  lest  darkness  come  upon 
you:  for  "  he  that  walketh  in  darkness 
knoweth  not  whither  he  goeth. 

36  While  ye  have  light.believe  in  the  light, 
that  ye  may  be  <*  the  children  of  light. 
These  things  spake  Jesus,  aud  departed, 
and  did  hide  himself  from  them. 

37  H  But  though  he  had  done  so  many 
.miracles  before  them,  yet  they  believed  not 
on  him: 

38  That  the  saying  of  Esaias  the  prophet 
might  be  fulfilled,  which  he  spake,  *  Lord, 
who  hath  believed  our  report?  and  to 
whom  hath  the  arm  of  the  Lord  been  re- 
vealed? 

39  Therefore  they  could  not  believe,  be- 
cause that  Esaias  said  again, 

40  He  /  hath  blinded  their  eyes,  and 
hardened  their  heart ;  that  they  should  not 
see  with  their  eyes,  nor  understand  with 
their  heart,  and  be  converted,  and  1  should 
heal  them. 

41  These  things  said  Esaias,  when  ^  he  saw 
his  glory,  and  spake  of  him. 

42  ^  Nevertheless  among  the  chief  rulers 
also  many  believed  on  him;  but  because 
of  the  Pharisees  they  did  not  confess  him, 
lest  they  should  be  put  out  of  the  syna- 
gogue: 

43  For  ft  they  loved  the  praise  of  men  more 
than  the  praise  of  God. 

44  IT  Jesus  cried  and  said,  <He  that  be- 
Heveth  on  me,  believeth  not  on  me,  but  ou 
him  tliat  sent  me. 


ChnsPs  Feet  Anoinied. 


JOHN.  xn. 


His  Entry  into  Jerusalem. 


refresh  and  exhilarate— a  grateful  compli- 
ment in  the  East,  amidst  the  closeness  of  a 
heated  atmosphere,  with  many  guests  at  a 
feast.  Such  was  the  form  in  which  Mary's 
love  to  Christ,  at  so  much  cost  to  herself, 
poured  itself  out.  Judas  .  .  .  who  should  be- 
tray him— For  the  reason  why  this  is  here 
mentioned,  see  on  M.  26.  6.  three  hundred 
peuce— between  9  and  10  pounds  sterling, 
had  the  bag— the  purse  or  treasure-chest, 
bare  what  was  put  there— not,  bare  it  off  by 
theft,  though  tliat  he  did;  but  simply,  had 
charge  of  its  contents,  was  treasurer  to  Jesus 
and  the  12.  How  worthy  of  notice  is  this 
arrangement,  by  which  an  avaricious  and 
dishonest  person  was  not  only  taken  into  the 
number  of  the  12,  but  entrusted  with  the 
custody  of  their  little  property.  The  pur- 
poses which  this  served  ai-e  obvious  enough; 
but  it  is  farther  noticeable,  that  the  remotest 
hint  was  never  given  to  the  11  of  his  true 
character,  nor  did  the  disciples  most  favour- 
ed with  the  intimacy  of  Jesus  ever  suspect 
Lim,  till  a  few  minutes  before  he  voluntarily 
separated  himself  from  their  company— for 
ever!  against  the  day  of  my  burying  hath  she 
done  this— not  that  she  thought  of  His  burial, 
much  less  reserved  any  of  her  nard  to  anoint 
her  dead  Lord.  But  as  the  time  was  so  near 
at  hand  when  that  office  would  have  to  be 
performed,  and  she  was  not  to  have  that  pri- 
vilege even  after  the  spices  were  hr ought  Jor 
the  purpose  (Alk.  16. 1.),  He  lovingly  regards 
it  as  done  no^o.  the  poor  always  with  yoa— 
referring  to  Deu.  15. 11.  but  me  not  always— 
a  gentle  hint  of  His  approaching  departure. 
He  adds,  Mk.  14. 8—"  .S7(e  hath  done  what  she 
could,"  a  noble  testimony,  embodying  a 
principle  of  immense  importance.  "  Verily 
1  say  unto  you.  Wheresoever  this  gospel  shall 
be  preached  in  the  whole  world,  there  shall 
also  this,  that  this  woman  hath  done,  be  told 
for  a  memorial  of  her."  iM.  26.  13;  Mk.  14. 
0.)  'In  the  act  of  love  done  to  Him  she  had 
erected  to  herself  an  eternal  monument,  as 
lasting  as  the  Gospel,  the  eternal  word  of 
God.  From  generation  to  generation  this 
remarkable  prophecy  of  the  Lord  has  been 
fulfilled  ;  and  even  we.  in  explaining  this 
saying  of  the  Redeemer,  of  necessity  contri- 
bute to  its  accomplishment.'  [Olsh.]  'Who 
but  Him.self  had  the  power  to  ensure  to  any 
work  of  man,  even  if  resounding  in  his  own 
time  through  the  whole  earth,  an  imperi.sh- 
able  remembrance  in  the  stream  of  history? 
Behold  once  more  here,  the  majesty  of  His 
royal  judicial  supremacy  in  the  government 
of  the  world,  in  this  "Verily  I  say  unto  you." ' 
fSTiEK..]  Beautiful  are  the  lessons  here. 
(1.)  Love  to  Christ  tram^figxires  the  humblest 
services.  All,  indeed,  who  have  themselves 
a  heart  value  its  least  outgoings  beyond  the 
most  costly  mechanical  performances;  but 
bow  does  it  endear  the  Saviour  to  us  to  find 
Him  endorsing  the  principle  as  His  own 
standard  in  judging  of  character  and  deeds! 

"  What  though  in  poor  and  humble  guise 
Thou  here  didst  sojourn  cottage-born? 

Tet  from  thy  glory  in  the  skies 
Our  earthly  gold  thou  didst  not  scorn. 

For  Love  delights  to  bring  her  best, 

And  where  Love  is,  that  ofl'ering  evermore  is  blest. 

Iiove  on  the  Saviour's  dying  head 
Her  spikenard  drops  unlilam'd  may  pour. 

May  mount  his  cross,  and  wrap  him  dead 
la  spices  from  the  golden  shore,"  etc.— [Keble.] 


(2.1  Works  of  utility  should  never  be  set  in 
opposition  to  the  promptings  of  self-sacri- 
ficing love,  and  the  sincerity  of  those  who  do 
so  is  to  be  suspected.  Under  the  mask  of 
concern  for  the  poor  at  home,  how  many  ex- 
cuse themselves  from  aU  care  of  the  perishing 
heathen  abroad.  (3.)  Amidst  conflicting 
duties,  that  which  our  "  hand  [presently} 
findeth  to  do  "  is  to  be  preferred,  and  even  a 
less  duty  oidy  to  he  done  now  to  a  greater  that 
can  he  done  at  any  time.  (4.)  "If  there  be 
first  a  willing  mind,  it  is  accepted  according 
to  that  a  man  hath,  and  not  according  to 
that  he  hath  not"  !2  Co.  8. 12.1— "She  hath 
done  what  she  could."  (.5.)  As  Jesus  beheld 
in  spirit  the  universal  diffusion  of  His  Gos- 
pel, while  His  lowest  depth  of  humiliation 
was  only  approaching,  so  He  regards  the  facts 
of  His  earthly  History  as  constituting  the 
substance  of  th  is  Gospel,  and  the  relation  of 
th^m  as  just  the  "  preaching  of  this  Gospel." 
Not  that  preachers  are  to  confine  themselves 
to  a  bare  narration  of  these  facts,  but  that 
they  are  to  make  their  whole  preaching  turn 
upon  them  as  its  grand  centre,  and  derive 
from  them  its  proper  vitality;  all  that  goes 
before  this  in  the  Biblebeing  but  the  prepara- 
tion for  them,  and  all  that  follows  but  the 
sequel.  9-11.  Crowds  of  the  Jerusalem  Jews 
hastened  to  Bethany,  not  so  much  to  see 
Jesus,  whom  they  knew  to  be  there,  as  to  see 
dead  Lazarus  alive;  and  this,  issuing  in  their 
accession  to  Clirist,  led  to  a  plot  against  the 
life  of  Lazarus  also,  as  the  only  means  of 
arresting  the  triumphs  of  Jesus  see  v.  19.)— 
to  such  a  pitch  had  these  chief  priests  come 
of  diabolical  determination  to  .sluit  out  the 
light  from  themselves,  and  quench  it  from, 
the  earth! 

12-19.  Christ's  TRitTMPH.\L  Entry  into 
Jerusalem.  See  on  M.  21.  1.  <fcc. ;  and  I/.  19. 
29,  &c.  12.  On  the  next  day— the  Lord's  day, 
or  Sunday  (see  on  v.  1.);  the  loth  day  of  the 
Jewish  month  Nisan,  on  which  the  Paschal 
Lamb  was  set  apart,  to  be  "  kept  up  until 
the  14th  day  of  the  same  month,  when  the 
whole  assemblj'of  the  congregation  of  Israel 
were  to  kill  it  in  the  evening."  (Ex.  12.  3,  6.) 
Even  so,  from  the  day  of  this  solemn  entry 
into  Jerusalem,  "  Christ  our  Passover"  was 
virtually  set  apart  to  be  "  sacrificed  for  us." 
1  Co.  5.  7.)  16.  When  Jesus  was  glorified,  then 
remembered  they  that  these  things  were  written 
of  him,  &c.— The  Spirit,  descending  un  them 
from  the  glorified  Sa\iour  at  Pentecost, 
opened  their  eyes  suddenly  to  the  true  .^ense 
of  the  O.  T.,  brought  vividly  to  their  recol- 
lection this  and  other  Messianic  prediction.^, 
and  to  their  unspeakable  astonishment 
showed  them  that  they,  and  all  the  actor>  in 
these  scenes  had  been  unconsciously  fulfill- 
ing  those  predictions. 

20-36.  Some  Greeks  Desire  to  See 
Jesus— The  Discourse  and  Scene  thei;e- 
UPON.  20-22.  Greeks— Not  Grecian  J  ews,  but 
Greek  proselytes  to  the  Jewish  faith,  who 
were  wont  to  attend  the  annual  festivals, 
particulai-ly  this  primary  one,  the  passover. 
to  Philip  of  Bethsaida— possibly  as  being  from 
the  same  Ciuarter.  we  would  see  Jesus— cer- 
tainly in  a  far  better  sense  than  Zaccheus. 
(L.  19.  3.)  Perhaps  He  was  then  in  that  part 
of  the  temple-court  to  which  Gentile  prose- 
lytes had  no  access.  'These  men  from  the 
west  represent,  at  the  end  of  Christ's  life, 
what  the  wise  men  from  the  east  represented 
at  its  beginning;  but  those  come  to  tlie  cross 


Christ  Foretelleth 


JOHN.  XU. 


His  DeatTi, 


of  the  King,  even  as  these  to  His  Manger.' 
[Stieb.]  Philip  telleth  Andrew— As  fellow- 
townsmen  ofEethsaida,  (ch.  1.  44.)  these  two 
seem  to  haVe  drawn  to  each  other.  Andrew 
and  Philip  tell  Jesus— Tlie  minuteness  of  these 
details,  while  they  add  to  the  gi-aphic  force 
of  the  narrative,  serve  to  prepare  us  for 
something  important  to  come  out  of  this  in- 
troduction. 23-26.  The  hour  is  come  that  the 
Sou  of  Man  should  be  glorified— q.ct.,  'Tliey 
would  see  Jesus,  would  they?  Yet  a  little  mo- 
ment, and  they  shall  see  Him  so  as  now  they 
dream  not  of.  The  middle  wall  of  partition 
that  keeps  them  out  from  the  commonwealth 
of  Israel  is  on  the  eve  of  breaking  down, 
"  and  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  shall 
draw  all  men  unto  Me:'  I  see  them  "fly- 
ing as  a  cloud,  and  as  doves  to  their  cots  "—a 
glorious  event  that  will  be  for  the  Son  of  Man, 
by  which  this  is  to  be  brought  about."  It  is  His 
death  He  thus  sublimely  and  delicately  al- 
ludes to.  Lost  in  the  scenes  of  triumph 
which  this  desire  of  the  Greeks  to  see  Him 
called  up  before  His  view.  He  gives  no  direct 
answer  to  their  petition  for  an  interview, 
but  sees  the  cross  which  was  to  bring  them 
gilded  with  glory.  Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall 
into  the  ground  and  die,  it  abideth  alone:  but  if 
it  die  it  bringeth  forth  much  fruit— The  neces- 
sity of  His  death  is  here  brightly  expressed, 
and  its  proper  operation  and  fruit— Z(/e 
springing  forth  out  of  death — imaged  forth  by 
a  beautiful  and  deeply  significant  law  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom.  For  a  double  reason,  no 
doubt,  this  was  uttered— to  explain  what  He 
had  said  of  His  death,  as  the  hour  of  His  own 
glorification,  and  to  sustain  His  own  Spirit 
under  the  agitation  which  was  mysteriously 
coming  over  it  in  the  view  of  that  death.  He 
that  loveth  his  life  shall  lose  it;  and  he  that 
hateth  his  life  in  this  world  shall  keep  it  unto 
life  eternal— See  on  L.  9.  24.  Did  our  Lord 
mean  to  exclude  Himself  from  the  operation 
of  the  great  principle  here  expressed— £e//- 
renunciation  the  law  of  self -preservation',  and 
its  converse,  self-irreservation  the  law  of  self- 
destruction?  L'n  the  contrary,  as  He  became 
Man  to  exemplify  this  fundamental  law  of 
the  Kingdom  of  God  in  its  most  sublime 
form,  so  the  very  utterance  of  it  on  this  occa- 
sion served  to  sustain  His  own  Spirit  in  the 
double  prospect  to  which  He  had  just  al- 
luded. If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him  follow  me ; 
and  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my  servant  be: 
If  any  man  serve  m=,  him  will  my  Father  hon- 
our—Jesus here  claims  the  same  absolute  sub- 
jection to  Himself  as  the  lav)  of  nun's  exalta- 
tion to  honour,  as  He  yielded  to  tJie  Father. 
27,  28.  Now  is  my  soul  troubled— He  means  at 
the  prospect  of  His  death,  ju.st  alluded  to. 
Strange  view  of  the  Cross  this,  immediately 
after  representing  it  as  the  hour  of  His  glory! 
(v.  23. )  But  the  two  views  naturally  meet, 
and  blend  into  one.  It  was  the  Greeks,  one 
might  say,  that  troubled  Him.  'All!  they 
shall  see  Jesus,  but  foifim  it  shall  be  a  costly 
sight.'  and  what  shall  I  say?— He  is  in  a  strait 
betwixt  two.  The  death  of  the  Cross  was,  and 
could  not  but  be,  appalling  to  His  spirit. 
But  to  shrink  from  absolute  subjection  to 
the  Father,  was  worse  still.  In  asking  Him- 
self. "  What  shall  I  say?"  He  seems  as  if 
thinking  aloud,  feeling  His  way  between  two 
dread  alternivtives,  looking  both  of  them 
sternly  in  tho  face,  measuring,  weiuhiig 
them,  in  order  that  the  choice  actually  made 
mighc  be  seen,  and  even  by  HimseU'tlle  more 


vividly  felt,  to  be  a  profound,  deliberate, 
spontaneous  election.  Father,  save  me  from 
this  hour— To  take  this  as  a  question,  'Sliall 
I  say,  Father,  save  me,'(fcc.— as  some  eminent 
editors  and  interpreters  do,  is  unnatural  and 
jejune.  It  is  a  real  petition,  like  that  in 
Gethsemane,  "Let  this  cup  pass  from  me;" 
only  whereas  there  He  prefaces  the  prayer 
with  an  "If  it  be  possible,"  tiere  He  follows 
it  up  with  what  is  tantamount  to  that— 
"Nevertheless  for  this  caitse  came  I  unto 
this  hour."  The  sentiment  conveyed,  then, 
by  the  prayer,  in  both  cases,  is  twofold:  a.) 
that  only  one  thing  could  reconcile  Him  to 
the  death  of  the  Cross— its  being  His  Father's 
will  He  should  endure  it— and  (2.)  that  in  this 
view  of  it  He  yielded  Himself  freely  to  it. 
What  He  recoils  from  is  not  subjection  to  His 
Father's  will;  but  to  shoio  how  tremendous  a 
self-sacrifice  that  obedience  involved.  He  first 
asks  the  Father  to  save  Him  from  it,  and 
then  signifies  how  perfectly  He  knows  that 
He  is  there  for  the  very  purpose  of  enduring 
it.  Only  by  letting  these  mysterious  words 
speak  their  fuU  meaning  do  they  become  in- 
telligible and  consistent.  As  for  those  who 
see  no  bitter  elements  in  the  death  of  Chnst— 
nothing  beyond  mere  dying— what  can  they 
make  of  stich  a  scene  ?  and  when  they  place 
it  over  against  the  feelings  with  which  thou- 
sands of  His  adoring  followers  have  welcomed 
death  for  His  sake,  how  can  they  hold  Him 
up  to  the  admiration  of  men?  Father,  glorily 
thy  name— by  a  present  testimony.  I  have  botn 
glorified  it— referring  specially  to  the  voice 
from  heaven  at  His  baptism,  and  again  at  His 
transfiguration,  and  will  glorify  it  again— i.e., 
in  the  yet  future  scenes  of  His  still  deeper 
necessity;  although  this  promise  was  a  pre- 
sent and  sublime  testimony,  which  would 
irradiate  the  clouded  spirit  of  the  Son  of 
Man.  29-33.  people  said,  It  thundered;  others, 
an  angel  spake  to  him— some  hearing  only  a 
sound,  others  an  articulate,  but  to  them  un- 
intelligible voice.  This  voice  came  not  because 
of  me,  but  for  your  sakes— i.e.,  probably,  to 
correct  the  unfavourable  impressions  which 
his  momentary  agitation  and  mysterious 
prayer  for  deliverance  may  have  produced 
on  the  bystanders.  N.w  is  the  judgment  of 
this  world— the  world  that  "crucified  the 
Lord  of  glory,"  (1  Co.  2.  8.),  considered  as  a 
vast  and  complicated  kingdom  of  Satan, 
breathing  his  spirit,  doing  his  work,  and  in- 
volved in  his  doom,  which  Christ's  death  by 
its  hands  irrevocably  sealed.  Now  shall  the 
prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out— How  differ- 
ently is  that  fast-approaching  "hour"  re- 
garded in  the  kingdoms  of  darkness  and  of 
light!  'The  hour  of  relief  from  the  dread 
Troubler  of  our  peace— how  near  it  is!  Yet 
a  little  moment,  and  the  day  is  ours!'  So  it 
was  calculated  and  felt  in  the  one  region. 
"Now  shall  the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast 
out,"  is  a  somewhat  different  view  of  the 
same  event.  We  know  who  was  right-  Though 
yet  under  a  veil.  He  sees  the  triumphs  of  the 
Cross  in  unclouded  and  transiiorting  light. 
And  I,  if  I  be  bfttd  up  from  the  eartli,  will 
draw  all  meu  unto  me— The  "I"  here  is  em- 
phatic—I,  taking  the  place  of  the  world's 
ejected  prince.  "If  lifted  up,"  means  not 
only  after  that  I  have  been  lifted  up,  but, 
through  the  virtue  of  that  uplifting.  And 
truly,  the  death  of  the  Cross,  in  all  its  signifl- 
!  cance,  revealed  in  the  light,  and  borne  in 
upon  the  heart,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 


Vithelief  of  the  Jews. 


JOHN.  XnL         Jems  Washes  the  Disdple^  Feet. 


Ghost,  possesses  an  attraction  over  the  wide  sible  Minister  of  the  Son,  is  the  Director  of 
wnrld— to  civilized  and  savage,  learned  and  i  the  Church  and  the  Eevealer  in  the  sane- 
illiterate,  alike— which  breaks  down  all  op-  tuary  of  the  heart.'  [Olsb.  ]  42,  43  amou? 
position,  assimilates  all  to  itself,  and  forms  the  chief  nilers  also  — rather,  'even  of  the 
out  of  the  most  heterogeneous  and  discord- j  rulers;'  such  as  Nicodemus  and  Joseph, 
ant  materials  a  kingdom  of  surpassing  glory,  because  of  the  Pharisees— i  e  the  leaders 
whose  uniting  principle  is  adoring  subjection  I  of  the  sects;  for  they  were  of 'i't  themselves, 
"to  Him  that  loved  them."— "Will  draw  all  put  out  of  the  synagogue— See  on  ch  9.  22. 
men 'UNTO  Me,'"  says  Be.  "Wliat  lips  could  34.  loved  the  praise  of  men  more,&c— 'a 
venture  to  utter  such  a  word  but  His,  which  severe  remark,  considering  that  several  at 
*' dropt  as  an  honeycomb,"  whose  manner  of  least  of  these  persons  afterwards  boldly 
speaking  was  evermore  in  the  same  spirit  of  confessed  Christ.    It  indicates  the  displea- 

;„.., 1.-*„  ™.u  *u„  i-„.u„_..    ft,,.:,  v.-   g^.^  ^^,^^^  wMch  God  regarded  their  conduct 

at  tills  time,  and  with  which  He  continues 


conscious  equality  with  the  Father?    This 
said,  signifying  what  death  he  should  die 


by  being  lifted  up  from  the  earth"  on  to  regard  similar  conduct.'   [w.  .fcw.J  44-50. 

'*  '■—"  -"-    "    •■■■  "    '""  '    34. 1  Jesus  cried— in  a  loud  tone,  and  with  peculiar 

solemnity.  ;cf.  ch.  7.  37.)  and  said.  He  that 
believeth,  &:c.— This  seems  to  be  a  supplemen- 
tary record  of  some  weighty  proclamations, 
for  which  there  had  been  found  no  natural 
place  before,  and  introduced  here  as  a  sort 
of  sumviary  and  mhiding  up  of  His  whole  tes- 
timony. 
^  CHAPTEE  Xm. 

ATer.  1-20.    At  the  Last  Supper,  Jesu3 
Washes  the  Disciples'  Feet— the  Dis- 

_    COURSE    ARISING    THEREUPON.      L    that  he 

altitude.    35-36.  Yet  a  little  while  is  the  light  I  shoxild  depart  out  of  this  world  unto  the  Father 
with  you.  (fcc— Instead  of  answering  their  \  —On  these  beautiful  euphemisms  see  on  L. 


I.e., 

"the  accursed  tree,"  ch.  3.  14;  8.  28.) 
We  have  heard  out  of  the  law  — the  scrip 
tures  of  the  O.  T.,  referring  to  such  places 
as  Ps.  89.  28,  29;  110.  4;  Da.  2,  44;  7.  13,  14. 
tlat  Christ— the  Christ  "endureth  for  ever." 
and  i.oW,  (fee- How  can  that  consist  with 
this  "uplifting?"  They  saw  very  well  both 
that  He  was  holding  Himself  up  as  the  Christ, 
and  aClirid  to  die  a  violent  death;  and  as  that 
ran  counter  to  aU  their  ideas  of  the  Mes- 
sianic prophecies,  they  were  glad  to  get  this 
seeming  advantage  toju.etify  their  unyieldiu: 


question.  He  warns  them,  with  min; 
majesty  and  tenderness,  against  trifling 
with  their  last  brief  opportunity,  and  en- 
t-cats  them  to  let  in  the  light  while  they  had 
it  in  the  midst  of  them,  that  themselves 
might  be  "  light  in  the  Lord."  In  tliis  case, 
all  the  clouds  which  hung  around  His  Person 
and  Mission  would  speedQy  be  dispelled, 
while  if  they  continued  to  hate  the  light.boot- 
less  were  all  His  answers  to  their  merely  sijec- 
ulative  or  captious  questions.  (See  on  L. 
13.  23.)  departed,  and  did  hide  himself  from 
them— He  who  spake  as  never  man  spake,  and 
immediately  after  words  fraught  with  un- 
f  eakable  dignity  and  love,  had  to  "hide 
Kimself  from  His  auditors!  What  then 
must  they  have  been?  He  retired,  probably 
to  Bethany.  {The  parallels  are,  M.  21. 17;  L. 
21.  37.)  37-41.  It  is  the  manner  of  this  evan- 
gelist alone  to  record  his  own  reflections  on 
the  scenes  he  describes;  but  here,  having  ar- 
rived at  what  was  virtually  the  close  of  our 
Lord's  public  ministry,  he  casts  an  affecting 
glance  over  the  fruitlessness  of  His  whole 
ministry  on  the  bulk  of  the  now  doomed 
people,  so  many  miracles  — The  word  used 
suggests  iheir  nature S.S,  well  as  number,  that 
the  saying  of  Esaias  might  be  fulfilled— Q.d 
1'his  unbelief  did  not  at  aU  set  aside  the 
purposes  of  God,  but,  on  the  contrary 
fulfUled  them.'  could  not  believe,  because 
Esaias  said  again.  He  hath  blinded  .  .  that 
they  should  not  see,  &c.  —  That  this  ex- 
presses a  positive  divine  act,  by  which  those 
who  wUfuUy  close  their  eyes  and  harden 
their  hearts  against  the  truth  are  judicially 
shut  up  in  their  unbelief  and  impenitence,  is 
admitted  by  all  candid  critics  [as  Olsh.], 
though  many  of  them  think  it  necessary 
to  contend  that  this  is  no  way  inconsistent 
with  the  liberty  of  the  human  wiU.  which  of 
cuurse  it  is  not.  These  things  said  Esaias.  when 
he  saw  his  glory,  and  spake  of  him— a  key  of  im- 
men.se  importance  to  the  opening  of  Isaiah's 
vision,  ;Is.  6.  and  all  similar  (.).  T.  represen- 
tations. 'The  Son  is  "the  King  Jehovah" 
who  rules  in  the  O.  T.  and  appears  to  the 
elect,  as  in  the  N.  T.  the  Spirit,  the  invi- 
80    [2] 


9.  31.  61.    having  loved  his  own  which  were  in 
the  worldj  he  loved  them  unto  the  end— The 
meaning  is,  that  on  the  very  edge  of  His  last 
sufierings.when  it  might  have  been  supposed 
that  He  would  be  absorbed  in  His  own  awful 
prospects.  He  was  so  far  from  forgetting 
'  His  own,"  who  were  to  be  left  struggling 
" in  the  world"  after  He  had  '"  departed  out 
of  it  to  the  Father,"  (cli.  17.  11.)  that  in  His 
care  for  them.  He  seemed  scarce  to  think  of 
Himself  save   in    connexion   with    them : 
"Herein  is  love."  not  only  "  enduring  to  the 
end,"  but  most  affectiugly  manifested  when, 
judging  by  a  human  standard,  least  to  be 
expected.     2.    supper  being  ended— rather 
'beiu^  prepared,'  'being  served,'  or  'going 
on;    for  that  it  was  not  "ended"  is  plain 
from  V.  26.  the  devil  having  now— or, '  already ' 
—put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  to  betray  Mm— re- 
ferring to  the  agreement  he  had  already 
made  with  the  chief  priests,  (L.  22.  3-6.)    3. 
Jesus  knowing,  <kc.— This  verse  is  very  sub- 
lime, and  as  a  preface  to  what  follows,  were 
we  not  famUiar  with  it,  would  fill  us  with  in- 
expressible surprise.    An  unclouded  percep- 
tion of  His  relation  to  the  Father,  the  commis- 
sion He  held  from  Him,  and  His  approai^hlng 
Eeturn  to  Him.possessed  His  soul.  4, 6.  riseth. 
.    .    .   laid  aside  his  outer,  garments— which 
would  have  impeded  the  operation  of  wash- 
ing—and took  a  towel  and  girded  himself— as- 
suming a  .servant's  dress,    began  to  wash— 
'  proceeded  to  wash.'    Beyond  all  doubt  the 
feet  oj  Judas  were  v:ashed,  as  of  all  the  rest. 
6-11.   Peter  saith.  Lord,  dost  thou  wash  my 
feet?- Our  language  cannot  bring  out  the  in- 
tensely vivid  contrast  between  the  "thou" 
and  the  "my,"  which,  by  bringing  them  to- 
gether the  original  expresses,  for  it  is  not 
English  to  say.  'Lord,  Thou  my  feet  dost 
wash? '   But  every  word  of  this  question  is 
emphatic.  Thusfar,and  in  the  question  itself, 
there  was  nothing  but  the  most  profound  and 
beautiful  astonishment  at  a  condescension, 
to  him  quite  incomprehensible.  Accordingly, 
though  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  already 
Peter's  hearr  rebelled  against  it  as  a  thing 
not  to  be  tolerated,  Jesus  ministers  no  re- 


Jems  wasTieth  his  discipUs*  feet.  JOHN.  XIII,  XIV. 


He  foreteUetJi  Ms  betrayal. 


45  And  }'  he  that  seeth  me  seeth  him  that 
Bent  me. 

46  I  *  am  come  a  light  into  the  world,  that 
whosoever  believeth  on  me  should  not  abide 
in  darkness. 

47  And  if  any  man  hear  my  words,  and 
believe  not.  '  I  judge  him  not:  for  "•  I  came 
not  to  judge  the  world,  but  to  save  the 
world. 

48  He  "  that  rejecteth  me,  and  receiveth 
not  my  words,  hath  one  that  judgeth  him: 
the  "word  that  1  have  spoken,  the  same 
shall  judge  him  in  the  last  day. 

49  ForP  I  have  not  spoken  of  myself;  but 
the  Father  which  sent  me,  he  gave  me  a 
commandment,  what  I  should  say,  and 
what  I  should  speak. 

50  And  I  know  that  his  commandment  is 
Jife  everlasting:  whatsoever  I  speak  there- 
fore, even  as  the  Father  said  unto  me,  so  I 
speak. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
1  Jesus  washeth  his  disciples'  fttt,  14  and  exhort- 
eth  them  to  humility  and  charity;  \Sforetelleth 
his  betrayal;  36 /orewarneth  Feter  of  his  denial. 
"KTOW  before  the  feast  of  the  passover, 
■^^  when  Jesus  knew  that  his  hour  was 
come  that  he  should  depart  out  of  this 
world  unto  the  Father,  having  loved  his 
own  which  were  in  the  world,  he  loved 
them  unto  the  end. 

2  And  supper  being  ended,  (the  "  devVL 
having  now  put  into  the  heart  of  Judas 
Iscariot,  Simon's  s(m,  to  betray  him,) 

3  Jesus  knowing  '  that  the  Father  had 
given  all  things  into  his  hands,  and  that  he 
was  come  from  God,  and  went  to  God ; 

4  He  *  riseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside 
his  garments;  and  took  a  towel,  and  guded 
himself. 

5  After  that  he  poureth  water  into  a  bason, 
and  began  to  wash  the  disciples'  feet,  and 
to  wipe  them  with  the  towel  wherewith  he 
was  girded. 

6  Then  cometh  he  to  Simon  Peter;  and 
1  Peter  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  <*dost  thou 
wash  my  feet? 

7  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  What 
I  do  thou  knowest  not  now;  but  thou  shalt 
know  hereafter. 

8  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Thou  shalt  never 
wash  my  feet.  Jesus  answered  him,  *lf  I 
wash  thee  not,  thou  hast  no  pait  with 
me. 

9  Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  not 
my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  mi/ 
head. 

10  Jesus  saith  to  him,  / He  that  is  washed 
iieedeth  not  save  to  wash  his  feet,  but  is 
clean  every  whit;  and  "  ye  are  clean,  but 
not  all. 

11  For  he  knew  who  should  betray  him; 
therefore  said  he.  Ye  are  not  all  clean. 

12  So  after  he  had  washed  then-  feet,  and 
had  taken  his  garments,  and  was  set  down 
again,  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye  what  1 
have  done  to  you? 

13  Ye  ''  call  me  Master  and  Lord:  and  ye 
say  well;  for  so  I  am. 

14  lt»l  then,  i/our  Lord  and  Master,  have 
washed  your  teet, )  ye  also  ought  to  wash 
one  another's  feet. 

15  For  *  1  have  given  you  an  example,  that 
ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you. 

l(i  Verily,  'verily,  I  say  unto  you.  The 
servant  is  not  greater  than  his  ford;  nei- 
ther he  thai  u  sent  greater  than  he  that 
teat  him. 

8L 


CHAP.  12. 
I  ch.  14.  9. 
*  ch.  3.  19. 

ch.  8.  12. 

eh.  9.  5, 39. 
I  ch.  5.  43. 

ch.  8.  15. 

»  ch.  3.  17. 
Lu.  ID.  15. 

Deu.18  19. 

Mar.  16  16. 
Pch.  8.38. 

ch.  14.  10. 


CHAP.  13. 

a  Lu.  22.  3. 
6  ch.  3.  35. 

ch.  17.  2. 

Acts  2.36. 

1  Cor.  15. 

27. 

Heb.  2.  8. 
e  Lu  22.27. 

PhU.  2.7,8. 
I  he. 

d  Mat.  3. 14. 
«  Bee.  36.  25. 
.3.5. 


Heb.  10.22. 
^1  TheM.  6. 

23. 
g  ch.  15.  8. 
h  Lu.  5.  46. 

1  Cor.  8.6. 

1  Cor. 12.3. 

Phil  2.  n. 
i  Lu.  2-'.  87. 
;■  »o.  12.  10. 

Gal.  6.  1. 

1  I'et.  5.  S. 
*  Phil.  2.  5. 

1  Pet.  2.21. 

1  Lu.  6  40. 
ch.  15.  20. 

m  Jam.  I.2.J. 
n  2  Ti.  2.  19. 
o  Pa.  41.  9. 

2  Hence- 
forth. 

ch   14.  89. 

ch.  16.  4. 
P  Lu.  10.  16. 
ar  Lu   22.  21. 
rch.  12.27 
»  Acts  1.  17. 

1  John  2.19. 
t  eh.  19.  26. 

ch.  20.  2. 

ch.  21.  7. 

3  Or, 

Ex.  12!  8. 
«  Ps.  109.  6. 

Lu.  22.  3. 

ch.  6.  7U. 
"  ch.  12.  e 
w  ch.  14. 13. 

1  Pet.  4.11. 
*eh.  17.  1. 
V  Lev.  19.18. 

Eyb.  6.  2. 

1  Thes.  4  9. 

1  Pot.  i.22. 
lJohn2.7. 
1  John  3. 
11. 

1  John  4. 
21. 

»  Actt  2.  46. 
a  eh.  21.  18. 

2  Pet.  1.14. 
6  La.  22. 33. 


17  If  "*  ye  know  these  things,  happy  are 
ye  if  ye  do  them. 

18  f  I  speak  not  of  you  all:  "  I  know 
whom  1  have  chosen:  but,  that  the  scrip- 
ture may  be  fulfilled,  "  He  that  eateth 
br^ad  with  me  hath  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  me. 

19  2 Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come,  that, 
when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  may  believe 
til  at  I  am  he. 

20  Verily,  P  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that 
receiveth  whomsoever  1  send  receiveth  me ; 
and  he  that  receiveth  me  receiveth  him 
that  sent  me. 

21  When  9  Jesus  had  thus  said,  ""hewas 
'roubled  in  spirit,  and  testified,  and  said, 
Verily,  verily,  1  say  unto  you.  That  *  one 
of  you  shall  betray  me. 

22  Then  the  disciples  looked  one  OB 
another,  doubting  of  whom  he  spake. 

23  Now  *  there  was  leaning  on  Jesns' 
bosom  one  of  his  disciples,  whom  Jesus 
loved. 

24  Simon  Peter  therefore  beckoned  to  him, 
that  he  should  ask  who  it  should  be  or 
whom  he  spake. 

25  He  then  lying  on  Jesus'  breast  saith 
unto  him.  Lord,  who  is  it? 

26  Jesus  answered.  He  it  is  to  whom  I 
shall  give  a  3  sop,  when  I  have  dipped  it. 
And  when  he  had  dipped  the  sop,  he  gave 
it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon. 

27  And  "  after  the  sop  Satan  entered  into 
him.  Then  said  Jesus  mito  him,  That  thou 
doest,  do  quickly. 

28  Now  no  man  at  the  table  knew  for  what 
intent  he  spake  this  unto  him. 

29  For  some  of  them  thought,  "because 
Judas  had  the  bag,  that  Jesus  had  said 
unto  him.  Buy  those  things  that  we  have 
need  of  against  the  feast;  or,  that  he  should 
give  something  to  the  poor. 

30  He  then  having  received  the  sop  went 
immediately  out:  and  it  was  night. 

31  H  Therefore,  when  he  was  gone  out, 
Jesus  said.  Now  is  the  Son  of  man  gloiilied, 
and  *"  God  is  glorified  in  him. 

32  If  *  God  be  glorified  in  him,  God  shall 
also  glorify  him  in  himself,  and  shall 
straightway  glorify  him. 

33  Little  children,  yet  a  little  while  I  am 
with  you.  Ye  shall  seek  me:  and  as  1  said 
unto  the  Jews,  Whither  I  go,  ye  caJinot 
come ;  so  now  I  say  to  you. 

34  A  "  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you. 
That  ye  love  one  another;  as  1  have  loved 
you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. 

35  By  tins  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are 
my  disciples,  if  ye  have  *  love  one  to 
another. 

36  U  Simon  Peter  said  imto  him.  Lord, 
whither  goest  thou?  Jesus  answered  him. 
Whither  I  go,thou  canst  not  follow  me  noy ; 
but  "  thou  shalt  follow  me  afterwards. 

37  Peter  said  unto  him.  Lord,  why  cannot 
I  follow  thee  now?  1  will  *  lay  down  my  Ufa 
for  thy  sake. 

as  Jesus  answered  him.  Wilt  thou  lay 
down  thy  hfe  for  my  sake?  Verily,  verily,  1 
say  unto  thee.  The  cock  shall  not  crow,  till 
thou  hast  denied  me  thrice. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

1  Christ  eomfortuh   his  diseipha;   6   professeth 

himself  the  wav.  the  truth,  and  the  life,  9  and 

that  lit  is  one  w'ith  the  rather:  21  he  Uaveth  his 

peace  with  them. 

T  ET  not  your  heart  be  troubled:  ye  be- 
^  lieve  in  God,  believe  also  in  me. 


Cfhrist  Teacheth  ITumiHty. 


JOHN,  xin. 


He  Foretelleth  His  Betrayal. 


buke  as  yet,  but  only  bids  him  wait  a  little, 
and  he  should  understand  it  all  What  I  0.0 
thou  knowest  not  novf—q.d.  Such  condescen- 
sion docs  need  explanation;  it  in  fitted  to 
astonish,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter— 
*  afterwards,'    meaning   presently ;    though 


m  the  spirit  of  adoption  we  sav, "  Our  Father 
which  art  in  heaven— /orfyire  us  our  debts ;  " 
and,  when  burdened  with  the  sense  of  mani- 
fold shortcominp-s,  as  what  tender  spirit  of 
a  Christian  is  not.'  is  it  not  a  relief  to  be  per- 
mitted thus  to  wash  our  feet  after  a  day's 


■viewed  as  a  general  maxihi,  applicable  to  all  |  contact  with  the  earth?  Tliis  is  not  to  call 
dark  .sayings  in  God's  word,  and  dark  doings  in  question  the  comideteness  of  our  past 
in  God's  providence,  these  words  are  full  of  justiflcation.  Our  Lord,  while  graciously 
consolation.  Thou  shalt  never  wash— more  insisting  on  washing  Peters  feet,  refuses  to 
emphatically.  'Never  shalt  thou  wash'  my  extend  the  cleansing  farther,  that  the  symbo- 
feet.    g.d. 'That  is  an  incongruity  to  which  ;  Ileal  instruction  intended  to  be  conveyed 


I  can  never  submit.'  How  like  the  man!  If 
I  wash  thee  not,  thou  hast  no  part  with  me— 
What  Peter  could  not  submit  to  was,  that 
the  Master  should  serve  His  servant.  But 
the  lohole  saving  work  oj  Christ  rcas  one  con- 
tmtied  scrks  of  such  services,  endiiig  with 
and  consummated  by  the  most  self-sacrificing 
and  transcendent  of  all  sendees:  The  Son 
OF  Man  came  iMt  to  be  ministered  unto,  but 

TO  MINISTER,  AND  TO  GIVE  HiS  LIFE  A  RAN-  i 

soM  FOR  MANY."  iSce  ou  Mk.  10.  45.)  If  {attention  to  His  own  answer.  Ye  call  me 
Peter  then  could  not  submit  to  let  his  Mas- 1  Master,  (Teacher;— and  Lord  — learning  of 
ter  go  down  so  low  as  to  wash  his  feet,  how  Him  in  the  one  capacity,  obeying  Him  ia 
should  he  suffer  himself  to  be  served  by  Him  I  the  other,  and  ye  say  well,  for  so  1  am— The 
at  all?  This  is  couched  under  the  one  pre^-  conscious  dignity  with  which  this  claim  is 
nant  word  "  wash,"  which  though  applicable  I  made  is  remarkable,  following  immediately 
to  the  ?oioer  operation  which  Peter  resisted. is  on  His  laying  a.side  the  towel  of  service.  Yet 
the  familiar  scriptural  .symlool  of  that  higher  what  is  this  whole  history  but  a  succes.sion 
cleansing,  which  Peter  little  thought  he  was  I  of  such  astonishing  contrasts  from  first  to 
at  the  same  time  virtually  putting  from  !  last?  If  I  then- the  Lord— have  washed  your 
him.  It  is  not  humility  to.  refu-^e  v:hat  the  [  feet— the  servants'— ye— but  fellow-servants. 
Lord  deigns  to  do  for  us,  or  to  deny  what ;  ought  to  wash  one  another's  feet— not  in  the 


might  not  be  marred,  and  ye  are  ciean— in 
the  first  and  whole  sense,  but  not  all— im- 
portant, as  showing  that  Judas,  instead  of 
being  as  true-hearted  a  disciple  as  the  rest  at 
first,  and  merely  falling  away  afterwards 
—as  many  represent  it— never  experiencid 
tluit  cleansing  at  all  which  made  the  others 
what  tlicy  were.  12-15.  Know  ye  what  I 
have  donel— i.  e.,  its  intent.  The  question, 
I  however,  was  put  merely  to  summon  their 
If  I  attention  to  His  own  answer. 


He  has  done,  but  it  is  self-willed  presump 
Hon  — not  rare,  hoicever,  in  tho^e  inner 
circles  of  lofty  religious  profession  and 
traditional  spirituality,  which  are  found 
wherever  Chnsiian  truth  has  enjoyed  long  and 
undisturbed  possession.  The  truest  humili  ty 
is  to  receive  reverentially,  and  thankfully 
to  own.  the  gifts  of  grace.  Lord,  not  my 
feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head— 
g.d.  'To  be  severed  from  Thee.  Lord,  is 
leath  to  me:  If  that  be  the  meaning  of  my 


narrow  sense  of  a  literal  washing,  profanely 
caricatured  by  Popes  and  Emperors,  but  by 
the  very  humblest  real  services  one  to  an- 
other. 16,  17.  The  servant,  &c.— an  oft- re- 
peated .saying.  (M.  10.  24.  &c.)  If  ye  know  . . 
happy  are  ye  if  .ye  do  them— a  hint  that  even 
among  real  Christians  the  doing  of  such 
things  would  come  lamentably  short  of  the 
knoi'-ing.  18, 19.  I  speak  not  of  you  aU— the 
'■  happy  are  ye,"  of  v.  17,  being  on  no  suppo- 
sition applicable  to  Judas.    I  know  whom  I 


speech,  I  tread  upon  it;  and  if  to  be  washed  i  have  chosen— in  the  higher  sense.  But  that 
of  Thee  have  such  significance,  then  not  my  the  Scripture  might  be  fui fill ed— i.e.,  one  has 
feet  only,  but  hands,  head,  and  all,  be  I  been  added  to  your  nmnber,  by  no  acci- 
washed!  This  artless  expression  of  clinging.  |  dent  or  mistake,  who  is  none  of  "Mine,  but 
life-and-death  attachment  to  Jesus,  and  felt  i  just  that  he  might  fulfil  his  predicted  des- 
dependence  upon  Him  for  his  whole  spiritual:  tiny.  He  that  eateth  bread  with  me— "  did  eat 
•well-being,  compared  with  the  similar  saying  j  of  my  bread,"  Ps.  41.  9.  .  as  one  of  my  family; 
in  ch.  6. 6S,  69.  on  which  see  notes.)  furnishes  j  admitted  to  the  nearest  familiarity  of  dis- 
such  evidence  of  historic  verity  as  no  !  cipleship  and  of  social  life,  hath  lifted  up  hia 
thoroughly  honest  mind  can  resist.  He  that  ]  heel  against  me— turned  upon  me,  adding  in- 
iswashed— in  this  f/iorowg/t  sense,  to  express  I  sit/(  to  injury.  !cf.  Hsb.  10.  29.)  In  the 
which  the  word  is  carefully  changed  to  one  Psalm  the  immediate  reference  is  to  Ahitho- 
meaning  to  v,a,sh  as  in  a  bath,  needeth  not— 
to  be  so  washed  any  more,  save  to  wash  his 
feet— needeth  to  do  no  more  than  wash  his 
feet,  and  here  the  former  word  is  resumed, 
meaning  to  wash  the  hands  or  feet.)  but  is 
clean  every  whit— or, '  as  a  whole.'  This  sen- 
tence is  singularly  instructive.  Of  the  tico 
cleansings,  the  one  points  to  that  which  takes 


phel's  treachery  against  David,  (2  Sa.  17.) 
one  of  those  scenes  in  which  the  parallel  of 
his  story  with  that  of  his  great  Antitype  ia 
exceedingly  striking.  '  The  eating  bread  de- 
rives a  fearful  meaning  from  the  participa- 
tion in  the  sacramental  supper,  a  meaning 
which  must  be  applied  for  ever  to  all  un- 
...  worthy  communicants,  as  well   as   to   all 

place  at  the  commencement  of  the  Christian  '  betrayers  of  Christ  who  eat  the  bread  of  Hiij 
life,  embracing  complete  absolution  from  sin  i  thnrch.' —  [iiTi'Eii,  with  whom,  and  others, 
asaguUty  state,  a,na  entire  deliverance  from  \v,-e  a.gree  in  thinking  that  Judas  partook 
itasa  polluted  life,  <Jiev.l.  5;  \  Cot.  G.  11.)— lot  the  Lord's  supper,]  I  teil  you  bctore, 
or,  in  the  language  of  theology.  Jztsfi/fcaf ?o?i  I  that  when  it  comes  to  pass  ye  may  believe 
and  Regeneration.  This  clean.sing  is  effected  j —and  it  came  to  pass  when  they  deeply 
o«ce/oraW,  and  is  never  repeated.  The  other  needed  such  confirmation.  20.  He  that 
cleansing,  described  as  that  of  "  the  feet,"  is  i  receiveth,  &c.— See  on  M.  10.  40.  The  con- 
such  as  mtewalkingfromabath quite  cleansed  nexioTi  here  seems  to  be  that  despite  the 
still  needs,  in  conseqxience  of  his  contact  with  \  dishonour  done  to  Him  by  Judas,  and 
the  earth,  (cf.  Ex.  30.  18,  19.)  It  is  the  daily  similar  treatment  awaiting  themselves, 
cleansing  which  we  are  taught  to  seek,  when .  they  were  to  be  cheered  by  the  assuiujaca 
&1  I^ 


Tfie  Traitor  Indicated. 


that  their  office,  even  as  His  own,  was , 
divine.  I 

21-30.  The  Traitor  Indicated  —  He  | 
Leaves  the  Supper  Eoom.— 21.  When 
Jesus  had  thus  said,  he  was  troubled  in  spirit, 
and  testified,  and  said.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you.One  of  you  shall  betray  me— The  announce- ! 
ment  of  t'.  IS.  seems  not  to  have  been  plain 
enough  to  be  quite  apprehended,  save  by  the 
traitor  himself.  He  will  therefore  speak  it 
out  in  terms  not  to  be  misunderstood.  But 
liow  much  it  cost  Him  to  do  this,  appears 
from  the  "trouble"  that  came  over  His 
*' spirit"— visible  emotion,  no  doubt— before 
He  got  it  uttered.  "What  wounded  suscepti- 
bility does  this  disclose,  and  what  exquisite 
delicacy  in  His  social  intercourse  with  the 
Twelve,  to  whom  He  cannot,  without  an  ef- 
fort, break  the  subject !  22.  disciples  looked 
one  on  another,  doubting  of  whom  he  spake— 
Further  intensely  interesting  particulars  are 
given  in  the  other  Gospels,  (l.)  "  They  were 
exceeding  sorrowful,"  iM.  26.  22.)  (2.)  "They 
began  to  enquire  among  themselves  which 
of  them  it  was  that  should  do  this  thing." 
(L.  22.  23.)  (3.)"  They  began  to  say  unto  Him 
one  by  one.  Is  it  I,  and  another.  Is  it  I  ?'  1 
Generous,  simple  hearts!  Tliey  abhorred  the 
thought,  but,  instead  of  putting  it  on  others, 
each  was  only  anxious  to  purge  himself,  and 
know  if  he  could  be  the  wretch.  Their  put- 
ting it  at  once  to  Jesus  Himself,  as  knowing 
doubtless  who  was  to  do  it,  was  the  best,  as 
it  certainly  was  the  most  spontaneous  and 
artless  evidence  of  their  innocence.  ;4. )  Jesus, 
apparently  while  this  questioning  was  going 
on,  added,  "The  Son  of  Man  goeth  as  it  is 
written  of  Him,  but  woe  unto  that  man  by 
whom  the  Son  of  Man  is  betrayed  !  It  had 
been  good  for  that  man  if  he  had  not  been 
born.  (M.  26.  24.)  {5.}  "  J ndFiS,"  last  of  all, 
*'  answered  and  said.  Lord,  Is  it  I  ?"  evidently 
feeling  that  when  all  were  saying  this,  if  he  j 
held  his  peace.that  of  itself  would  draw  suspi-  j 
cion  upon  him.  To  prevent  this  the  question 
is  wrung  out  of  him,  but  perhaps ,  amidst  the 
stir  and  excitement  at  the  table,  in  a  half- 
suppressed  tone— as  we  are  inclined  to  think 
the  answer  also  was— "  Thou  hast  said,"  M. 
26.  25. 1,  or  possibly  by  little  more  than  a  sign; ' 
for  from  J.  13.  28.,  it  is  evident  that  tiU  the 
moment  when  he  went  out  he  was  not  openly 
discovered.  23-26.  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom 
one  . .  whom  Jesus  loved— Thus  modestly  does 
our  evangelist  denote  himself,  as  reclining 
next  to  Jesus  at  the  table.  Peter  beckoned  to 
him  to  ask  who  it  should  be— reclining  proba- 
bly at  the  corresponding  place  on  the  other 
side  of  Jesus.  He  then  lying— rather  '  lean- 
ing over'  on  Jesus'  bosom,  saith— iw  a  whis- 
yer,  "  Lord,  who  is  it'r"  Jesus  answered— a?so 
xnaudihly,  the  answer  being  communicated , 
to  Peter  perhaps  from  behind.  He  to  whom  I 
shall  give  a  sop  when  I  have  dipped  it— a  piece  | 
of  the  bread  soaked  in  the  wine  or  the  sauce  I 
of  the  dish;  one  of  the  ancient  ways  of! 
testifying  peculiar  regard:  cf.  v.  18,  "/le 
that  eateth  bread  with  me."  And  when  he 
had  dipped,  he  gave  it  to  Judas,  (fee- Tlius 
the  sign  of  Judas'  treacherj'  vvas  an  affect- 
ing exiiression,  and  the  last,  of  the  Savi- 
our's wounded  love!  27-30.  after  the  sop 
Satan  entered  into  him— Verj'  solemn  are 
these  brief  hints  of  the  successive  steps 
by  which  Judas  reached  the  climax  of  his 
ciiilt.  "  The  devil  had  alrea'ly  put  it  into  his 
heart  to  betray  his  Lord  "  Yel  who  can  tell 
SI    .) 


JOHN^Xm. Se  Leaves  the  Supper-Jioom, 

what  struggles  he  went  through  ere  he  brought 
himself  to  carry  that  suggestion  into  effect  ? 
Even  after  this,  however,  his  compunctions 
were  not  at  an  end.  With  the  30  pieces  of  silver 
already  in  his  pos.session,  he  seems  still  to 
have  qu.ailed— and  can  we  wonder?  Wlieu 
Jesus  stooped  to  wash  his  feet,  it  may 
be  the  last  struggle  was  reaching  its  crisis. 
But  that  word  of  the  Psalm,  about  "  one  that 
ate  of  his  bread  who  would  lift  up  his  heel 
against  Him,"  probably  all  but  turned  the 
dread  scale,  and  the  still  more  explicit  an- 
nouncement, that  one  of  those  sitting  with 
Him  at  the  table  should  betray  Him,  would 
beget  the  thought,  '  1  am  detected;  it  is  now 
too  late  to  draw  back.'  At  that  moment  the 
sop  is  given;  offer  of  friendship  is  once  more 
made— and  how  affectingly  i  But  already  "  Sa- 
tan has  entered  into  him,'  and  though  the  Sa- 
viour's act  might  seem  enough  to  recall  him 
even  yet,  hell  is  now  in  his  bosom,  and  he 
says  within  himself, '  The  die  is  cast;  now  let 
me  go  through  with  it:  fear,  begone!'  (See 
on  M.  12.  43-45.)  That  thou  doest,  do  quickly— 
q.d.,  'Why  linger  here?  Thy  presence  is  a 
restraint,  and  thy  work  stands  stiU;  thou 
hast  the  wages  of  iniquity,  go  work  for  it!' 
none  knew  for  what  intent  .  .  .  some  thought 
Jesus  said,  Buy  what  we  need  .  .  or,  give  to  tiie 
poor— a  very  important  statement,  as  show- 
ing how  carefully  Jesus  had  kept  the  secret, 
and  Judas  his  hypocrisy,  to  the  last.  He  then, 
having  received  the  sop  went  immediately  out- 
severing  himself  ,/br  ever  from  that  holy  so- 
ciety with  which  he  never  had  any  spiritual 
sympathy,  and  it  was  night— but  far  blacker 
night  in  the  soul  of  Judas  than  in  the  sky 
over  his  head. 

31-38.  Discourse  after  the  Traitor  s 
Departure— Peter's  Self-Confidence— 
His  Fall  Predicted.  31.  When  he  was 
gone  out,  Jesus  said.  Now  is  the  Sou  of  Man 
glorified— These  remarkable  words  plainly 
imply  that  up  to  this  moment  our  Lord  had 
spoken  under  a  painful  restraint,  the  pre- 
sence of  a  traitor  within  the  little  circle  of 
His  holiest  fellowship  on  earth  preventing 
the  free  and  full  outpouring  of  His  heart;  as 
is  evident,  indeed,  from  those  oft-recurrin? 
clauses,  "  Ye  are  not  all  clean."  "  I  speak  not 
of  you  all."  (fcc.  "Now"  the  restraint  is  re- 
moved, and  the  embankment  which  kept  in 
the  mighty  volume  of  living  waters  having 
broken  down,  they  burst  forth  in  a  torrent 
which  only  ceases  on  His  leaving  the  supper- 
room  and  entering  on  the  next  stage  of  His 
great  work— the  scene  in  the  Garden.  But 
with  what  words  is  the  silence  first  broken 
on  the  departure  of  Judas  ?  By  no  reflections 
on  the  traitor,  and.  what  is  stiU  more  won- 
derful, by  no  reference  to  the  dread  character 
of  His  own  approaching  sufferings.  He  dees 
not  even  name  them,  save  by  announcing,  as 
with  a  burst  of  triumph,  that  the  hour  of 
His  glory  has  arrived!  And  what  is  very 
remarkable,  in  five  brief  clauses  He  repeats 
this  word  "  glorify"  .riue  times,  as  if  to  His 
view  a  coruscation  of  glories  played  at  that 
moment  about  the  CYoss.  (See  on  ch.  12.  2a  i 
God  is  glorified  in  him— the  glory  of  EacJi 
reaching  its  zenith  in  the  Death  of  the  CrossI 
If  God  be  glorified  in  Him,  God  shall  also-m 
return  and  reward  of  this  highest  of  all  ser- 
vices ever  rendered:  to  Him,  or  capable  of 
being  rendered,  glorify  him  in  Himself,  and 
straightway  glorify  Him— referring  now  to 
the  Kesurrection  and  Exaltation  of  Christ 


Peter's  Fall  Predicted. 


JOHN.  XIV. 


Discourse  at  the  Table,  da. 


after  this  service  was  over,  including  all  the  chapters,  that  they  treat  almost  exclusively 
lonour  and  glory  tlien  put  upon  Him,  and  of  the  most  prolound  relations— as  that  of 
that  will  i or  ever  encircle  Him  as  Head  of  the  Son  to  the  Father,  and  of  both  to  tho 
the  new  creation.  33-35.  Little  children— ,>pirit,  that  of  Lhrist  to  the  Church,  of  the 
i'rom  the  height  of  His  own  gloiy  He  now  Church  to  ihe  world,  and  so  forth.  JNioreover, 
des'ends,  with  sweet  pity,  to  His  "little  a  conisiderable  portion  oi  these  subLnie  com- 
cliildren,"  all  now  His  oicn.  This  term  of  '■  munications  surpassed  the  point  of  view  to 
endearment,  no  where  else  used  in  the  Gos- 1  which  the  disciples  had  at  that  time  atta.ned; 
pels,  and  once  only  employed  by  Paul  Ga,  4.  hence  the  Eedeemer  frequently  repeats  tne 
19,),  is  appropriated  by  the  beloved  disciple  ;  same  sentiments  in  order  to  in". press  them 
himself,  who  no  fewer  ti;an  seven  times  em-  (  more  deeply  upon  their  minds,  and.  becatise 
ploys  it  in  his  first  Epistle,    ye  sh  dl  seek  me  I  of  what  they  siill  did  not  understand,  po  n 


-feel  the  want  of  Me.  as  I  said  to  the  Jews- 
ch.  7.  Si;  8.  21.  But,  O,  in  what  a  different 
sense!  a  new  commandment . .  .  that  ye  love 
one  anotler;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye,  <fcc.— 
This  was  the  new  feature  of  it.  Christ's  love 
to  His  people  ingivin;,'  His  life  a  ransom  for 
them  was  altogetlier  new,  and  consequently 
as  a  Model  and  Standai-d  for  their's  to  one 


them  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  would  remind 
them  of  all  His  sayin'^s,  and  lead  them  into 
all  truth  il4.  26.).'  [Ulsh.J  1.  Let  not  your 
hearc,  &c.— What  myriads  of  souls  have  not 
these  opening  words  cheered,  in  deepest 
gloom,  since  first  they  were  uttered!  ye  be- 
lieve ia  God -absolutely,  beaeve  also  in  me — 
q.d.,  'Have  the  same  tnist  in  Me.'  What  less. 


another.  It  is  not,  however,  something  I  and  what  else,  can  these  words  mean?  And  if 
transcending  the  great  moral  law,  which  is  so,  what  a  demand  to  make  by  one  sitting 
"theoW  coimnandment"  d  J.  2.  7,  and  see  |  familiarly  with  them  at  the  supper  table! 


on  Mk.  12.  28-33.),  but  that  law  in  a  new  and 
peculiar  form.  Hence  it  is  said  to  be  both 
new  and  old  a  Jo.  2.  7,  8.).  by  this  shall  all 
men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples— the  dis- 
ciples of  Him  who  laid  down  His  life  for 
those  He  loved,  if  ye  have  love,  (tc— for  My 
Bake,  and  as  one  in  Me;  for  to  such  love  men 
outside  the  circle  of  believers  know  right 
well  they  are  entire  strangers.  Alas,  how 
little  of  it  there  is  even  within  this  circle! 
36-38.  Peter  said— .seeing  plainly  in  these  di- 
rections how  to  behave  themsel  ves,  that  He 
was  indeed  going  from  them.  Lord,  whither 
goest  thou?— havmg  hardly  a  glimmering  of 
the  real  truth.  Jesus  answered,  Thou  canst 
not  follow  me  now,  but .  .  .  altei wards— How 
different  from  what  He  said  to  the  Jews, 
"  Whither  I  go  ye  cannot  come."  ich.  8.  21.) 
Why  not  now?  I  will  lay  down  my  li;e,  &c.— 
He  seems  now  to  see  that  it  was  death  Christ 
referred  to  as  what  would  sever  Him  irom 
them,  but  is  not  staggered  at  following  Him 
thither.  Wilt  taou,  A;c  — In  this  repetition  of 
Peter's  words  there  is  deep  thotigh  affection- 
ate irony,  and  this  Peter  him.self  would  leel 
for  many  a  day  after  his  recovery,  as  he  re- 
traced tne  paimul  particulars.  Verily  . . . 
1'fl.e  cock,  (Sic— See  on  L.  22.  31  34. 
CHAFIEU  XIV. 
Ver.  1-31.  Discourse  at  thb  Table, 
AFiEB  Supper.  'We  now  come  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  evangelical  history  which  we  may 
with  propriety  call  its  Holy  of  Holies.  Our 
Evangelist,  like  a  consecrated  priest,  alone 
opens  up  to  us  the  view  into  this  sanctuary. 
It  is  the  record  of  the  last  moments  spent  by 
the  Lord  in  the  mid.st  of  His  disciples  before 
His  passion,  when  words  full  of  heavenly 
thought  flowed  from  His  sacred  lips.  All 
that  His  heart,  glowing  with  love,  had  still 
to  say  to  His  friends,  was  compressed  into 
this  short  season.  At  first  from  ch.  13.  31.) 
the  intercourse  took  the  form  of  conversa- 
tion; sitting  at  table,  they  talked  familiarly 
together.  But  when  14.  31.)  the  repast  was 
finished,  the  language  of  Christ  assumed  a 
loftier  strain :  the  disciples,  assembled 
around  their  Master,  listened  to  the  words 
of  file,  and  seldom  spoke  a  word  (only  ch. 
16. 17,  29.).  At  length,  in  the  P^deemer's 
tublime  interce.«sory  prayer,  His  full  soul 


cf.  the  saying,  ch.  6.  17.  for  which  the  Jews 
took  up  stones  to  stone  Him.  as  "  making 
himself  equal  with  God"  {v.  18.).    But  it  is 
no  transfer  of  our  tr  lift  from  its  proper  Object; 
it  is  but  Vie  concentnition  of  our  trust  in  the 
Unseen  and  Impalpable  One  upon  Hi^  Oicn 
Incarnate  Son,  by  which  that  trust,  instead 
of  the  distant,  unsteady  and  too  often  cold 
and  scarce  real  thing  it  otherwise  is,  acquires 
a   couiscious    reality,  warmth,  and  power, 
which  makes  all  things  new.    This  is  Christi- 
anity in  brief.    2,  3.  many  mansions— and  so 
room  lor  all.  and  a  place  for  each,    if  not  I 
would  haveto.a  you— g.d.,  '1  would  teU  you  so 
at  once,  I  would  not  deceive  you.'  I  go  to  pre- 
pare a  placefor  you— to  obtain  for  you  a  right  to 
be  there,  and  to  pos.sess  your  "  place."   I  will 
come   again  and   receive  you   unto   myself— 
sirictly,  at  His  Personal  appearing;  but  in  a 
sec  mdary  and  comforting  sense,  to  each  in- 
dividually.   Mark  again  the  claim  made;— 
to  come  again  to  receive  His  people  "  to  Him- 
self, that  where  He  is  there  they  may  be 
also."    He  thinks  it  ought  to  be  enough  to  be 
assured  that  thty  ahaU  be  where  He  is  and  in 
His  keeping.     4-7.  whituer  I  go  ye  know  .  . 
Lord,  we  know  not . .  1  am  tne  wa.v,  <tc.— By  say- 
ing this.  He  meant  rather  to  draw  out  their 
enquiries  and  reply  to  them.  Christ  is  'the 
Way"  to  the  Father- "no  man conieth unto 
the  Father  but  by  Me-"  He  is  "the  TxiurH" 
of  all  we  lind  in  the  Father  when  w^e  get  to 
Him,  "For  in  Him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness 
of  the  Godliead  boddy."  Co.  2.  9.),  and  He  is 
ail "  THE  life"  that  shall  ever  flowto  us  and 
bless  us  from  the  Godhead  thus  approached 
and  thus  manifested  in  Him— "this  is  the 
true  God  and  eternal  lite."  (l  J.  5.  20.)    from 
henceforth— now,  or  from  this  time,  under- 
stand.   8-12.  The  substance  of  this  passage 
is  that  the  Son  is  the  ordained  and  perfect 
manifestation  of  the  Father,  that  His  own 
word  for  this  ought  to  His  disciples  to  be 
enough  ;  that  if  any  doubts  remained  His 
works  ought  to  remove  them,  (see  on  ch.  10. 
37.  38.);  but  yet  that  these  works  of  His  were 
designed  merely  to  aid  weak  faith,  and  would 
be  repeated,  nay  exceeded  by  His  disciples, 
in  virtue  of  the  power  He  would  confer  on 
them  alter  His  departure.    His  miracles  tlie 
apostles  wrought,  though  wholly  in  His  name 


Was  poured  iprth  in  express  petitions  to  His  and  by  His  power:  and  the  "  greater "  works 
fceavenlyiatheronbehalf  of  those  who  were  —not  in  degree  but  in  kind— were  the  con- 
las  owa.    It  is  a  peculiarity  of  these  last  j  version  of  thousands  in  a  day,  by  His  Siiiiit 

6i  L-j 


Chrisfedtnforfs  his  discipUg. 


2  In  "  my  Father's  house  are  many  maii- 
Bions:  if  it  were  not  so,  1  would  have  told 
you.    *  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  yon. 

3  And  it  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you, 
I  *  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto 
myself;  that  <*  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be 
also. 

4  And  whither  I  go  ye  know,  and  the  way 
ye  know. 

5  f  Thomas  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  we 
know  not  whither  thou  goest;  and  how  can 
we  know  the  way? 

6  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am*theway, 
and  /the  truth,  and  "  the  life:  "  no  man 
Cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by  me. 

7  If '  ye  had  known  me,  ye  should  have 
known  my  Father  also:  and  from  hence- 
forth ye  know  him,  and  have  seen  him. 

8  H  Philip  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  show  us 
the  Father,  and  it  sutficeth  us. 

9  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Have  I  been  so 
long  time  with  yon,  and  yet  hast  thou  not 
known  me,  Philip?  ^he  that  hath  seen  me 
hath  seen  the  Father;  and  how  sayest  thou 
then,  Show  us  the  Father? 

10  Believest  thou  not  that  *  I  am  in  the 
Father,  and  the  Father  in  me?  the  words 
that  I  speak  unto  you  '  I  speak  not  of  my- 
self: but  the  Father,  that  dwelleth  in  me, 
he  doeth  the  works. 

11  Believe  me  that  I  am  in  the  Father, 
and  the  Father  in  me:  or  else  believe  me 
for  the  very  works'  sake. 

12  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that 
believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall 
he  do  also ;  and  greater  works  than  these 
shall  he  do;  because  I  go  unto  my  Father. 

13  And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  "*  my 
name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may 
be  glorified  in  the  Son. 

14  If  ye  shall  ask  any  thing  in  my  name,  I 
will  do  it. 

15  If  If  "  ye  love  me,  keep  my  command- 
ments. 

16  And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  "he 
shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that  he 
may  abide  with  you  for  ever: 

17  Jiven  P  the  Spirit  of  truth;  '  whom  the 
world  cannot  receive,  because  it  seeth  him 
not,  neither  knoweth  him:  but  ye  know 
him ;  for  he  dwelleth  with  you,  •■  and  shall 
be  in  you. 

18  I  will  not  leave  you  i  comfortless:  1  will 
come  to  yon. 

19  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  world  seeth 
me  no  more;  but 'ye  see  me:  *  because  1 
live,  ye  shall  live  also. 

20  At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  "  I 
am  in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in 
you. 

21  He  '  that  hath  my  commandments,  and 
keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me:  and 
he  that  loveth  me  shall  be  lovtd  of  my 
Father,  and  1  will  love  him,  and  will  mam- 
ffst  myself  to  him. 

!W  Judas  saith  imto  him,  (not  Iscariot,) 
Lord,  how  is  it  that  thou  wilt  manifest  thy- 
Bfclt  unto  us,  and  not  unto  the  world? 

XH  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  If  a 
man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  words:  and 
my  Father  will  love  him,  "*  and  we  will 
come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with 
him. 

24  He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth  not  my 
sayings:  and  *  the  word  which  ye  hear  is 
not  mine,  but  the  Father's  which  sent  me. 

26  These  things  have  1  spokeu  unto  you, 
being  yet  present  with  you. 


JOHN,  rv 

A.  D.  <» 


CHAP.  14. 

•  2  Cor.  5. 1. 
6  ch.  13.  33. 
e  Acts  1. 11. 
d  1  Ttieaa.  4. 

17. 
«  Heb.  9.  8. 
/ch.  1.  17. 

ch.  8.  32. 
S  ch.  1.  4. 
h  ch.  10.  9. 
i  ch.  8.  19. 
j  Col.  1.  15. 

Heb.  1.  3. 

*  ch.  10.  38. 
ch.  17.  21. 
1  John  6.7. 

;  eh.  6.  19. 
»»  Jam.  1.  5. 

1  John  3. 

22. 

1  John  5. 

14. 
"1  John  5.3. 

0  Rom.  8.  15. 
PI  John2.7. 

1  John  4.6. 
q  Kom.  8  7. 

1  Cor.  2.14. 
»•  1  John2.27. 

1  Or, 
orphans. 

«  ch.  16.  16. 
t  1  Cor.  15. 

20. 
w  ch.  10.  38. 


1  John  2.5. 

1  John  5.3. 

i>  P».  91.  1. 

1  John  2. 


RcT.  21.3. 
«  ch.  7.  16. 
*■  Lu.  24.  49. 
»  1  John  2. 

27. 
o  Phil.  4.  7. 

Col.  3. 15. 
6  U.  9.  6. 

I».  42. 1. 

I«.  49.  1-6. 

cb.  6.  18. 

ch.  10.  30. 

1  Cor.11.3. 

Gal.  4.  4. 

Phil.  2.6-8. 

1  John  5  7. 
e  ch.  12.  31. 
d  2  Cor.5.21. 

1  Joljn3.5. 
e  Phil.  2.  8. 

Heb.  6.  8. 


CHAP.  15. 

a  Heb.  6.  8. 

6  Eph.  6.  26. 

1  Pet.  1.-J2. 

c  Col.  1.  ^'3. 

1  John  2.6. 

d  Ho».  14.  8. 

Phil.  4. 13. 

1  Or, severed 

Acts  4  12. 
eileb.6.4-6. 
/hh.l.  1.  11 
g  1  John  1.4. 
A  1  Pet.  4.  ». 
i  Rom.  6.  7. 

Eph.  6.  2. 
i  Act»  20.  27. 
*1  John  4.10. 
I  Mar.  16.16. 

Col.  1.  6. 


The  union  of  C/irist  and  hit  church. 

26  But  y  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Ilofy 
Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my 
name, '  he  shall  teach  yon  all  things,  and 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance, 
whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you. 

27  Peace  "  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I 
give  unto  you:  not  as  the  world  giveth, 
give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid. 

28  Ye  have  heard  how  1  said  unto  yon,  I 
go  away,  and  come  again  unto  you.  If  ye 
loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice,  because  I  said, 
I  go  unto  the  Father:  for  ^my  Father  is 
gi-eater  than  I. 

29  And  now  I  have  told  you  before  it  come 
to  pass,  that,  when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye 
might  believe. 

30  Hereafter  I  will  not  talk  much  with 
you:  "  for  the  prince  of  this  world  cometh, 
and  <i  hath  nothing  in  me. 

31  But  that  the  world  may  know  that  I 
love  the  Father;  and  *  as  the  Father  gave 
me  commandment,  even  so  I  do.  Arise, 
let  us  go  hence. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
1  The  union  bettveen  Christ  and  his  church,  undtr 


T  AM  the  true  Aone,  and  my  Father  is  the 
■*■  husbandman. 

2  Every  "  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not 
fmit  he  taketh  away;  and  every  bra^wh  that 
beareth  fniit  he  purgeth  it,  that  it  may 
bring  forth  more  fmit. 

3  Isow  *ye  are  clean  through  the  word 
which  I  have  spoken  unto  you. 

4  Abide  '  in  me,  and  I  m  you.  As  the 
branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it 
abide  in  the  vine ;  no  more  can  ye,  except 
ye  abide  in  me. 

5  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches:  He 
that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same 
bringeth  forth  much  <*  fruit:  for  l  without 
me  ye  can  do  nothing. 

6  If  a  *  man  abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast 
forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered;  and  men 
gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  tire, 
and  they  are  burned. 

7  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in 
you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall 
be  done  unto  you. 

8  Herein  /is  my  Father  glorified,  that  je 
bear  much  fruit;  so  shall  ye  be  my  dis- 
ciples. 

9  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I 
loved  you:  continue  ye  in  my  love. 

10  If  ye  keep  ray  commandments,  ye  shall 
abide  in  my  love ;  even  as  1  have  kept  my 
Father's  commandments,  and  abide  in  his 
love. 

11  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
that  my  joy  might  remain  in  you,  and*  that 
your  Joy  mi.ght  be  full. 

12  Tlus  >>  is  my  commandment.  That  ye 
love  one  another,  as  1  have  loved  you. 

13  Greater  "love  hath  no  man  than  this, 
that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  lor  his  friends. 

14  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever 
I  command  you. 

15  Henceforth  I  call  you  not  servants:  for 
the  senaiit  knoweth  not  what  his  lord 
doeth:  but  I  have  called  you  friends;  J  for 
all  things  that  1  have  heard  of  my  Father 
I  have  made  known  unto  you. 

16  Ye  *  h  ive  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have 
chosen  you,  and  *  ordained  you,  that  ye 
should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that 
your  tnut  should  remain;  tliat  what8oe\ei 


Promise  of  the  Holy  Gho't. 


JOHN,  XIV. 


Chrid  Comforts  His  Disciples, 


accompanying  them.  13-14.  whatsoever  ye 
ask  in  my  name— as  Mediator,  that  wUl  I  do— 
as  Head  and  Lord  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  • 
Giis  comprehensive  promise  is  emphatically 
repeated  in  i'.  14.  15-17.  If  ye  love  me  keep 
my  commandments.  And  I  wiU  pray,  &c.— ' 
This  connexion  seems  designed  to  teach  that , 
the  proper  temple  for  the  indwelling  Spirit , 
of  Jesus  is  a  heart  filled  with  that  love  to , 
Him  which  lives  actively  for  Him,  and  so  t 
this  was  the  fitting  preparation  for  the  pro- ! 
mised  gift,  another  Comforter— a  word  used  | 
only  by  John  ;  in  his  Gospel  with  reference 
to  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  his  First  Ep.  (2. 1.),  with ! 
reference  to  Christ  Himself.  Its  proper  sense  i 
is  an  "advocate,"  "patron,"  "helper."  In' 
this  sense  it  is  plainly  meant  of  Christ,  (l  J, 
2.  1.),  and  in  this  sense  it  comprehends  all  the  f 
comfort  as  weU  as  aid  of  the  Spirit's  work.  \ 
The  Spirit  is  here  promised  as  One  who  would 
supply  Chrisfs  own  place  in  His  absence, 
abide  with  you  for  ever— never  go  away,  as 
Jesus  was  going  to  do  in  the  body,  cannot 
receive,  fcc— See  1  Co.  2. 14.  dwelleth  with  you 
and  shall  be  in  you— Though  the  proper  ful- : 
ness  of  both  these  was  yet  future,  our  Lord,  j 
by  using  both  the  present  and  the  future, 
seems  plainly  to  say  that  they  already  had 
the  germ  of  this  great  blessing.  18-20.  com- 
fortless—in  a  bereaved  and  desolate  condition  i 
—or  as  Marg.j  '  orphans.'  I  will  come  to  yoo 
— '  I  come '  or '  am  coming '  to  you,  i.e.,  plainly 
by  the  Spirit,  since  it  was  to  make  His  de- 
parture to  be  710  bereavement,  world  seetb 
{'  beholdeth'i  me  no  more,  but  ye  see  i'  behold') 
me— His  bodily  presence,  being  all  the  sight 
of  Him  which  "  the  world"  ever  had,  or  was 
capable  of.  it  "beheld  Him  no  more"  after 
His  departure  to  the  Father ;  but  by  the  I 
coming  of  the  Spirit,  the  presence  of  I 
Christ  was  not  only  contk.ued  to  His  spi- 
ritually enlightened  disciples,  but  render- 1 
ed  for  more  efficacious  and  blissfid  than  I 
His  bodily  presence  had  been  before  the 
Spirits  coming,  because  I  live— not  'shall' 
live,'  only  when  raised  from  the  dead;! 
for  it  is  His  unextinguishable,  divine 
life  of  which  He  speaks,  in  view  of  which 
His  death  and  resurrection  were  but  as  i 
shadows  passing  over  the  sun's  glorious  disc,  t 
cf.  L.  24. 5;  Re.  1.  18.  "the  Living  One."  And 
this  grand  saying  Jesus  uttered  with  death 
immediately  in  vieio.  What  a  brightness  does  ' 
this  throw  over  the  next  clause,  "  Ye  shall 
live  also!"  *  Knowest  thou  not,'  said  Luther  \ 
to  the  King  of  terrors,  '  that  thou  didst  de- 
vour the  Lord  Christ,  but  wert  obliged  to  i 
give  Him  back,  and  wert  devoured  of  Him? ' 
So  thou  must  leave  me  undevoured  because 
I  abide  in  Him,  and  live  and  suffer  for  His 
name's  sake.  Men  may  hunt  me  out  of 
the  world— that  I  care  not  for— but  I  shall 
not  on  that  account  abide  in  death,  I  shall 
live  with  my  Lord  Qirist,  since  I  know  and 
believe  that  He  Uveth!'  [quoted  in  Stier.] 
At  that  day— of  the  Spirit's  coming.  I  in  my  j 
Father,  ye  in  me,  I  iu  you— See  on  ch.  17.  22, 1 
23.  21-24.  He  that  hath,  <fec.— See  on  v.  15,  16.  i 
my  Father  wHl  love  him,  and  I— Mark  the 
sharp  line  of  distinction  here,  not  only  be- 
tween the  divine  Persons,  but  the  actings  of 
love  in  Each  respectively,  towards  true  dis-  '. 
ciples.  J^idas  saith,  not  Iscariot  —  Beautiful : 
parenthesis  thisi  The  traitor  being  no  lonoer : 
present,  we  needed  not  to  be  told  that  this 
question  came  not  from  him.  But  it  is  as  if  the  \ 
evangelist  had  said,  *  A  very  different  Judas ; 
83 


from  the  traitor,  and  a  very  different  ques- 
tion from  any  that  he  would  have  put.  In- 
deed [as  one  in  Stieb  says],  we  never 
read  of  Iscariot  that  he  entered  in  any  way 
into  his  Master's  words,  or  ever  piit  a  ques- 
tion even  of  rash  curiosity  ithough  it  may 
be  he  did,  but  that  nothing  from  him  was 
deemed  fit  for  immortality  in  the  Gospels 
but  his  name  and  treason),  how  manifest 
thyself  to  us,  and  not  to  the  world?— a  most 
natural  and  proper  question,  founded  on  v. 
19,  though  interpreters  speak  against  it  as 
Jeivish.  we  will  come  and  make  our  abode  with 
him— Astonishing  statement!  In  the  Father's 
"coming"  He  'refers  to  the  revelation  of 
Him  as.a  Father  to  the  soul,  which  does  not 
take  place  till  the  Spirit  comes  into  the  heart, 
teaching  it  to  cry,  Abba,  Father.'  [Olsh.1 
The  "abode"  means  apermanent,  eternal 
stay!  (cf.  Le.  26. 11,  12;  Ez.  37.  26,  27;  2  Co.  6. 
16;  and  contrast  Je.  14.  8.)  25,  26.  teach  you 
all  things,  and  bring  all  to  remembrance,  &c.— 
See  on  v.  16,  17.  As  the  Son  came  in  the 
lather's  name,  so  the  Father  shall  send  the 
Spirit  "in  my  name,"  says  Jesus,  i.e.,  with 
like  divine  power  and  aiUhority  to  reproduce 
in  their  souls  what  Christ  taught  them, 
'bringing  to  living  consciousness  what  lay 
like  slumbering  gems  in  their  minds.'  [Olsh.J 
On  this  rests  th£  credibility  and  tiltimate  di- 
vine authority  q/  the  Gospel  History.  The 
whole  of  what  is  here  said  of  the  Spirit  is 
decisive  of  His  divine  personality,  'he  who 
can  regard  all  the  vcrsonal  expressions,  ap- 
plied to  the  Spirit  in  these  three  chapters, 
("teaching,"  "reminding,"  "testifying,'* 
" coming,  convincing,"  " guiding,"  "speak- 
ing," "hearing,"  " prophecying,"  "taking,") 
as  bein|  no  other  than  a  long  drawn  out 
figure,  deserves  not  to  be  recognized  even  as 
an  interpreter  of  intelligible  words,  much 
less  an  exposition  of  Holy  Scripture.'  [Stier.] 
27.  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give 
unto  you— If  the  two  preceding  verses  sounded 
like  a  note  of  preparation  for  drawing  the 
discourse  to  a  close,  this  would  sound  like  a 
farewell.  But  O  how  different  from  ordin- 
ary adieus!  It  is  a  parting  word,  but  of  richest 
import,  the  customary  "  peace  "  of  a  parting 
friend  sublimed  and  transfigured.  As  "  the 
Prince  of  Peace"  (Is.  9.  6.)  He  brought  it  into 
flesh,  carried  it  about  in  His  Own  Person 
("  My  peace"),  died  to  make  it  ours,  left  it  as 
the  heritage  of  His  disciples  upon  earth,  un- 

Elants  and  maintains  it  hy  His  Spirit  in  their 
earts.  Manv  a  legacy  is  "left"  that  is  never 
"given"  to  the  legatee,  many  a  gift  destined 
that  never  reaches  its  proper  object.  But 
Christ  is  the  Executor  of  His  own  Testament: 
the  peace  He  "  leaves"  He  "  gives-"  Thus  all 
is  secure,  not  as  the  world  giveth— in  contrast 
with  the  world.  He  gives  sincerely,  substanr- 
tially,  eternally.  28,  29.  If  ye  loved  me  ye 
would  rejoice,  because  I  said,  I  go  unto  the  Fa- 
ther, for  my  Father  is  greater  than  I— Tliese 
words,  which  Arians  and  Socinians  per- 
petually quote  as  triumphant  evidence 
against  the  proper  divinity  of  Christ,  really 
yield  no  intelligible  sense  on  their  prin- 
ciples. Were  a  holy  man  on  his  death- 
bed, beholding  his  friends  in  tears  at  the 
prospect  of  loosing  him,  to  say,  '  Ye  ought 
rather  to  joy  than  weep  for  me,  and  would  if 
ye  really  loved  me,'  the  speech  would  be 
quite  natural.  But  If  they  should  ask  him, 
why  joy  at  his  departure  was  more  suitable 
than  sorrow,  would  they  not  start  back  with 


The  Union  of  Christ 


JOHN,  XV", 


mid  His  Church. 


astonishment,  if  not  horror,  were  he  to  re- 
ply, "Because  my  Father  is  greater  than 
11  Does  not  this  strange  speech  from 
Christ's  lips,  then,  presuppose  intch  teach- 
iny  on  His  part  as  would  make  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  for  them  to  think  He 
could  gain  anything  by  departing  to  the 
Father,  and  make  it  necessary  lor  Him  to 
say  expressly  that  there  was  a  sense  m 
which  He  could  do  so?  Thus,  this  startling 
explanation  seems  plainly  intended  to  cor- 
rect such  misapprehensions  as  might  arise 
from  the  emphatic  and  reiterated  teaching 
of  his  proper  equality  with  the  Father— as  if 
so  Exalted  a  Person  were  incapable  of  any 
accession  by  transition  from  this  dismal 
scene  to  a  cloudless  heaven  and  the  very 
bo^^om  of  the  Father— and  by  assuring  them 
that  this  was  not  the  case,  to  make  them 
forget  their  own  sorrow  in  His  approaching 
joy.  cO,  31.  Hereafter  I  will  not  talk  much 
with  yen—'  I  have  a  little  more  to  say,  but 
my  work  hastens  apace,  and  the  approach  of 
the  adversary  will  cut  it  short.'  for  the 
Prince  of  tliis  world— See  on  ch.  12.  31.  cometh 
—with  hostile  intent,  for  a  last  grand  attack, 
havmg  failed  in  his  first  formidable  assault, 
L.  4,  from  which  he  'departed  (only) /or  a 
season,"  {v.  13. ).  and  hath  nothing  in  me 
—nothing  of  His  ovm— nothing  to  fasten,  on. 
Glorious  saying  !  The  trnlh  of  it  is,  that 
which  makes  the  Person  and  Work  of  Christ 
the  life  of  the  world.  (He.  9.  14;  1  J.  3.  6;  2 
to.  6.  21.)  But  that,  &c.— The  sense  must  be 
completed  thus:  '  But  to  the  Prince  of  the 
world,  though  he  has  nothing  in  me,  I  shall 
yield  myself  up  even  unto  death,  that  the 
world  may  know  that  1  love  and  obey  the 
Father,  whose  commandment  it  is  that  I 
give  my  life  a  ransom  for  many.'  Arise,  let 
us  go  hence— Did  they  then,  at  this  stage  of 
the  discourse,  leave  the  supper-i-oom,  as 
some  able  interpreters  conclude?  If  so,  we 
think  our  evangelist  would  have  mentioned 
it:  see  ch.  18.  l,  which  seems  clearly  to  inti- 
mate that  they  then  only  left  the  upper- 
room.  But  what  do  the  words  mean  it'  not 
this?  We  think  it  was  the  dictate  of  that 
saying  or  earlier  date,  "  I  have  a  baptism  to 
be  baptized  with,  and  hoio  am  I  straitened 
unit  he  accomjylished!"—Si  spontaneous  and 
irrepressible  expression  of  the  deep  eagerness 
of  His  spirit  to  get  into  the  conflict,  and  that 
if,  as  is  likely,  it  was  responded  to  somewhat 
too  literally  by  the  guests  who  hung  on  His 
lips,  in  the  way  of  a  movement  to  depart,  a 
wave  ot  His  hand  would  be  enough  to  show 
that  He  had  yet  more  to  say  ere  they  broke 
up;  and  that  disciple,  whose  pen  was  dipt  in 
a  love  to  his  Master  which  made  their  move- 
ments of  sn  all  consequence  save  when  es- 
sential to  the  illustration  of  His  words, 
would  record  this  little  outburst  of  the  Lamb 
hastening  to  the  slaughter,  in  the  very  midst 
of  His  lofty  di.scour.se;  while  the  effect  of  it, 
if  any,  ■  on  His  hearers,  as  of  no  conse- 
quence, would  naturally  enough  be  passed 
over. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Ver.  1-27.  Discourse  at  the  Supper- 
Table  Continued.  1-8.  The  spiritual  one- 
ness of  Christ  and  His  people,  and  His  rela- 
tion to  them  as  the  Source  oj  alWicir  spiritval 
life  and  Jruit fulness,  are  here  beautifully  set 
forth  by  a  figure  familiar  to  Jewish  ears. 
(Js.  5.  1.  &c.)  I  am  the  true  Vine— of  Whom 
the  vine  ot  nature  is  but  a  shadow,  my 
62  [IJ 


Father  the  husbandman— the  great  Proprietoi 
of  the  Vineyard,  the  Lord  of  the  Spiritual 
kin.-dom.  (It  is  surely  unnecessary  to  point 
out  the  claim  to  supreme  divinity  involved 
in  this.)  every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not 
fruit ...  eve  I  y  branch  that  beareth  fruit— As 
in  a  fruit-tree,  some  branches  may  be/ntit- 
ful,  others  quite  barren,  according  as  there 
is  a  vital  connexion  between  the  branch  and 
the  stock,  or  no  vital  connexion;  so  the  dis- 
ciples of  Christ  may  be  spiritually  fruitful 
or  the  reverse,  according  as  they  are  vitally 
and  spiritually  connected  with  Christ,  or  but 
extcmaUy  and  mechanically  attached  to 
Him.  The  fruitless  He  "taketh  away"  (see 
on  V.  6.);  the  fruitful  He  "purgeth"  ("  clean- 
seth'  'pruneth' — stripping  it,  as  the  hus- 
bandman does,  of  what  is  rankarul  luxiiriant 
(JMk.  4.  19.),  "that  it  may  bring  forth  more 
fruit:"  a  process  often  painful,  but  no  less 
needful  and  beneficial  than  in  the  natural 
husbandly.  Now— rather,  'Already.'  ye  are 
clean  through  ('by  reason  of)  the  word  I  have 
spoken  to  you— already  in  a  purified,  fruitful 
condition,  in  consequence  of  the  long  action 
upon  them  of  that  searching  "  word"  which 
was  "as  a  refiner's  fire."  (MaT.3. 2,  3.)  abide  in 
me  and  I  in  you,  &c.— As  all  spiritual  fruitful- 
ness  had  been  ascribed  to  the  mutual  inhabi- 
tation, and  living,  active  interprenetatimi  (so 
to  speak)  of  Christ  and  His  disciples,  so  here 
the  keeping  up  of  this  vital  connexion  is 
made  essential  to  continued  fruiliulness. 
without  me—'  apart.'  or  'vitally  disconnected 
from,  Me.'  ye  can  do  nothing— spiritually, 
acceptably,  cast  forth  as  a  branch . .  .withered 
...cast  into  the  fire...  burned— The  one  proper 
use  of  the  vine  is  to  hear  fruit;  failing  this, 
it  is  good  for  one  other  thing— ywei.  (See  Ez. 
15.  1-5.!  How  awfidly  striking  the  figure,  in 
this  view  of  it!  if  ye  abide  in  me  and  my 
words  in  you— Mark  the  change  from  the  in- 
habitation of  Himself  to  that  of  His  words, 
paving  the  way  for  tlie  subsequent  exhorta- 
tions {V.  9,  10.).  ask  what  ye  will— because 
this  indwelling  of  His  words  in  them  would 
secure  the  harmony  of  their  askings  with  the 
Divine  will,  glorified  that  ye  bear  much  fruit 
—not  only  from  His  delight  in  it  for  its  own 
sake,  but  as  from  '  the  juices  of  the  Living 
Vine."  so  shall  ye  be  my  discipies-cv idenA^e 
your  discipleship.  9-11.  continue  ye  in  my 
love— not,  ■  Continue  to  love  me,'  but,  '  Con- 
tinue in  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of  My 
love  to  you;  as  is  evident  Irom  the  next 
words.  It  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye  shall 
a  bide  in  my  love— the  obedient  spirit  of  true 
discipleship  cherishing  and  attracting  the 
continuance  and  increase  of  Christ's  love: 
and  this.  He  adds,  was  the  secret  even  of 
His  own  "abiding  in  His  Fathei-'s  love!" 
12-16.  That  ye  love  one  another,  <S:c.— See  on 
ch.  13,  34,  35.  greater  love  haih  no  man. ..  lay 
down  his  life  tor  his  friends— The  emphasis 
lies  not  on  "friends,"  but  on  "laying  dovsn 
his  life"  for  them,  q.d.,  ' One  can  snow  no 
greater  regard  for  those  dear  to  him  than  to 
give  his  life  for  them,  and  this  is  the  love  ye 
shall  find  in  Me.'  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  com- 
mand you—'  hold  yourself  in  absolute  sub- 
jection to  Me.'  Henceforth  I  call  you  net  ser- 
vants—i.  e..  in  tlie  sense  explained  in  the  next 
words;  for  .servants  He  still  calls  them  iv.  20>, 
and  they  delight  to  call  themselves,  in  the 
sen.se  of  being  "  under  law  to  Christ "  (1  Co. 
9.  20.).  the  servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord 
do  eth— knows  nothing  of  his  master's  plans 


Persecution  of  the  Disciples  Foretold.  JOHN,  XVL 


The  Promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


and  reasons,  but  simply  receives  and  exe- 1 
cutes  his  orders,  but  friends,  for  all  things  j 
that  I  have  heard  of  my  Father  I  have  made 
known  unto  you— admitted  you  to  free,  unre- ! 
strained  fellowship,  keeping  back  nothing  i 
from  you  which  I  have  leceived  to  commu-  i 
nicate.  (cf.  Ge.  18.  17;  Ps.  25.  14;  Is.  50.  4.) 
Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  j;ou— a  wholesome  ; 
memento  after  the  lofty  things  He  had  just  I 
said  about  their  mutual  indwelling,  and  the  j 
unreservedness  of  the  friendship  they  had 
been  admitted  to.  ordained  ('appointed 'you  { 
that  ye  should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit— i.e., 
give  yourselves  to  it.  and  that  your  fruit 
should  remain— showing  itself  to  be  an  im- 
perishable and  ever-growing  principle,  (cf. 
Pr.  4. 18;  2  J.  8.)  that  whatsoever  ye  snail  ask, 
&c.— See  on  v.  7.  17-21.  The  substance  of 
these  important  verses  has  occurred  more 
than  once  before.  §ee  on  M.  10.  34-36;  L.  12. 
49-53,  &c.)  22-25.— See  on  ch.  9.  39-41.  Had 
not  had  eia— comparatively  none;  all  other 
sins  being  light  compared  with  tho  rejection 
of  the  Son  of  God.  now  no  cloak  for  their  sin 
—rather,  '  pretext.'  If  I  had  not  done  the 
works  whicn  none  other  did— See  on  ch.  12. 
37.  that  the  word  might  be  fulfilled,  They  hated 
me  without  a  cause— quoted  from  the  Messi- 
anic Psalm  69.  4,  applied  also  in  the  same 
sense  ch.  2.  17:  A.  1.  20;  E.  11.  9,  10;  15.  3. 
26,  27.— See  on  ch.  14. 16, 17.  ye  also  shall  bear 
witness— rather,  'are  witnesses;'  with  refer- 
ence indeed  to  their  future  witness-bearing, 
but  putting  the  emphasis  upon  their  present 
fi.mple  opportunities  for  acquiring  their  qua- 
hlications  for  that  great  office,  inasmuch 
as  they  had  been  "with  Him  from  the  be- 
'  inning."    (See  on  L.  l.  2.) 

CHAPTEEXVI. 
Ver.  1-33.— DiscouKSE  at  the  StrppER- 
Table  Concltjdejj.  1-5.  These  things  have 
I  spoken,  <S:c.— both  the  v:arnings  and  the  en- 
couragements just  given,  put  you  out  of  the 
lynagogues— ^ch.  9.  22;  12.  42-J  that  he  doeth 
God  service— The  words  mean  religious  service 
— '  that  he  is  ottering  a  service  to  God.'  (So 
Saul  of  Tarsus,  Ga.  1. 13, 14  ;  Ph.  3.  6.)  said 
not  at  ('from')  the  beginning— He  had  said  it 
pretty  early  (L.  6.  22. ),  but  not  quite  as  in  v. 
2.  because  I  was  with  you.  But  now  I  go,  <fcc. 
—While  He  was  with  them,  the  world's 
hatred  was  directed  chiefly  against  Himself; 
but  His  departure  would  bring  it  down  upon 
them  as  His  representatives,  and  none  of 
yon  asketh  me.  Whither  goest  thou?— They  had 
done  so  in  a  sort.  ch.  13.  36;  14.  5 ;  but  He 
wished  more  intelligent  and  eager  inquiry  on 
the  subject.  6,  7.  But  because  I  have  said 
these  things,  sorrow  hath  filled  your  heart- 
Sorrow  had  too  much  paralyzed  them,  and 
He  would  rouse  their  energies.  It  is  expe- 
dient for  you  that  I  go  away— 

My  Saviour,  can  i    ever  be  r^  «  -i 

That  I  should  gain  by  losing  thee?-[yet»te.l 
Yes.  for  if  I  go  not  a  way,  the  Spirit  will  not 
come  unto  you,  but  if  I  go  I  will  send  Hun  unto 
you— Seeonch.7.39;l  .16.  And  when  he  is  come, 
he  will,  &c.— 'This  is  one  of  the  passages 
most  pret-Tiant  with  thought  in  the  profound 
discourses  of  Christ;  with  a  few  gi-eat  strokes 
depicting  all  and  every  part  of  the  ministry 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  world-His  opera- 
tion with  reference  to  individuals  as  well  as 
the  mass,  on  believers  and  unbelievers  alike. 
_[Olsh.]  he  will  reprove— This  is  too  weak  a 
word  to  express  what  is  meant.  Reproof 
is  indeed  implied  in  the  term  employed,  and 
6:!    L21 


doubtless  the  work  begins  with  it.  But 
'  convict'  or  '  convince '  is  the  thing  intended; 
and  as  the  one  expresses  the  work  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  unbelieving  portion  of  man- 
kind, and  the  other  on  the  believing,  it  is 
better  not  to  restrict  it  to  either,  of  sin,  be- 
cause they  believed  not  on  me— As  aU  sin  has 
its  root  in  unbelief,  so  the  most  aggravated 
form  of  unbelief  is  the  rejection  of  Christ. 
The  Spirit,  however,  in  fastening  this  truth 
upon  the  conscience,  does  not  extinguish, 
but,  on  the  contrarv,  consummate  and  in- 
tensify, the  sense  of  all  other  sins,  of  righteous- 
ness, because  I  go  to  my  Father,  and  ye  see  me 
no  more— Beyond  doubt,  it  is  Christ's  personal 
righteovisvxss  which  the  Spirit  was  to  bring 
home  to  the  sinner's  heart.  The  evidence  of 
this  was  to  Ue  in  the  great  historical  fact,  that 
He  had  "  gone  to  His  Father  and  was  no 
more  visible  to  men:"  for  if  His  claim  to  be 
the  Son  of  God,  the  Saviour  of  the  world, 
had  been  a  lie,  how  should  the  Father,  who 
is  "a  jealous  God,"  have  raised  such  a  blas- 
phemer from  the  dead  and  exalted  him  to 
His  right  liand?  But  if  He  was  the  "Faithful 
and  True  Witness,"  the  Father's  "Righteous 
Servant,"  " His Elect^in  whom  His  soul  de- 
lighted," then  was  His  departure  to  the 
Father,  and  consequent  disappearance  from 
the  view  of  men,  but  the  fitting  consumma- 
tion, the  august  reward,  of  aU  that  He  did 
here  below,  the  seal  of  His  mission,  the  glo- 
rification of  the  testimony  wliich  He  bore  on 
earth,  by  the  reception  of  its  Bearer  to  the 
Father's  bosom.  This  triumphant  vindica- 
tion of  Christ's  rectitude  is  to  us  divine  evi- 
dence, bright  as  heaven,  that  He  is  indeed 
the  Saviour  of  the  world,  God's  Eighteous 
Servant  to  justify  many,  because  He  bare 
their  iniquities.  (Is.  63.  11.)  Thus  the 
Spirit,  in  this  clause,  is  seen  convmcing  men 
that  there  is  in  Christ  perfect  relief  under 
the  sense  of  sin  of  which  he  had  before  con- 
vinced them;  andso  far  from  mourningovef 
His  absence  from  us,  as  an  irreparable  loss, 
we  learn  to  glory  in  it,  as  the  evidence  of  His 
perfect  acceptance  on  our  behalf,  exclaiming 
with  one  who  understood  this  point,  "Who 
shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God's 
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth:  Who  is  he 
that  condemneth  ?  It  is  Christ  that  died ; 
yea,  rather,  that  is  risen  again,  u:ho  is  even 
at  the  right  hand  of  God,"  &c.  (E.  8.  33.  34.) 
of  judgment,  because  the  prince  of  this  world  is 
judged— By  supposing  tha^tthe  final  judgment 
is  here  meant,  the  point  of  this  clause  is, 
even  by  good  interpreters,  quite  missed. 
The  statement,  "The  prince  of  this  world  is 
judged."  means,  beyond  all  reasonable  doubt, 
the  same  as  that  in  ch.  12.  31,  "  Now  shall 
the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out; "  and 
both  mean  that  his  dominion  over  men,  or 
his  power  to  enslave  and  so  to  ruin  them,  is 
destroyed.  The  death  of  Christ  "judged" 
or  judicially  overthrew  him,  and  he  was 
thereupon  "cast  out"  or  expelled  from  his 
usurped  dominion.  (He.  2. 14;  i  J.  3.  8;  Co. 
2. 15. 1  Thus,  then,  the  Spirit  shall  bring  home 
to  men's  conscience  a.  the  sense  of  sin,  con- 
summated in  the  rejection  of  Him  who  came 
to  "take  away  the  s;n  of  the  world;"  2.)  the 
sense  of  perfect  relief  in  the  righteousness 
of  the  Father's  Servant,  now  fetched  from 
the  earth  that  spumed  Him  to  that  bosom 
where  from  everlasting  He  had  dwelt;  and 
(3.)  the  sense  of  emancipation  from  the  fet- 
ters of  Satan,  whose  judgment  brings  to  .mea 


The  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


JOHN,  XTl. 


Jems  comforts  his  dlsdpUs. 


ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father  iu  my  name,  he 
naygive  it  you. 

17  Tnese  things  I  command  you,  that  ye 
love  one  another. 

18  IT  If  "*  the  world  hate  you,  ye  know  that 
it  hated  me  before  it  hated  you. 

1  19  It  "  ye  were  of  the  world,  the  world 
l^vould  love  his  own:  but  'because  ye  are 
not  of  the  world,  but  1  ha\e  chosen  you  out 
of  the  world,  therefore  the  world  hateth 
you. 

20  Remember  the  word  that  I  said  unto 
vou.  The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his 
lord.  If  they  have  persecuted  me,  they  will 
also  persecute  you;  ^if  they  have  kept  my 
sapng,  they  will  keep  yours  also. 

21  But  all  these  thinc^  will  they  do  unto 
you  for  my  name's  sake,  because  they  know 
not  him  that  sent  me. 

22  If  9 1  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto 
them,  they  had  not  had  sin:  •■  but  now  they 
have  no  2  cloak  for  their  sin. 

23  He  •  that  hateth  me  hateth  my  Father 
also. 

24  If  I  had  not  done  among  them  the 
works  which  none  other  man  did,  they  had 
not  had  sin:  but  now  have  they  both  seen 
and  hated  both  me  and  ray  Fatner. 

25  But  this  comHh  to  pass,  that  the  word 
might  be  fulfilled  that  is  written  in  their 
law,  <  They  hated  me  without  a  cause. 

26  But  "when  the  Comforter  is  come, 
whom  I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Fatner, 
even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  proceedeth 
from  the  Father,  "he  shall  testify  of  me: 

■  27  And  *"  ye  also  shall  bear  witness,  be- 
cause "^ye  have  been  with  me  Irom  the 
beginning. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

1  Christ  wameth  his  disciples  of  their  sufferings ; 

7  office  of  the  Comforter.    29  Then  profess  their 

faith  in  Christ.    33  i'eace  in  Christ,  and  in  the 

world  affliction. 

fpHESE  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
-^   that  ye  should  not  be  otteuded. 

2  They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  synagogues: 
yea,  the  time  cometh,  "  that  whosoever 
killeth  you  will  think  that  he  doeth  God 
Benice. 

3  And  *  these  things  will  they  do  unto  yon, 
because  they  have  not  known  the  Father, 
nor  me. 

4  But  these  things  have  I  told  you,  that, 
when  the  time  shall  come,  ye  may  re- 
member that  I  told  you  of  them.  And 
these  things  1  said  not  unto  you  at  the  be- 
ginning, because  I  was  with  you. 

5  But  now  I  go  my  way  to  him  that  sent 
me;  and  none  of  you  asketh  me,  Whither 
goest  thou? 

6  But  because  I  have  said  these  things 
unto  you.  sorrow  hath  filled  your  heart. 

7  Nevertheless  I  tell  you  the  truth;  It  is 
expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away:  for  if  I 
go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come 
unto  you;  but  *  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  him 
unto  you. 

8  And  when  he  is  come,  he  will  i  reprove 
the  world  of  sin,  and  of  nghteousuess,  and 
of  judgment: 

9  Of  "^  sin.  because  they  believe  not  on  me ; 

10  Of  •  righteousness,  because  I  go  to  my 
Father,  and  ye  see  me  no  more; 

11  Of/ judgment,  because  "the  prince  of 
this  world  is  judged. 

12 1  have  yet  many  things  to  say  onto  you, 
but  ye  cannot  bear  therp  now. 
13  ilowbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is 

m 


CHAP.  15. 
n*  1  John  3.  ' 

1,13 
n  1  John  4. 6. 
och.  17.  H. 
P  Eze.  3.  7. 

1  ch.  9.  41. 

r  Eom.  1   •_'0. 
Jam.  4.  17. 

2  Or.eicuae. 
«  1  John  a. 

23. 

2  John  9. 

t  Ps.  35.  19. 

Ps.  69.  4. 

«  AcU  2.  33. 

»  1  John  5.6. 

«>  Acts  1.  8. 

Acts  2.  32. 

Acts  4.  33. 

1  Pet.  5. 1. 

2  Pet. 1.16. 
a;  Luke  1.  2. 

lJohnl.1,2. 


CHAP.  16. 

«  Acts  8.  1. 

Acts  9.  1. 

Acts  26.  9. 
6  Kom.  10.  2. 

1  Cor.  2.  8. 

1  Ti.  1.  13. 
c  Acts  2.  33. 

Eph.  4.  b. 
1  Or, 

con\ince. 
d  Acts  2.  22. 
«  Acts  2.  32. 
/  Acts  26.  18. 
g  Lu.  10.  18. 

ch.  12.  31. 

Eph.  2.  2. 

Col.  2.  15. 

Heb.  2.  14. 
h  ch.  14.  26. 

1  John  2. 

20,27. 
i  1  Tim.  4.  1. 


Col. 


19. 


k  Lu.  24  41. 
ch.  14.  1,27. 
ch.  2<J.  20. 
Acts  2.  46. 
Acts  13.  52. 

1  Pet.  1.  8. 
{  ch.  14.  13. 

ch.  15. 16. 

2  Or, 
parablei. 

3  Or, 
parable*. 

m  ch.  14.  21. 

n  ch.  3.  13. 

ch.  17.  8. 

o  ch.  13.  3. 

4  Or, 
parable. 

P  ch.  21.  17. 
9  ch.  17.  8. 
6  Or,  bit 

r  Is  9.  6. 

ch.  14.  27. 

Bom.  5.  1. 

Eph.  2.  14. 

Col   1.  21). 
•  Act.  14.  22. 

2  Tim.  3.12. 
Heb.  12.  6. 
llev.  3.  19. 

t  U.  49.  24, 
25. 

Kom.  8.  37. 
1  Cor.  15. 
27. 

Gal.  6.  14. 
I  John  4.4. 
IJciliod.  4. 


come, '» he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth:  for 
he  shall  not  speak  of  himself-  but  wlnitso- 
ever  he  shall  hear,  that  shall  he  speak:  and 
he  will '  show  you  things  to  come. 

14  He  shall  glorify  me;  for  he  shall  receive 
of  mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you. 

15  All  >  things  that  the  Father  hath  are 
mine:  therefore  said  I,  that  he  shall  take  of 
mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you. 

16  A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me : 
and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall  see 
me;  because  I  go  to  the  Father. 

17  Then  said  some  of  his  disciples  among 
themselves.  What  is  this  that  he  saith  unto 
us,  A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me: 
and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall  see 
me:  and.  Because  I  go  to  the  Father? 

18  They  said  theretore.  What  is  this  that 
he  saith,  A  little  while  ?  we  cannot  tell  what 
he  saith. 

19  Now  Jesus  knew  that  they  were  de- 
sirous to  ask  him,  and  said  unto  them, 
Do  .ve  enquire  among  yourselves  of  that 
I  said,  A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see 
me:  and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall 
see  me? 

20  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  That  ye 
shall  weep  and  lament,  but  the  world  shall 
rejoice:  and  ye  shall  be  sorrowful,  but  your 
sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy. 

21  A  woman  when  she  is  iu  travail  hath 
sorrow,  because  her  hour  is  come:  but  aa 
soon  as  she  is  delivered  of  the  child,  she 
remembereth  no  more  the  anguish,  for  joy 
that  a  man  is  born  into  the  world. 

22  And  ye  now  therefore  have  sorrow:  but 

1  will  see  you  again,  and  *  your  heart  shall 
rejoice,  and  your  joy  no  man  taketh  from 
you. 

23  And  in  that  day  ye  shall  ask  me 
nothing.  '  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you. 
Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my 
name,  he  will  give  it  you. 

24  Hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing  in  my 
name:  ask,  and  ye  shall  receive,  that  your 
joy  may  be  full. 

25  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you  in 

2  proverbs:  but  the  time  cometh.  when  I 
shall  no  mor6  sneak  unto  you  in  3  pro- 
verbs, but  1  shall  show  you  plainly  of  the 
Father. 

26  At  that  day  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name: 
and  I  say  not  unto  you,  that  1  will  pray 
the  Father  for  you; 

27  For  "*  the  Father  himself  loveth  you, 
because  ye  have  loved  me,  and  "  have  be- 
lieved that  I  came  out  from  God. 

28  I  "  came  forth  from  the  Father,  and  am 
come  into  the  world:  again,  I  leave  the 
world,  and  go  to  the  Fatner. 

29 1i  His  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lo,  now 
speakest  thou  plainly,  and  speakest  no 
*  proverb. 

30  Now  are  we  sure  that  ^  thou  knowest 
all  things,  and  needest  not  that  any  man 
should  ask  thee:  by  this 'we  believe  that 
thou  camest  forth  from  God. 

31  Jesus  answered  them.  Do  ye  now  be- 
lieve? 

32  Behold,  the  hour  cometh,  yea,  is  now 
come,  that  ye  shall  be  scattered,  every  man 
to  5  his  own,  and  shall  leave  me  alone:  and 
yet  I  am  not  alone,  because  the  Father  ia 
with  me. 

33  These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you, 
that  *■  in  me  ye  might  have  peace.  *  In  the 
world  ye  shall  have  tribulation:  but  be  ut 
good  clieer;  *1  have  overcome  the  world. 


Ch'rist  Comforts  His  Bisnples, 


JOHN,  xvn. 


The  Intercessory  Prayer, 


liberty  to  be  holy,  and  transfonnation  out 
of  servants  of  the  devil  into  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  Lord  Almighty.  To  one 
class  of  men.  however,  all  this  will  carry 
convictiori,  only ;  they  "  wiU  not  come  to 
Christ  "—revealed  though  He  be  to  them  as 
the  life-giving  One— that  they  may  have  life. 
Such,  abiding  voluntarily  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  prince  of  this  world,  are  judged 
in  his  jiidgment,  the  visible  consummation 
of  which  will  be  at  the  great  day.  To  another 
class,  however,  this  blessed  teaching  will 
have  another  issue— translating  them  out  of 
the  kingdom  of  darkness  into  the  kingdom 
of  God's  dear  Son.  12-15.  not  speak  of  him- 
sell— i.  c,  from.  Himself,  but,  like  Christ 
Himself,  "what  He  hears,"  what  is  gaven 
Him  to  communicate,  show  you  things  to 
come— referring  specially  to  those  revelations 
which,  in  the  Epistles  partially,  but  most 
tully  in  the  Apocalypse,  open  up  a  vista  into 
the  Future  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,  whose 
horizon  is  the  everlasting  hills.  He  shall 
glorify  me;  for  he  shall  receive  ot  mine  and  show 
it  unto  you— Thus  the  whole  design  of  the 
Spirit's  office  is  to  glorify  Christ— not  in  His 
own  Person,  for  this  was  done  by  the  Father 
when  He  exalted  Him  to  his  own  right  hand 
—but  in  the  view  and  estimation  of  men. 
For  this  purpose  He  was  to  "rective  of  Christ' 
— all  the  truth  relating  to  Christ—"  and  show 
it  unto  them,"  or  make  them  to  discern  it  in 
its  own  light.  The  subjective  nature  of  the 
Spirit's  teaching— the  discovery  to  ihe  souls 
of  men  of  what  is  Christ  outwardly— is  here 
very  clearly  expressed;  and,  at  the ^a me 
time,  the  vanity  of  lookmg  for  reveljtions 
of  the  Spirit  wJuch  shall  do  anything  beyond 
throwing  hglit  in  the  soul  upon  what  Christ 
Himself  is,  and  taught,  and  did  upon  earth. 
all  tluDgs  that  the  father  hath  are  mijie- a 
plainer  expression  than  this  of  absolute  com- 
munity with  the  Father  in  all  things,  cannot 
be  conceived,  though  the  "all  things"  here 
have  relerence  to  the  things  of  the  Kingdom 
of  Grace,  which  the  iSpirit  was  to  receive 
that  He  might  show  it  to  us.  We  have  hei  e 
a  wonderlul  glimpse  into  the  inner  relations 
of  the  Godhead.  16-22.  A  little  while  and  ye 
shall  not  see  me,  and  again  a  little  while  and  ye 
shall  see  me,  because  1  go  to  the  Father— The 
•joy  of  the  world'  at  their  'not  seeing  him' 
seems  to  show  that  His  removal  from  them 
by  death  was  what  He  meant;  and  in  that 
case,  their  'joy  at  again  seeing  Him'  points 
to  their  transport  at  His  re-appearance 
amongst  them  on  His  resurrection,  when 
they  could  no  longer  doubt  his  identity.  At 
the  same  time  the  sorrow  of  the  widowed 
Church  in  the  absence  of  her  Lord  in  the 
heavens,  and  her  transport  at  His  personal 
return,  are  certainly  here  expressed.  24-28. 
At  tiiat  day— of  the  dispensation  of  the  Spirit, 
as  ch.  14.  20.  ye  shall  ask  ('enquire  of;  me 
nothing- by  reason  of  the  fulness  of  the 
Spirit's  teaching,  ich,  14.  26;  16.  13;  and  cf.  1 
J.  2.  27.)  hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing  in  my 
name— for  '  prayer  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and 
prayer  to  Christ,  presuppose  His  glorifica- 
tion.' [Olsh.]  ask — when  1  am  gone,  "in  my 
name.  in  proverbs— in  obscure  language, 
opposed  to  "showing  plainly"— i.e.,  by  the 
Spirit's  teaching.  I  say  not  I  will  pray  the 
F.'ither  for  you— as  if  He  were  not  of  Himself 
disposed  to  aid  you :  Christ  does  pray  the 
Father  for  his  people,  but  not  for  the  purpose 
of  inclining  an  unwilling  ear.  tor  the  Father 
bi 


himself  loveth  you,  because  ye  have  loved  me— 
This  love  of  theirs  is  that  which  is  called 
forth  by  God's  eternal  love  in  the  gift  of  his 
Son  mirrored  in  the  hearts  ot  those  who  be- 
lieve, and  resting  on  His  dear  ISon.  I  came 
Itrth,  &c.—qM.,  'And  ye  are  right,  for  I  have 
indeed  so  come  forth,  and  shall  soon  return 
whence  I  came.'  This  echo  of  the  truth,  al- 
luded to  in  the  preceding  verse,  seems  like 
thinking  aloud,  as  if  it  were  gratelul  to  Hig 
own  spirit  on  such  a  subject  and  at  such  au 
hour.  29,  SO.  Now  speakest  thou  plainly,  &c. 
—hardly  more  so  than  before;  the  tiuie  for 
perfect  plainness  was  yet  to  come;  but  having 
caught  a  glimpse  of  His  meaning  (it  was 
nothing  more;,  they  eagerly  express  their 
satisfaction,  as  if  glad  to  make  anything  of 
His  words.  How  touchingly  does  this  show 
both  the  simplicity  of  their  hearts  and  the 
miantile  character  of  their  faith!  31-33.  Do 
ye  now  beUevel— g.d.,  '  It  is  well  ye  do,  for  it 
is  soon  to  be  tested,  and  in  a  way  ye  little  ex- 
pect.' leave  me  alone;  and  yet  I  am  not  alone 
—A  deep  and  awful  sense  of  wrong  experi- 
enced is  certainly  expressed  here,  but  how 
lovingly!  Ihat  He  was  not  to  be  utterly 
deserted,  that  there  was  One  who  would  not 
forsake  Him,  was  to  Him  matter  of  ineflable 
support  and  consolation;  but  that  He  should 
be  without  all  human  countenance  and 
cheer,  who  as  Man  was  exquisitely  sensitive 
to  the  law  of  sympathy,  would  fill  themselve<» 
with  as  much  shame,  when  they  atterwarda 
recurred  to  it,  as  the  Redeemer's  heart  in  his 
hour  ol  need  with  pungent  sorrow.  "I  looked 
for  some  to  take  pity,  but  there  was  none; 
and  for  comforters,  but  I  lound  none."  (Fs. 
69. 20.  J  because  theFather  is  with  me— how  near, 
and  with  what  sustaining  power,  who  can 
express?  These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you— 
not  the  immediately  preceding  words,  but 
this  whole  discourse,  of  which  these  were  the 
very  last  words,  and  which  He  thus  winds  ud. 
that  in  me  ye  might  have  peace— in  the  sublinie 
sense  before  explained.  ,See  on  ch.  14.  27.) 
in  the  worldye  shall  have  tribulation— specially 
arising  from  its  deadly  opposition  to  those 
who  "are  not  of  the  world,  but  chosen  out 
ot  the  world."  So  that  the  "peace"  promised 
was  tar  from  an  unruffled  one.  I  have  over- 
come the  world— not  only  before  you,  but  Jor 
you,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  do  the  same,  (l  J. 
5. 4.  5.) 

CHAPTER  xvn. 
Ver.  1-26.  The  Lntercessory  Prater. 
See  on  ch.  14.  I.  Had  this  prayer  not  been 
recorded,  what  reverential  reader  would  not 
have  exclaimed,  Oto  have  lieen  within  hear- 
ing of  such  a  prayer  as  that  must  have  been, 
which  wound  up  the  whole  of  His  past 
ministry  and  formed  the  point  of  transition 
to  the  dark  scenes  which  immediately  fol- 
lowed! But  here  it  is,  and  with  such  signa- 
ture of  the  Lips  that  uttered  it  that  we  seem 
rather  to  hear  it  from  Himself  than  read  it 
from  the  pen  of  His  faithlul  reporter.  1-3 
Lifted  up  his  eyes—*  John  very  seldom  depicts 
the  gestures  or  looks  of  our  Lord,  as  here 
But  this  was  an  occasion  of  which  the  im- 
pression was  indelible,  and  the  upward  look 
could  not  be  passed  over.'  [Alf.]  Father,  the 
hour  is  come— See  on  ch.  13.  ol,  32.  glorify  thy 
Son— Put  honour  upon  thy  Son.  by  counte- 
nancing, sustaining,  and  carrying  Him 
through  that  "hour,  given  ('gavest')  him 
power  over  all  flesh— See  on  M.  11.  27;  28. 18-20. 
give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as,  &ic.—lit., '  to  all 


Christ  Praijeth 


JOHN,  xvn. 


for  His  Apostles. 


that  which  thou  hast  given  him.'  (See  on  ch,  6. 
S7-40.)  This  is  (that)  life  eternal,  that  they  mipht 
(may  know,  <tc.— This  life  eternal,  then,  is 
not  mere  conscious  and  unending  existence, 
but  a  life  of  acquaintance  with  God  in  Christ,  i 
(Job.  22.  21.)  thee,  the  only  true  God— the  sole 
personal  living  God;  in  glorious  contrast 
equally  with  heathen  polytheism,  philosophic 
rtnturalism,  and  mystic  vantheism.  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  thou  hast  seut— This  is  the  only 
place  where  our  Lord  gives  himself  this 
compound  name,  afterwards  so  current  in 
apostolic  preaching  and  writing.  Here  the 
terms  are  used  in  their  strict  signification— 
*■  Jesus,"  because  He  "saves  his  people  from 
their  sinsf  "Christ,"  as  anoiided  with  the 
measureless  fulness  of  the  Holy  Ghost  for 
the  exercise  of  His  saving  ofiices  (see  on  M. 
J.  16.);  "Whom  thou  hast  sent,"  in  the 
plenitude  of  Divine  Authority  and  Power, 
to  save.  '  The  very  juxtaposition  here  of 
Jesus  Christ  with  the  Father  is  a  proof,  by 
implication,  of  our  Lord's  Godhead.  The 
inowledge  of  God  and  a  creature  could  not 
be  eternal  life,  and  such  an  association  of  the 
■one  with  the  other  would  be  inconceivable.' 
[Alf.]  4,  6. 1  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth 
^rather,  '1  glorified'  (for  the  thing  is  con- 
ceived as  now  past).  I  have  finished  ('  I  fin- 
ished '  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do- 
lt is  very  important  to  preserve  in  the 
translation  the  past  tense,  used  in  the 
criginal,  otherwise  it  might  be  thought  that 
the  work  already  "finished  "  was  only  what 
He  had  done  before  uttering  that  prayer; 
"Whereas  it  will  be  observed  that  our  Lord 
speaks  throughout  as  already  beyond  this 
present  scene  (v.  12,  &c.),  and  so  must  be 
supposed  to  include  in  His  "finished  work" 
the  "decease  which  He  was  to  accomplish  at 
Jerusalem."  And  now— in  return,  glorify 
thou  me— The  "7  thee"  and  "Thou  me"  are 
so  placed  in  the  original,  each  beside  its  fel- 
low, as  to  show  that  a  perfect  rectprocity 
OF  SERVICES  of  the  Son  to  the  Father  first, 
and  then  of  the  Father  to  the  Hon  in  return, 
is  what  our  Lord  means  here  to  express, 
with  the  g.ory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the 
world  was— when  "in  the  beginning  theWord 
was  with  God"  (ch.  1.  1.),  "  the  only  begotten 
Son  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father"  (ch.  l.  I8.l. 
With  this  pre-exi stent  glory,  which  He  veiled 
on  earth.  He  asks  to  be  reinvested,  the  de- 
sign of  the  veiling  being  accomplished— not, 
however,  simply  as  before,  but  now  in  our 
nature.  6-8.  From  praying  for  Himself  He 
now  comes  to  pray  for  His  disciples.  I  have 
manifested  ('  I  manifested  'i  thy  name— His 
whole  character  towards  mankind,  to  the  men 
thou  gavest  me,  &c.— See  on  ch.  6.  37-40,  they 
have  known  surely,  &c.— See  on  ch.  16.  30,  31. 
9-14.  I  pray  for  them— not  as  individuals 
merely,  but  as  representatives  of  aU  such  in 
every  succeeding  age  (see  on  v.  20.1.  not  for 
the  world— for  they  had  been  given  Him  "out 
of  the  world"  [v.  6.),  and  had  been  already 
transformed  into  the  very  opposite  of  it. 
The  things  sought  for  them,  indeed,  are  ap- 
plicable only  to  such,  all  mine  are  thine  and 
thine  are  mme— lit.,  '  All  ray  things  are  thine 
and  thy  things  are  mine.'  (On  this  use  of  the 
neuter  gender,  see  on  ch.  6.  37-40.)  Absolute 
co.MMUNiTY  OF  PROPERTY  between  the 
Father  and  the  Son  is  here  expressed  as 
nakedly  as  words  can  do  it.  (See  on  v.  5.)  I 
Riu  no  m  ire  in  the  world  see  on  v.  4.),  but  these 
are  ia  the  world— q.cJ.,  Tliough  My  etrugglea 
83  LU 


are  at  an  end,  their's  are  not ;  though  1 
have  gotten  beyond  the  scene  of  strife,  I 
cannot  sever  myself  in  spirit  from  them, 
left  behind  and  only  jiist  entering  on  their 

geat  conflict.'  Holy  Father— an  expression 
e  nowhere  else  uses.  "Father"  is  His 
wonted  appellation,  but  "holy'  is  here  pre- 
fixed, because  His  appeal  was  to  that  per- 
fection of  the  Father's  nature,  to  "  keep " 
or  preserve  them  from  being  tainted  by 
the  unholy  atmosphere  of  "  the  world " 
they  were  still  in.  keep  through  thine  own 
name— raJier,  'in  thy  name;'  in  the  exercise 
of  that  gracious  and  holy  character  for  which 
He  was  known,  that  they  may  be  one— See 
on  V.  21.  I  kept  guarded)  them  in  thy  name — 
acting  as  thy  Kepresentative  on  earth,  none 
of  them  lost  but  the  s-n  of  perdition-'  It  is  not 
implied  here  that  the  son  of  perdition  was 
one  of  those  whom  the  Father  had  given  to 
the  Son.  but  rather  the  contrary,  ch.  13.  18.' 
[w.  &  W.J  It  is  just  as  in  L.  4.  26,  27,  where 
we  are  not  to  suppose  that  the  woman  of 
Sarepta  (in  Sidon)  was  one  of  the  widows  of 
Israel,  nor  Naaman  the  Syrian  one  of  the 
lepers  in  Israel,  though  the  language— the 
same  as  here— might  seem  to  express  that. 
son  of  perdition—doomed  to  it.  (2  Th.  2. 
3;  Mk.  14.  21.)  I  speak  in  the  world  that  they 
might  have  my  joy,  &c.—q.d.,  'Such  a  strain 
befits  rather  the  upper  sanctuary  than  the 
scene  of  conflict;  but  I  speak  so  "in  the 
world, '  that  My  joy,  the  joy  1  experience  in 
knowing  that  such  intercessions  are  to  be 
made  for  them  by  their  absent  Lord,  may  be 
tastefl  by  those  who  now  hear  them,  and  by 
all  who  shall  hereafter  read  the  record  of 
them.  15-19.  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest 
take  them  out  of  the  world— for  that,  though  it 
would  secure  their  own  satety,  would  leave 
the  world  unblessed  by  their  testimony,  but 
k-iep  them  from  the  evU— all  evil  in  and  of  the 
world.  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I, 
&c.— See  on  ch.  15. 18,  19.  This  is  reiterated 
here,  to  pave  the  way  for  the  prayer  which 
follows.  Sanctify  them  — As  the  former 
prayer,  "Keep  them."  was  negative,  asking 
protection  for  them  from  the  poisonous  ele- 
ment which  surrounded  and  pressed  upon 
their  renewed  nature,  so  this  prayer,  "Saiic- 
tijy  them,"  is  positive  asking  the  advance^ 
ment  and  completion  of  their  begun  sanctifi- 
cation.  through  (or  '  in  ')  thy  truth— God's 
revealed  truth,  as  the  medium  or  element  of 
sanctifi cation;  a  statement  thi>  of  immense 
importance,  thy  word  is  truth— cf.  ch.  15.  3; 
Co.  1.  5;  Eph.  1.  13.  As  thou  hast  sent  ('  sent- 
est')  me  into  the  world,  even  so  have  I  also  sent 
{'sent  I  also')  them  into  the  world— As  their 
mission  was  to  carry  into  eflect  the  purposes 
of  their  Master's  mi-sion.  so  our  Lord  speaks 
of  the  authority  in  both  cases  as  co-ordinate. 
and  for  their  sakes  I  sanctily  consecrate)  my- 
self, that  they  also  might  ('may'j  be  sanctified 
(consecrated)— 'The  only  difterence  between 
the  application  of  the  same  term  to  Christ 
and  the  disciples  is,  as  applied  to  Christ, 
that  it  means  only  to  '  consecrate;'  whereas, 
in  application  to  the  disciples,  it  means  to 
'  consecrate '  with  the  additional  idea  of  pre- 
vious sanctification,  since  nothing  but  what 
is  holy  can  be  presented  as  an  offering.  Tlie 
whole  self-sacrificing  work  of  the  disciples. 


appears  here  as  a  mere  rcsxdt  of  the  otferingr 

f  Christ.'     [Olsh.]    through  (or  *  in ')  th& 

truth— Though  the  article  is  wanting  in  the 


original  here,  we  are  not  to  translate,  as  lit 


Christ  Prayeth 


JOHN.  xvnL 


for  TTi3  Apostks, 


the  margin,  'tru'y  sanctified;'  for  the  refer- 
ence seems  plainly  to  be  to  "the  trnth"! 
mentioned  1^,  17.  (see  there).  20-23.  Neither 
pray  I  for  these  alone— Tliis  very  important 
explanation,  uttered  in  condescension  to  the  ' 
hearers  and  readers  of  this  prayer  in  all 
time,  is  meant  not  merely  of  what  follows, 
but  of  the  whole  prayer,  them  also  which 
Bhall  believe— The  majority  of  the  best  IVISS. 
read  'which  believe,'  all  future  time  being 
viewed  as  present,  while  the  present  is  view- 
ed as  past  and  gone,  that  they  all  may  be 
one,  as  thou,  Father,  in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that 
they  may  be  one  in  us— T/ie  indv:eUing  Spirit 
of  the  Father  and  the  Son  is  the  one  perfect 
bond  of  union,  knitting  up  into  a  living 
unity,  first,  all  believers  amongst  themselves; 
next,  this  unity  into  one  still  higher,  with  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  (Observe,  that  Christ 
never  mms  Himself  up  with  His  disciples  as 
He  associates  Himself  with  the  Father,  but 
says  I  in  them  and  they  in  us.)  that  the 
world  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  ('sentest') 
me- So  the  grand  impression  upon  the  world 
at  large,  that  the  INIission  of  Christ  is  Divine, 
is  to  be  made  hy  the  unity  of  His  disciples. 
Of  course,  then,  it  must  be  sometliing  that 
shall  be  visible  or  perceptible  to  the  world. 
What  is  it,  then?  Not  certainly  a  merely 
formal,  mechanical  uijity  of  ecclesiastical 
machinery.  For  as  thai;  mav,  an'd  to  a  large 
extent  does  exist,  in  both  the  Western  and 
Eastern  Churches,  with  little  of  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  yea  much,  much  with  which  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  cannot  dwell,  so  instead  of 
convincing  the  world  beyond  its  own  pale  of 
the  divinity  of  the  Gospel,  it  generates  infi- 
delity to  a  large  extent  within  its  own  bosom. 
Jjut  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  illuminating,  trans- 
forming, and  reigning  in  the  hearts  of  the 
genuine  disciples  of  Christ,  drawing  them  to 
each  other  as  members  of  one  family,  and 
prompting  them  to  loving  co-operation  for 
the  good  of  the  world— tliis  is  what,  when 
sufiiciently  glowing  and  extended,  shall 
force  conviction  upon  the  world  that  Christi- 
anity is  divine.  Doubtless,  the  more  that 
differences  among  Christians  disappear— the 
more  they  can  agree  even  in  minor  matters 
—the  impression  upon  the  world  may  be  ex- 
pected to  be  greater.  But  it  is  not  dependent 
upon  this;  for  living  and  loving  oneness  in 
Christ  is  sometimes  more  touchingly  se«in 
even  amidst  and  in  spite  of  minor  differences, 
than  where  no.such  differences  exist  to  try  the 
strength  of  their  deeper  unity.  Yet  till  this 
living  brotherhood  in  Christ  shall  show  it- 1 
self  strong  enough  to  destroy  the  sectarian- 1 
ism,  selfishness,  carnality,  and  apathy  that  j 
eat  out  the  heart  of  Christianity  in  all  the  i 
visible  sections  of  it,  in  vain  shall  we  expect 
the  world  to  be  overawed  by  it.  It  is  when 
*'  the  Spirit  shall  be  poured  upon  us  from  on 
high,"  as  a  Spirit  of  truth  and  love,  and  upon 
ail  parts  of  the  Christian  territory  alike, 
melting  down  differenres  and  heart-burnings, 
kindling  astonishment  and  shame  at  past 
unfruitfulness,  drawing  forth  longings  of  ca- 
tholic affection,  and  yearnings  over  a  world 
lymg  in  wickedness,  embodying  themselves 
in  palpable  forms  and  active  measures— it  is 
then  that  we  may  expect  the  effect  here  an- 
nounced to  be  iJroduced,  and  then  it  will 
be  irresistible.  Should  not  Christians  ponder 
ttiese  things  ?  "  should  not  the  same  mind 
he  in  them  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus" 
filout  tiiis  liuxtter?  should  not  His  prayer  he 
83   [2]- 


tfi  eir's?  and  the  glory  which  thou  gavest  'hast 
given')  me  I  have  given  them  that  they  may 
be  one,  even  as  we  are  one— The  last  clause 
shows  the  meaning  of  the  first.  It  is  not  the 
future  glory  of  the  heavenly  state,  but  the 
secret  of  that  present  unity  just  before 
spoken  of;  the  glory,  therefore,  of  the  indwell- 
ing Spirit  of  Christ;  the  glory  of  an  accepted 
state,  of  a  holy  character,  of  every  grace.  I 
in  them,  &c.— See  on  v.  21.  24-26.  Father,  I 
will— The  majesty  of  this  style  of  speaking  is 
quite  transparent.  No  petty  criticism  will 
be  allowed  to  fritter  it  away  in  any  but  su- 
perficial or  perverted  readers,  be  with  me 
where  I  am— See  on  ch.  14.  3.  that  they  may 
behold  my  glory  which  thou  hast  given  me— 
See  on  v.  5.  Christ  regards  it  as  glory  enough 
for  us  to  be  admitted  to  see  and  gaze  for  ever 
upon  His  glory!  Tliis  is  'the  beatific  vision^ 
but  it  shall  be  no  mere  vision,  for  "we  shall 
be  like  liim,  because  we  shall  see  him  as  he 
is,"  I  J.  3.  2.  0  righteous  Father,  the  world 
hath  not  known  thee  /knew  thee  not'),  but  I 
have  known  ('knew'  thee,  and  these  have 
known  ('knew')  that  thou  hast  sent  ('sentest') 
me— As  before  He  said  "  HolyFa.th.eT,"  wheu 
desiring  the  display  o£  that  perfection  on 
His  disciples  .v.  11. "so  here  He  styles 
him  "Righteous  Father,"  because  He  is  ap- 
pealing to  his  righteousness  or  justice,  to 
make  a  distinction  between  those  two  dia- 
metrically opposite  classes— "  tTie  world,"  on 
the  one  hand,  which  would  not  "  know  the 
Father,  though  brought  so  nigh  to  it  in  the 
Son  of  his  love,  and,  on  the  other,  Himse'f, 
who  recognised  and  owned  Him,  and  even 
His  dimples,  who  owned  His  mission  from 
the  Father.  And  I  have  declared  ('I  made 
known'  or  'communicated'  thy  name— in 
His  past  ministry,  and  will  declare  it— in  yet 
larger  measure,  by  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
at  Pentecost  and  through  all  succeeding  ages, 
that  the  love  wherewith  thou  hast  loved 
i '  lovedst ')  me  may  be  in  them  and  I  in  them— 
Thi>  eternal  love  of  the  Father,  resting  first 
on  Christ,  is  by  His  Spirit  imparted  to  and 
takes  up  its  permanent  abode  in  all  that  be- 
lieve in  Him;  and  "  He  abiding  in  them  and 
they  in  Him"  ich.  15.  5.,  they  are  "one 
SfArit."  'With  this  lofty  thought  the  Re- 
deemer closes  His  prayer  for  His  disciples, 
and  in  them  for  His  Church  through  all  ages. 
He  ha';  compressed  into  the  last  moments 
given  Him  for  conversation  with  His  own 
the  most  sublime  and  glorious  sentiments 
ever  uttered  by  mortal  lips.  But  hardly  has 
the  sound  of  the  last  word  died  away,  when 
He  passes  with  the  disciples  over  the  brook 
Kedron  to  Gethseniane— and  the  bitter  con- 
flict draws  on.  The  seed  of  the  new  world 
must  be  sown  in  Death,  that  thence  lite 
may  spring  up.'    [Olsh.] 

chafii-:r  x\tii. 

Ver.  1-13.  Betkayal  and  Apprehen- 
sion OF  Jesus.  1-3.  Over  the  brook  Kedron— 
a  deep,  dark  ravine,  to  the  N.E.  of  Jerusa- 
lem, through  which  flowed  this  small  'storm- 
brook'  or  'winter-torrent,'  and  wliich  in 
summer  is  dried  up.  where  was  a  garden— at 
the  foot  of  the  mount  of  Olives,  "called 
Gethsemane"  i' olive-press '),  M.  '26.  30,  36. 
Judas  knew  the  place,  for  Jesus  ofttimes  .'see 
ch.  8.  1;  L.  '21.  37  ;i  resorted  thither  with  his 
disciples  —  Tlie  baseness  of  this  abuse  of 
knowledge  in  Judas,  derived  from  adml.?- 
sion  to  the  closest  privacies  of  his  Master, 
is  most  touchingly  couveyed  here,  though 


Christ  prayeih  for  his  apoitlei.         JOHN.  XVII.  XYIII. 


Judas  hetrayeth  ClirisU 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

J  Christ  prayeth  to  his  Father  to  glorify  him,  6  to 
preserve  his  apostles,  U  in  unity,  17  and  truth, 
20  to  glorify  them,  and  all  other  believers  with 
him  in  heaven. 

TTHESE  words  spake  Jesus,  and  lifted  up 
-*•  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  said.  Father, 
the  hour  "is  come;  glorify  thy  Son,  that  thy 
^on  also  may  glorify  thee: 

2  As  "  thou  hast  given  him  power  over  all 
•flesh,  that  he  should  give  eternal  life  to  as 
many  *  as  thou  hast  given  him. 

3  And  "  this  is  life  eterual,  that  they  might 
know  thee  <*  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  thou  hast  sent. 

4  I  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth:  I  have 
■finished  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to 
do. 

5  And  now,  O  Father,  gloiify  thou  me 
"With  thine  own  self  with  the  glory  *  which 
1  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was. 

6  I  /have  manifested  thy  name  unto  the 
men  which  thou  gavest  me  out  of  the 
world:  thine  they  were,  and  thou  gavest 
them  me:  and  they  have  kept  thy  word. 

7  Now  they  have  known  that  all  things 
whatsoever  thou  hast  ^ven  me  are  of  thee. 

8  For  I  have  given  unto  them  the  words 
which  thou  gavest  me ;  and  they  have  re- 
ceived them,  and  have  known  surely  that 
I  came  out  from  thee,  and  they  have  be- 
lieved that  thou  didst  send  me. 

9  I  pray  for  them:  » I  pray  not  for  the 
■world,  but  for  them  which  thou  hast  given 
me :  for  they  are  thine. 

10  And '» all  mine  are  thine,  and  thiue  are 
mine ;  and  I  am  gloiiiied  in  them. 

11  And  MOW  I  am  no  more  in  the  world, 
l3Ut  these  are  in  the  world,  and  1  come  to 
thee.  Holy  Father,  »  keep  through  thine 
own  name  those  whom  thou  hast  given  me, 
that  they  may  be  one,  >  as  we  are. 

.  12  While  I  was  with  them  in  the  world, 
I*  kept  them  in  thy  name:  those  that  thou 
gavest  me  I  have  kept,  and  '  none  of  them 
IS  lost,  "'but  the  son  of  perdition;  "that 
the  Sciipture  might  be  fultilled. 

I'i  And  now  come  I  to  thee;  and  these 
things  I  speak  in  the  world,  that  they 
might  have  my  joy  fultilled  in  themselves. 

14  I  have  given  them  thy  word ;  "  and  the 
world  hath  hated  them,  because  they  are 
not  of  the  world,  even  as  1  am  not  of  the 
world. 

15  1  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take 
them  out  of  the  world,  but  ^that  thou 
filiouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil. 

16  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am 
not  of  the  world. 

17  Sanctify  « them  through  thy  truth:  thy 
word  is  truth. 

18  As  thou  hast  sent  me  into  the  world, 
even  so  have  I  also  sent  them  into  the 
ivfirld. 

19  And  ^  for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  myself, 
that  they  also  might  be  i  sauctihed  through 
tlie  tuith. 

I'O  Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for 
them*  also  wliich  shall  believe  on  me 
through  their  wurd; 

'Jl  That « they  all  may  be  one;  as  "thom, 
Father,  art  in  me,  and  1  in  thee,  that  they 
also  may  be  one  in  us:  that  the  world  may 
telieve  that  thou  hast  sent  me. 

'/J  And  the  glory  which  thou  g.ivest  me  I 
have  given  them;  "that  they  may  be  one, 
even  as  we  are  one: 
.  23 1  iu  them,  and  thou  in  me,  *"  (bat  they 


p  Gal.  1.  4. 

2  Thea.  3.3. 

1  John  5. 

18. 
q  Acta  15.  9. 

Eph.  5.  26. 

1  Fet.  1  22. 
r  1  Cor.  1.30. 

1  The*.  47. 

Heb.  10. 10. 
1  Or,  truly 

aanctitied. 

»  Acta  2.  41. 

Acts  4.  4. 

t  £om.  12.  6. 

1  Cor.  1.10. 

Gal.  3.  28. 

«  ch.  10.  38. 

ch.  14  11. 

Phil.  2.  6. 

1  JohD  a.  7. 
"IJohnl.S. 

1  John  3.24. 
«>  Col.  3.  14. 
»  Heb.  12  23. 
V  1  Theas.  4. 


CHAP.  18. 

a  Lu.  22.  39. 
6  2  Sa.  15  2;f. 
c  Lu.  21.  37. 
d  Acta  1.  IS. 
•  1  Pet.  5.  7. 
/  ch.  17.  12. 


Acta  i.  6. 
1  And  .Annaa 
aent  Chriat 
bound  uuto 
Caia).haa, 
the  high 

ver.  24. 
k  ch.  11. 60. 


may  be  made  '^ perfect  in  one;  and  that  the 
world  may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me, 
and  hast  loved  them,  as  thou  hast  loved 
me. 

•2-t  Father,  v  I  will  that  they  also  whom 
thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me  where  I  am ; 
that  they  may  ^behold  my  glory,  which 
thou  hast  given  me:  for  thou  lovedst  me 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

25  O  righteous  Father,  the  world  hath 
not  known  thee:  but  I  have  known  thee, 
and  these  have  known  that  thou  hast  sent 
me. 

26  And  I  have  declared  unto  them  thy 
name,  and  will  declare  it;  that  the  love 
wherewith  thou  hast  loved  me  may  be  in 
them,  and  "  I  in  them. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
1  Judas  betray eth  Jesus;  6  the  band  and  officer t 
at  Christ's  word  fall  to  the  ground.     10  I'eter 
smiteth  off  JUalehus's  ear.     12  Jesus  is  tulan, 
and  led  to  Annas  and   Caiaphas.     16  Jeter's 
denial.     \9  Jesus  examined  before  Caiaphas,  23 
arraigned  before  Filate:  36  his  kingdotn,  etc. 
VyHEN  Jesus  had  spoken  these  words, 
' '    he  "  went  forth  with  his  disciples  over 
the  6  brook  Cedron,  where  was  a  garden, 
into  the  which  he  entered,  and  his  disci- 
ples. 

2  Ajjd  Judas  also,  which  betrayed  him, 
kne-irthe  place;  'for  Jesus  olttimes  re- 
sorted thither  w'*.h  his  disciples. 

3  Judas  ''then,  having  received  a  band  of 
men  and  officers  from  the  chief  priests  and 
Pharisees,  cometh  thither  with  lanterns 
and  torches  and  weapons. 

4  Jesus  therefore,  knowing  all  things  that 
should  come  upon  him,  went  forth,  and 
said  unto  them.  Whom  seek  ye? 

5  They  answered  him,  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  And 
J  udas  also,  which  betrayed  him,  stood  with 
them. 

6  As  soon  then  as  he  had  said  unto  them, 
I  am  he,  they  went  backward,  and  fell  tc 
the  ground. 

7  Then  asked  he  them  again,  "Whom  seek 
ye?  And  they  said,  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

8  Jesus  answered,  1  have  told  you  that  I 
am  he.  If  therefore  ye  seek  me,  *  let  these 
go  their  way: 

9  That  the  saying  might  be  fulfilled  which 
he  spake,  /Of  them  which  thou  gavest  me 
have  1  lost  none. 

10  Then  "  Simon  Peter  having  a  sword 
drew  it,  and  smote  the  high  priest's  servant, 
and  cut  otf  his  right  ear.  The  servant's 
navie  was  Alalchus. 

11  Then  said  Jesus  unto  Peter,  Put  up  thy 
sword  into  the  sheath:  'i  the  cup  which  my 
Father  hath  given  me,  shall  1  not  diiiik  it? 

12  Then  the  band  and  the  captain  and 
officers  of  the  Jews  took  Jesus,  and  bound 
him, 

13  And  « led  him  away  to  J  Annas  first:  for 
he  was  father-in-law  to  Caiaphas,  which 
was  the  hii,'h  priest  that  same  year,  i 

14  Now  *  Caiaphas  was  he  which  gave 
counsel  to  the  Jews,  that  it  was  expedient 
that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people 

15  IT  And  Simon  Peter  followed  Jesus,  and 
so  did  another  disciple.  That  disciple  was 
known  uuto  the  liig-h  priest,  and  went  in 
with  Jesua  into  the  palace  of  the  high 
priest. 

16  But  Peter  stood  at  the  door  without. 
Then  went  out  that  other  disciple,  wnub 
was  known  uuto  the  high  priest,  aud  .sp  Jid 


Judas  Bdraydh  Christ. 


JOHN,  xvm. 


Peter  Smiteth  offMakhu's  Ear. 


Eothiug  beyond  bare  narrative  is  expressed. 
Jesus,  however,  knowing  that  in  this  spot 
Judas  would  expect  to  find  Him.  instead  of 
avoiding  it,  hies  Him  thitlier,  as  a  Lamb 
to  the  slaughter.  "No  man  taketh  my  life 
from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself."  (ch. 
10.  18.)  Besides,  the  scene  which  was  to  fill 
up  the  little  breathing  time,  the  awful  inter- 
val, between  the  Supper  and  the  Apprehen- 
sion—like the  "silence  in  heaven  for  about 
the  space  of  hali-an-hour"  between  the  break- 
ing of  the  Apocalyptic  Seals  and  the  peal  of 
the  Trumpets  of  war  Ee.  8.  l.J— the  Agony— 
would  have  been  too  terrible  for  the  upper- 
room  ;  nor  Vould  He  cloud  the  delightful 
associations  of  the  last  Passover  and  the  first 
Supper  by  pouring  out  the  anguish  of  His 
soul  there.  The  garden,  however,  with  its 
amplitude,  its  shady  olives,  its  endeared  as- 
sociations, would  be  congenial  to  his  heart. 
Here  He  had  room  enough  to  retire— first, 
from  eight  of  them,  and  then  from  the  more 
favoured  three ;  and  here,  when  that  myste- 
rious scene  was  over,  the  stillness  would  only 
l)e  broken  by  the  tread  of  the  traitor.  J\idas 
then— "He  that  was  called  Judas,  one  ol  the 
twelve,"  says  L.  ,in  language  which  brands  him 
with  peculiar  infamy,  as  in  the  sacred  circle 
■while  in  no  sense  of  it.  the  band  of  meu— 
•the  cktachinent  of  the  Roman  cohort,  on 
duty  at  the  festival,  for  the  purpose  of  main- 
taining order.'  [W.  &  w.]  officers  from  the 
chief  priests,  &c.  —  Captains  of  the  Temple 
and  armed  Levites.  lanterns  and  torches— It 
was  full  moon,  but  in  case  He  should  have 
secreted  Himself  somewhere  in  the  dark 
ravine,  they  bring  the  means  of  exploring  its 
hiding-places— little  knowing  whom  they  had 
to  do  with.  "  Now  he  that  betrayed  Him 
had  given  them  a  sign,  saying.  Whomsoever 
I  sliall  kiss,  that  same  is  He,  hold  Him  fast." 
(M.  26.  48.)  Tlie  cold-bloodedness  of  this 
Speech  was  only  exceeded  by  the  deed  itself. 
"And  Judas  went  before  them,  iL.  22.  47.) 
and  forthwith  he  came  to  Jesus,  and  said, 
Hail,  Master,  and  kissed  Him."  (M.  26.  49. 
cf.  Ex.  4.  27 ;  18.  7 ;  L.  7.  45.)  The  impudence 
of  this  atrocious  deed  shows  how  thoroughly 
he  had  by  this  time  mastered  all  his  scruples. 
If  the  dialogue  between  our  Lord  and  His 
captors  was  oe/oj-e  this,  as  some  interpreters 
think  it  was,  the  kiss  of  Judas  was  purely 
gratuitous,  and  probably  to  make  good  his 
right  to  the  money ;  our  Lord  having  presented 
Himselt  unexpectedly  before  them,  and  ren- 
dered it  unnecessary  for  any  one  to  point 
Him  out.  But  a  comparison  of  the  narratives 
seems  to  show  that  our  Lord's  "coming 
forth"  to  the  band  was  svbsemicnt  to  the  in- 
terview of  Judas.  "And  Jesus  .said  unto 
him.  Friend"  —  not  the  endearing  term 
"friend"  in  ch.  15.  15,  but  'companion,'  a 
word  used  on  occasions  of  remonstrance  or 
lebuke  (as  M.  20. 13 ;  22. 12.)—"  Wherefore  art 
thou  come?  (M.  26.  50.)  Betrayest  thou  the 
Son  of  Man  with  a  kissT- imprinting  upon 
the  fotilest  act  the  mark  of  tenderest  affection? 
"What  wounchd  feeling  does  this  express  ! 
Of  this  Jesus  showed  Himself  on  various 
occasions  keenly  susceptible— as  all  generous 
and  beautilul  natures  do.  4-9.  Jesus,  know- 
ing all  things  that  should  come  ''were  coming") 
upon  Him,  went  forth— from  the  shade  of  the 
trees,  jjrobably,  into  open  view,  indicating 
His  sublime  preparedness  to  meet  His  cap- 
tors. Whom  seek  ye  ?— Partly  to  prevent  a  rush 
Of  the  soldiery  upon  the  disciples  [B£^a.]; 


and  see  Mk.  14.  51,  62,  as  showing  a  tendency 
to  this:  but  still  more  as  part  of  that  courai^e 
and  majesty  which  so  overawed  them.  Ha 
would  not  wait  to  be  taken.  They  answered. 
Jesus  of  Nazareth— Just  the  sort  of  blunt, 
straightforward  reply  one  expects  from  mili- 
tary men,  simj'ly  acting  on  their  instruc- 
tions. I  am  tHej— See  on  ch.  6.  20.  Judas 
stood  with  them— Xo  more  is  recorded  here 
of  his  part  of  the  scene,  but  we  have  found 
the  gap  painluUy  supplied  by  all  the  other 
Evangelists.  As  soon  then  as  He  said  unto 
thein,  I  am  [He],  they  went  backward— recoiled, 
and  fell  to  the  ground— struck  down  by  a  power 
such  as  that  w^hich  smote  Saul  of  Tarsus  and 
his  companions  to  the  earth.  (A.  -^6.  14.)  It 
was  the  glorious  effulgence  of  the  majesty  of 
Christ  which  overpowered  them.  *  This,  oc- 
curring before  His  surrender,  would  show  His 
power  over  His  enemies,  and  so  the  freedom 
with  which  He  gave  Himself  up.  [Mey.] 
Then  asked  He  them  again,  Whom  seek  ye  1— 
Giving  them  a  door  of  escape  from  the  guilt 
of  a  deed  which  7ioiv  they  were  able  in  some 
measure  to  understand.  Jesus  of  Nazareth— 
The  stunning  effect  of  His  first  answer  wear- 
ing off.  they  think  only  of  the  necessity  of 
executing  their  orders.  I  have  told  you  that 
I  am  [He] :  if  therefore  ye  seek  Me,  let  these  go 
their  way— Wonder! Ill  self-possession,  and 
consideration  for  others,  in  such  circum- 
stances !  that  the  saying  might  be  fulfillf  d 
wliich  He  spake,  Of  them  which  Thou  gavest 
Me  have  I  lost  none— The  reference  is  to  such 
sayings  as  ch.  6.  39 :  17. 12 ;  showing  how  con- 
scious the  Evangelist  was,  that  in  reporting 
his  Lord's  former  sayings,  he  was  giving 
them  not  in  substance  merely,  but  in  foi^ti 
also.  Observe,  also,  how  the  preservation  of 
the  disciples  on  this  occasion  is  viewed  as 
part  of  tha.t  deeper  preservation  undoubtedly 
intended  in  the  saying  quoted.  10, 11.  Tiiea 
Simon  Peter,  having  a  sword,  drew  it,  and  smote 
the  High  Priest's  servant,  and  cut  off  his  right 
ear.  The  servant's  name  was  Malchus— None 
of  the  other  Evangelists  mention  the  name 
either  of  the  ardent  disciple  orof  his  victi'  i. 
John,  being  "known  to  the  High  Priest," 
(V.  15.)  the  mention  of  the  servant's  name  by 
him  is  quite  natural,  and  an  interesting  mark 
of  truth  in  a  small  matter.  As  to  the  riyht 
ear,  specified  both  here  and  in  L.,  the  man 
was  '  likely  foremost  of  those  who  advanced 
to  seize  Jesus,  and  presented  himself  in  the 
attitude  of  a  combatant ;  hence  his  ri;.'ht 
side  would  be  exposed  to  attack.  The  blow 
of  Peter  was  evidently  aimed  vertically  at 
his  head.'  [w.  &  w.j  Then  said  Jesus— 
"  Suffer  ye  thus  far"  (L.  22.  51).  Put  up  thy 
sword  into  the  sheath :  the  cup  wliich  my  Fa- 
ther hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?— This 
expresses  oo</i.  the  feelings  which  struggled  in 
the  Lord's  breast  during  the  agony  in  the 
ga,vden— aversion  to  the  cup  viewed  in  itsdf. 
but,  in  the  light  of  the  Father's  v:ill,  perfect 
preparediiess  to  drink  it  up.  (See  on  L.  22. 
30-46.)  M.  adds  to  the  address  to  Peter  the 
following :— "For  all  they  that  take  the  sword 
shall  perish  by  the  sword"  M.  26.  62  — 
q.d.,  'Those  who  take  the  sword  must  run  all 
the  risks  of  human  warfare  ;  but  INIine  is  a 
warfare  whose  weapons,  as  they  are  not  car- 
nal, are  attended  with  no  such  hazards,  but 
carry  certain  victory.  "  Thickest  thou  that 
I  cannot  now"— even  after  things  have  pro- 
ceeded so  far"—"  pray  to  my  Father,  and  He 
shall  presently  give  me"— rather. '  place  a  t  my 


Jesiis  Before  Annas, 


JOHN,  XTin. 


Peter  Denidh  His  Master, 


disposal'—'*  more  than  twelve  legions  of  an- 
gels ;"  with  allusion,  possibly,  to  the  one  an- 
gel who  had,  in  His  asony,  "  appeared  to  Him 
trom  Heaven  strengthening  Him'  (L.  22. 43  ; 
and  in  the  precise  number,  alluding  to  the 
twelve  who  needed  the  help.  Himself  and  His 
eleven  disciples.  (The  full  complement  of  a 
legion  ot  Roman  soldiers  was  six  thou- 
sand.) "But  how  then  shall  the  Scrip- 
ture be  fulfilled  that  thus  it  must  beV" 
(AI.  26.  53,  51.)  He  could  not  sutler,  ac- 
cording to  the  Scripture,  if  He  allowed 
Himself  to  be  delivered  from  the  predicted 
death.  "  And  He  touched  his  ear  and 
healed  him  ;L.  22.  51) ;  for  "The  Son  of  Man 
came  not  to  destroy  men's  lives  but  to  save 
them"  (L.  9.  56  ,  and,  even  while  they  were 
destroying  His,  to  save  theirs.  12.  Then  the 
hand... took  Jesus— but  not  till  He  had  made 
them  feel  tliat  "no  man  took  His  life  from 
Him,  but  that  He  laid  it  down  of  Himself." 
13.  and  led  Him  away— "In  that  hour,"  says 
M.  (26.  55,  56),  and  probably  now,  on  the  way 
to  judc'raent,  when  the  crowds  were  pressing 
upon  Him,  said  Jesus  to  the  multitudes. 
Are  ye  come  out  as  against  a  thief  with 
swords  and  staves,  for  to  take  me'  —ex- 
pressive of  the  indignity  which  he  felt 
to  be  thus  done  to  Him  —  "  I  sat  daily 
with  you  in  the  Temple,  and  ye  laid  no  hold 
on  me.  But  this"  (adds  L.  22.  53,)  "is  your 
hour  and  the  power  of  darkness."  M.  con- 
tinues—" But  all  this  was  done  that  the  ScrijH 
tures  of  the  prophets  nii^;ht  be  fulfilled. 
Tuen  aU  the  disciples  forsook  Him  and  fled" 
(M.  26.  56,)— thus  fulfilling  His  prediction, 
Iklk.  14.  27 ;  ch.  16.  32. 

13-2r.    JasUS    BEFORE  ANNAS  AND  CaIA- 

PHAS— Fall  of  Peter.  13, 14.  And  led  Him 
away  to  Annas  first— See  on  L.3.  2,  and  on  M. 
26.  67.  15-18.  Simon  teter  followed  Jesus- 
Natural  though  this  was.  and  safe  enough, 
had  he  only  "watched  and  prayed  that  he 
enter  not  into  temptation,"  as  his  Master 
bade  him  (M.  26.  41 ,  it  was,  in  his  case,  a 
fatal  step,  and  another  disciple— Rather,  '  the 
other  disciple'— our  Evangelist  himself,  no 
doubt,  known  unto  the  High  Priest— See  on  v. 
10.  Went  m  with  Jesus  into  the  palace  of  the 
High  Priest.  But  Peter  stood  at  the  door 
without— by  preconcerted  arrangement  with 
his  friend  till  he  should  get  access  for  him. 
Then  went  out  that  other.. and  spake  to  her 
that  kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Peter— 
The  naturabiess  of  these  small  details  is  not 
unworthy  of  notice.  This  other  disciple  first 
made  good  his  own  entrance,  on  the  score  of 
acquaintance  with  the  High  Priest ;  this  se- 
cured, he  goes  forth  again,  now  as  a  privi- 
leged person,  to  make  interest  for  Peter's 
admission.  But  thus  our  poor  disciple  is  in 
the  coils  of  the  serpent.  The  next  steps  will 
best  be  seen  by  inverting  verses  17  and  18. 
And  the  servants  and  officers  —  Tlie  menials 
and  some  of  the  "  band"  that  "  took  Jesus." 
8tood  there,  who  had  made  ('  having  made')  a 
fire  of  coals,  for  it  was  cold,  and  they  wanned 
themselves—'  John  alone  notices  the  material 
('charcoal')  of  which  the  fire  was  made,  and 
the  reason  for  a  fire— the  coldness  of  the 
^  Bight.'    [w.  (fe-w.]    "Peter  went  in  and  sat 

^  with  the  serv'ants  to  see  the  end  iM.  26.  68), 

and  warmed  himself  at  the  fire"  (Mk.  14.  .54). 
These  two  statements  are  extremely  inter- 
esting. His  wishing  to  "see  the  end,"  or 
issue  of  these  proceedings,  was  what  led  him 
into  the  palace,  for  he  evidently  feared  the 
64  .... 


worst.  But  once  in,  the  sei-pent-coU  is 
drawn  closer ;  it  is  a  cold  night,  and  why 
should  not  he  take  advantage  ol  the  fire  as 
well  as  others?  Besides,  in  the  talk  of  the 
crowd  about  the  aU-engrossing  topic  he  may 
pick  up  something  which  he  would  like  to 
near.  "And  as  I'eter  was  beneath  in  the 
palace"  (Mk.  14.  C6  .  M.  (26.  69.,  says,  "sat 
without  in  the  palace."  According  to  orien- 
tal architecture,  and  e.'-pecially  in  large 
buildings,  as  here,  the  street-door,  or  heavy 
folding-gate— through  which  single  persons 
entered  by  a  wicket  kept  by  a  porter — opened 
by  a  passage  or  "porch"  (Mk.  14.  68)  into  a 
quadrangular  court,  here  called  the  "palace" 
or  hall,  which  was  open  above,  and  is  fre- 
quently paved  with  flaj^stones.  In  the  centre 
of  this  court  the  "fire"  would  be  kindled  in 
a  brazier).  At  the  upper  end  of  it,  probably, 
was  the  chamber  in  which  the  trial  was  held, 
open  to  the  court  and  not  farjrom  the  fire  It. 
22.  61),  but  on  a  higher  level;  for  Mk.  says  the 
court  was  "  beneath"  it.  The  ascent  was,  per- 
haps, by  a  short  flight  of  steps.  This  expla- 
nation will  make  the  intensely  interesting 
details  more  intelligible.  Then  saith  the 
damsel  that  kept  the  door — "  one  of  the  maids 
of  the  High  Piiest,"  says  Mk.  (14.  66).  "  When 
she  saw  Peter  warming  himself,  she  looked 
upon  him  and  said"  (Mk.  14.  67).  L.  is  more 
graphic  22.  56  —.She  "  beheld  him  as  he  sat  by 
the  fire  ilit.,  'the light'),  and  earnestly  lookt  d 
on  him  (*  fixed  her  gaze  upon  him' ,  and  said." 
'  His  demeanour  and  tunidity,  which  must 
have  vividly  showed  themselves,  as  it  so  ge- 
nerally happens,  leading  to  the  recognition 
I  of  him.'  [Olsh.]  Art  not  thou  also  one  cf  this 
I  man's  disciples?— i.e.,  thou  as  well  as  "that 
other  disciple,"  whom  she  knew  to  be  one, 
but  did  not  challenge,  perceiving  that  he 
was  a  privileged  person.  He  saith,  I  am 
not— "fie  denied  before  them  all,  sasdng,  I 
know  not  what  thou  sayest,"  M.  26. 70— a  com- 
mon form  of  point-blank  denial ;  "  I  know 
(supply  'Him')  not,  neither  understand  I 
what  thou  sayest,"  Mk.  14.  68-  "AVoman,  I 
know  Him  not,"  L.  22.  57.  This  was  the 
FIRST  DENIAL.  "And  he  went  out  into  the 
porch  (thinking,  perhaps,  to  steal  away,)a.?u< 
the  cock  creio"  Mk.  14.  68.  19-21.  The  High 
Priest  asked  Jesus  of  His  disciples,  and  of  His 
doctrine— Probably  to  entrap  Him  into  some 
statements  which  might  be  used  against  Him 
at  the  trial.  From  our  Lord's  answer  it  would 
seem  that  "  His  disciples"  were  understood 
to  be  some  secret  party.  I  spake  t'  have  spo- 
ken') openly  to  the  world— See* ch.  7.  4.  I  ever 
taught*  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the  Temple, 
whither  the  Jews  always  resort— Courting  pub- 
licity, though  with  sublime  noiselessness. 
In  secret  have  I  said  ('  spake  D  nothing— i.e., 
nothing  of  any  different  nature  ;  all  His  pri- 
vate communications  with  the  twelve  being 
but  explanations  and  developments  of  His 
public  teaching— cf.  Is.  45.  19 ;  48.  16.  Why 
askest  me  ?  ask  them  which  heard  me  . . . 
tliey  know  what  I  said— This  seems  to  imply 
that  He  saw  the  attempt  to  draw  Him  into 
self-crimination,  and  resented  it  by  falling 
back  upon  the  right  of  every  accused  party 
to  have  some  charge  laid  against  Him  by  com- 
petent witnesses.  Struck  Jesus  with  the 
palms. .  Answerest  the  High  Priest  so— See  Is. 
60.  6  ;  and  cf.  A.  23.  2.  If  I  have  spoken— 'If  I 
spoke'  evil,  in  reply  to  the  High  Priest.  If  well 
—He  does  not  say  "  If  not"  evil,  as  if  His  reply 
w  ere  merely  unobjectionable : "  Well"  seems 


Peter  Denieth  Chi'ist. 


JOHN,  xvm. 


Examination  of  Jesvf, 


to  challenge  more  than  this  as  due  to  His 
rfcmouscrance.  [Be.vg.]  This  shows  that 
M.  5.  39.  is  not  to  be  taken  to  the  letter.  24- 
27.  Now  Anaas  had  sent  Him  b^uud  umo  Caia- 
phas— Our  translators  so  render  the  words, 
understanding  that  the  foregoing  interview 
took  place  before  Calapkas;  Annas,  declining 
to  meddle  with  the  case,  having  .sent  Him  to 
Caiaphas  at  once.  But  the  words  here,  liter- 
ally are,  'Annas  sent  Him  not  "had  sent 
Him';  to  Caiaphas'— and  the  "  now"  being  of 
doubtful  autlioricy.  Thus  read,  the  verse 
affords  no  evidence  that  He  was  sent  to  Caia- 
phas before  the  interview  just  recorded,  but 
implies  rather  the  contrary.  "\Ve  take  this 
interview,  then,  with  some  of  the  ablest  in- 
terpreters, to  be  a  preliminary  and  non-offi- 
cial one  with  Annas,  at  an  hour  of  the  night 
when  Caiaphas's  Council  could  not  convene; 
and  one  that  ought  not  to  be  confounded 
with  that  solemn  one  recorded  by  the  other 
Evangelists,  when  all  were  assembled  and 
witnesses  called.  But  the  buildimj  in  which 
both  met  with  Jesus  appears  to  have  been  the 
same,  the  room  only  being  different,  and  the 
court,  of  course,  in  tlmt  case,  one.  And  Simon 
Peter  was  standing  and  warming  himself.  They 
said  therefore,  Art  thou  not  also  one,  &c. — In 
M.  26.  71.  the  second  charge  was  made  by 
"  another  maid,  when  he  was  gone  out  into 
the  porch,"  who  "saw  him,  and  said  unto 
them  that  were  there.  This  [fellow]  was  also 
with  Jesus  of  Nazareth."  So  also  iNIk.  14.  69. 
But  in  L.  22.  5S.  it  is  said.  "After  a  little 
while "  (from  the  time  of  the  first  denialr, 
another  [man]  saw  him,  and  said,  Tliou  art 
also  of  them.'  Possibly  it  was  thrown  at 
him  by  more  than  one  :  but  these  circum- 
stantial varieties  only  confirm  the  truth  of 
the  narrative.  He  denied  it,  and  said,  I  am 
not— in  M.  26.  72  "  He  denied  with  an  oath, 
1  do  not  know  the  man."  This  was  the  se- 
cond DENIAL.  One  of  the  servants  of  the 
High  Priest,  kinsman  of  him  wnose  ear  Peter 
cut  off,  saitii,  Did  not  I  see  thee  in  the  Gard:n 
with  Him— No  doubt  his  relationship  to 
Malchus  drew  attention  to  the  man  who 
smote  him,  and  this  enabled  him  to  identify 
Peter.  '  Sad  reprisals !'  [Beng.]  The  other 
evangelist  make  his  detection  to  turn  upon 
hi.5  dialect.  "After  a  whUe  ("about  the 
space  of  one  hour  after,"  L.  22.  .59.)  came 
unto  him  they  that  stood  by  and  said  to 
Peter,  "  Surely  thou  also  art  one  of  them, 
for  thy  speech  betrayeth  thee,"  M.  26.  73. 
{"Thoa  art  a  Galilean,  and  thy  speech 
agreeth  thereto,"  Mk.  14.  7o;  and  so  L.  22. 
59.)  The  Galilean  dialect  had  a  more  Syriayi 
cast  than  that  of  Judea.  //  Peter  had  held 
his  peace,  this  peculiarity  had  not  been  ob- 
served; but  hoping,  probably,  to  put  them 
off  the  scent  by  joining  in  the  fire-side  talk, 
he  only  thus  discovered  himself.  Peter  then 
denied  again— But,  if  the  challenge  of  Mal- 
chus' kinsman  was  made  simultaneously 
with  this  on  account  of  his  Galilean  dialect, 
it  was  no  simple  denial ;  for  M.  26.  74.  says, 
"Then  began  he  to  curse  and  to  swear,  say- 
ing, I  know  not  the  man."  So  Mk.  14.  71. 
This  was  the  third  denial.  And  imme- 
diately i"  whde  he  yet  spake,"  L.  22.  60.)  the 
cock  crew— As  JNIk.  is  the  only  evangelist  who 
tells  us  that  our  Lord  predicted  that  the 
cock  should  crow  twice  ,ch.  14.  30.  i  so  he  only 
mentions  that  it  did  crow  twice  (v.  72.  .  The 
other  evangelists,  who  tell  us  merely  that  our 
Iiord predicted  that  "before  the  cock  should 
64  M 


crow  he  would  deny  Him  thrice,"  (M.  26.  34: 
L.  22.  34;  J.  13.  38;)  mention  only  one  actucit 
crowing,  which  was  Mark's  last.  There 
is  something  affecting  in  this  evangelist— 
who,  according  to  the  earliest  tradition  con- 
firmed by  internal  evidence,,  derived  his 
materials  so  largely  from  Peter,  as  to  have 
been  styled  his  "  interpreter,"  being  the 
only  one  who  gives  both  the  sad  predic- 
tion and  its  still  sadder  fulfilment  in  full. 
It  seems  to  show  that  Peter  himself  not  only 
retained  through  all  his  affer-life  the  most 
vivid  recollection  of  the  circumstances  of  his 
fall,  but  that  he  was  willing  that  others 
should  know  thein  too.  The  immediately 
subsequent  acts  are  given  full  only  in  Luke 
;22.  61,  62.);  "And  the  Lord  turned  and  look- 
ed upon,  Peter,"  from  the  hall  of  judgment 
to  the  court,  in  the  way  already  explained. 
But  who  can  tell  what  lightning-flashes  of 
wounded  love  and  piercing  reproach  shot 
from  that  "look"  through  the  eye  of  Peter 
into  his  heart!  "And  Peter  remembered  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  how  he  had  said  unto  him. 
Before  the  cock  crow,  thou  shalt  deny  me 
thrice.  And  Peter  went  out  and  wept  bit- 
terly." How  different  from  the  sequel  of 
'  Judas'  act!  Doubtless  the  hearts  of  the  two 
men  towards  the  Saviour  were  perfectly 
different  from  the  first;  and  the  treason. of 
Judas  was  but  the  consummation  of  the 
wretched  man's  resistance  of  the  blaze  of 
light  in  the  midst  of  which  he  had  lived  for 
three  years,  while  Peter's  denial  was  but  a 
momentary  obscuration  of  the  heavenly 
light  and  love  to  his  Master  which  ruled  his 
life.  But  the  immediate  cause  of  the  blessed 
revulsion,  which  made  Peter  "weep  bitterly" 
was,  beyond  all  doubt,  this  heart-piercing 
"  look  "  which  his  Lord  gave  him.  .  And  re- 
membering the  Saviour's  own  words  at  the 
table,  "Siinrn, Simon,  Satan  hath  desired  to 
have  you  that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat,  but 
I  have  prayed  (rather  'I  prayed';  for  thee  that 


thy  faith  fail  not"  (see  on  L.  22.  31,  32),  maj 

fra_ 
"looJc"  to  pierce  and 


we  not  say  that  this  prayer  fetched  down  at 


break  the  heart  of  Peter,  to  keep  it  from 
despair,  to  work  in  it  "  repentance  unto  sal- 
vation not  to  be  repented  of,"  and  at  length, 
under  other  healing  touches,  to  "restore  his 
souli"    (See  on  Mk.  16.  7.) 

2S-40.     JE3CJS  BEFORE  PlLATE.      N.B.  OUT 

Evangelist,  luimng  given  the  interview  vnth 
A7inas  omitted  by  the  other  Evangelists,  here- 
omits  the  trial  aiul  condemnation  before  Caio/^ 
phas,  w-hich  the  others  had  recorded.  See  ou 
Mk.  14.  63  65.  fTbe  notes,  broken  olf  there  at 
V.  61,  are  here  concluded.  (Mark  14.)  61.  "The 
high  priest  asked  him.Art  thou  the  Christ.the 
Son  of  the  blessed'r"— M.  says  the  high  priest 
put  him  upon  solemn  oath,  saying,  "1  adjura 
thee  by  the  living  God  that  thou  tell  us  whe- 
ther thou  be  the  Christ.the  Son  of  God"  ,26.63.). 
This  rendered  an  answer  by  our  Lord  legally 
necessary,  Le.  5.  l.  Accordingly,  S2.  "Jesus 
said,  I  am"  ("Thou  hast  said,"  M.  26.  64.). 
In  L.  22.  67,  68,  some  other  words  are  given, 
"If  I  teU  you,  ye  will  not  believe;  and  if  I 
also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me,  nor  let 
me  go."  This  seems  to  have  been  uttered 
before  giving  His  direct  answer,  as  a  calm 
remonstrance  and  dignified  protest  against 
the  prejudgment  of  His  case  and  the  unfair- 
ness of  their  mode  of  procedure,  "and  ye 
shaU^  see."  (fee— This  concludimr  part  of  our 
Lord's  answer  is  given  somewhat  more  fully 


S'eter  denieth  his  Master. 


JOHN,  XIX. 


Jesus  accused  be/ore  PihU. 


xmto  her  that  kept  the  door,  and  brought 
in  Peter. 

17  Then  saith  the  damsel  that  kept  the 
door  unto  Peter,  Art  not  thou  also  one  of 
this  man's  disciples?  He  saith.  I  am  not. 

18  And  the  servants  and  officers  stood 
there,  who  had  made  a  fire  of  coals ;  for  it 
was  cold:  and  thej  warmed  themselves: 
and  Peter  stood  with  them,  and  wanned 
himself. 

19  IT  The  high  priest  then  asked  Jesus  of 
his  disciples,  and  of  his  doctrine. 

20  Jesus  answered  him, '  I  spake  openly  to 
the  world;  I  ever  taught  in  the  synagogue, 
and  in  the  temple.'whither  the  Jews  al- 
ways resort;  and  in  secret  have  I  said 
nothing. 

21  AVhy  askest  thou  me?  ask  them  which 
heard  me,  what  1  have  said  unto  them:  be- 
hold, they  know  what  I  said. 

22  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  one  of 
the  officers  which  stood  by  "'stnick  Jesus 
2  with  the  palm  of  his  hand,  saying,  An- 
Bwerest  thou  the  high  priest  so? 

23  Jesus  answered  him,  "  If  I  have  spoken 
evil,  bear  witness  of  the  evil ;  but  it  well, 
why  smitest  thou  me? 

24  Now  Annas  had  sent  him  bound  unto 
Caiaphas  the  high  priest. 

2o  1i  And  Simon  Peter  stood  and  warmed 
himself.  0  They  said  therefore  unto  him, 
Art  not  thou  also  one  of  his  disciples?  He 
denied  it,  and  said,  I  am  not. 

26  One  of  the  servants  of  the  high  priest, 
being  his  kinsman  whose  ear  Peter  cut  off, 
saith.  Did  not  1  see  thee  in  the  garden  with 
him? 

27  Peter  then  denied  again:  and  ^imme- 
diately the  cock  crew. 

28  ^  Then  «led  they  Jesus  from  Caiaphas 
Unto  3 the  hall  of  judgment:  and  it  was 
early;  and ''  they  themselves  went  not  into 
the  judgment  hall,  lest  they  should  be 
defiled,  but  that  they  might  eat  *  the  pass- 
over. 

29  PUate  then  went  out  tmto  them,  and 
Baid,  What  accusation  bring  ye  against  this 
man? 

30  They  answered  and  said  unto  him.  If  he 
were  not  a  malefactor,  we  would  not  have 
delivered  him  up  unto  thee. 

31  Then  said  Pilate  unto  them.  Take  ye 
him,  and  judge  him  according  to  your 
law.  The  Jews  therefore  said  unto  him. 
It  *  is  not  la>vful  for  us  to  put  any  man  to 
death: 

32  That  "  the  saymg  of  Jesus  might  be 
fulfilled,  which  he  spake,  siguifj-ing  what 
death  he  should  die. 

33  Then  Pilat«  entered  into  the  judgment 
hall  again,  and  called  Jesus,  and  said  unto 
him.  Art  thou  the  King  of  the  Jews? 

34  Jesus  answered  him.  Say  est  thou  this 
thing  of  thyself,  or  did  others  tell  it  thee 
olme? 

35  Pilate  answered.  Am  I  a  Jew?  Thine 
own  nation  and  the  chief  priests  have  de- 
hvered  thee  unto  me:  what  hast  thou 
done? 

3(j  Jesus  "answered,  «- My  kingdom  is  not 
ot  this  worid.  If  my  kingdom  were  of  this 
worid  then  would  my  servants  fight,  that  I 
should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews:  but 
now  is  my  kingdom  not  from  hence. 

37  Pilate  therefore  said  unto  him,  Art 
thou  a  king  then?  Jesus  answered.  Thou 
sayest  that  I  am  a  king.  To  this  end  was  1 
bom  and  for  thiu  cause  came  1  into  the 
Hi 


CHAP.  18. 

1  Lu.  4.  15. 

ch,  7.  14, 
26,28. 
ch.  8.  2. 
m  U  6<l.  6. 

Jer.  20.  2. 

Mic.  6.  1. 

Act*  23  2. 

2  Or,  with  a 

"  1  Pet.  2.23. 
0  Lu.  22.  58. 
p  ch.  13.  38. 
q  Mat.  27.  2. 

Mark  15. 1. 

I.u.  23.  1. 

Acts  3.  13. 

3  Or,  PUate '» 
house. 

r  Acts  10.28. 

Acts  11.  3. 
«  Den.  16.  2. 
t  Gen.  49.10. 

£26.  21.  26, 


33. 

1  Ti.  6.  13. 
Kev.  1.  3. 
Kev.  3.  14. 
'  Is.  9.  6. 
Dan  2  44. 
Dan.  7  14. 
Lu.  12. 14. 
Ln.  17,  20, 
21. 

ch.  6. 15. 
ch.  8.  15. 
2Cor.  10.4. 
«  Is   55.  4. 
Rev.  1.  5. 
Kev.  3. 14, 
V  ch.  8.  47. 
1  Pet.  1.23. 
1  John  3. 
19. 

1  John  4.6. 
«ch  19.4,6. 
a  Acts  3.  14. 
6  Lu.  23.  19. 


world,  that  I  should  *  bear  witness  unto  the 
truth.  Every  one  that  I'is  of  the  truth 
heareth  my  voice. 

38  Pilate  saith  unto  him.  What  is  truth? 
And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  went  out 
again  unto  the  Jews,  and  saith  unto  them, 

1  *  find  in  him  no  fault  at  all. 

39  But  ye  have  a  custom,  that  I  should 
release  unto  you  one  at  the  passover:  will 
ye  therefore  that  I  release  unto  you  the 
Kins  of  the  Jews? 

40  Then  "  cried  they  all  again,  sajing.  Not 
this  man,  but  Barabbas.  »  Now  iJaiabbaa 
was  a  robber. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

I  Christ  is  scourged,  crowned  with  tfu>rn»,  and. 
beaten.  6  Pilate  delivers  him  to  bt  eniei/ied.  JS 
Me  commnuieth  l,is  mother  to  John.  23  lit 
dieth.    38  He  is  buried. 

fpHEN  »  Pilate  therefore  took  Jesns,  and 
scourged  him. 

2  And  the  soldiers  platted  a  erown  of 
thorns,  and  put  it  on  his  head,  aad  they  put 
on  him  a  purple  robe, 

3  And  said.  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews!  and 
they  smote  him  with  their  hands. 

4  Pilate  therefore  went  forth  again,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Pehold,  I  bring  him  forth 
to  you,  *  that  ye  may  know  that  1  find  no 
faidt  in  him. 

5  Then  came  Jesns  forth,  wearing  the 
crown  of  thorns,  and  the  purple  robe.  And 
Pihjte  saith  unto  them,  Behold  the  man! 

When  'the  chief  priests  therefore  and 
officers  saw  him,  they  cried  out,  saying. 
Crucify  him,  cnicify  him.  Pilate  saith  uiuo 
them.  Take  ye  him,  and  crucify  him:  for  I 
find  no  fault  in  him. 

7  The  Jews  answered  him,  <iWe  hare  a 
law,  and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die,  be- 
cause he  *  made  himself  the  Son  of  God. 

8  1[  When  PUate  therefore  heard  that 
saying,  he  was  the  more  afraid* 

9  And  went  again  into  the  judgment  hall, 
and  saith  unto  Jesus,  Whence  art  thou? 
But/ Jesus  gave  him  no  answer. 

10  Then  saith  Pilate  unto  him,  Speakesfe 
thou  not  unto  me?  knowest  thou  not  thab 
1  have  power  to  cnicify  thee,  and  have 
power  to  release  thee? 

II  Jesus  answered,  »  Thon  couldest  have 
no  power  at  all  against  me,  except  it  were- 
given  thee  from  above:  therefore  he  th:i6 
delivered  me  unto  thee  bath  the  greater 
sin. 

12  And  from  thenceforth  Pilate  sought 
to  release  him :  but  the  Jews  cried  out, 
saying,  "  If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  ait 
not  Cesar's  friend :  »  whosoever  maketh 
himself  a  king  speaketh  against  Cesar. 

13  %  When  Pilate  therefore  heard  that 
saying,  he.  brought  Jesus  forth,  and  sat 
down  in  the  judgment  seat  in  a  place  that 
is  called  the  Pavement,  but  in  the  Hebrew, 
1  Gabbatha. 

14  And  )  it  was  the  preparation  of  the 
passover,  and  about  the  sixth  hour:  and 
he  saith  unto  the  Jews,  Behold  your 
King! 

15  But  they  cried  out,  Away  with  Aim, 
away  with  him,  crucify  him.  Pilate  saith 
unto  them,  Shall  I  crucify  your  King? 
The  chief  priests  answered,  *  We  have  no 
king  but  Cesar. 

■  15  IB.     1^  Then  '  delivered  he  him  therefore  unto 
Lu.  '23.'24. 1  them  to  be  crucified.   And  they  took  Jesus, 
»  Nn.  16.36. 1  and  led  him  away. 
Uei,.i3.i:i.  I  17  And  he  bearing  his  cross  ^weat  forbb 


CHAP.  19. 
o  I«.  50.  6. 

Mat.  20  19. 

Mat.  27.26. 

Mar.  15.15. 

Lu.  18.  a3. 
b  ch.  18.  36. 

2  Cor.  5.21. 
e  Acts  3.  13. 
d  Lev.  24.16. 
«  Mat   26.65. 

ch.  5.  18. 

ch.  10.  33. 
/  Is.  53.  7. 

Mat.  27.12, 

14. 

Acts  8.  32. 

0  Lu.  22.  53. 
ch.  7.  30. 
Acts  2  23. 

;»  Lu.  23  2. 
t  Acts  17.  7. 

1  That  is, 
elevated. 

i  Mat.  27  62. 

*  Gen.  49.10. 

Eze.  21.26, 


Clirlst  ShamefuUy  Treated. 


JOHN-,  xvm 


Jems  Before  PilaU. 


by  M.  and  L.  "Nevertheless  I  say  unto  you. 
Hereafter  (rather,  'From  henceforth'}  shall 
ye  see  the  Son  of  Man  sittinsf  on  the  right 
hand  of  power,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven."  (M.  26.  64;  L.  22.  C9.)  q.cl.  'I  know 
the  scorn  with  wliich  ye  are  ready  to  meet 
such  an  avowal:  To  your  eyes,  which  are  but 
eyes  of  flesh,  there  stands  at  this  bar  only  a 
mortal  like  yourselves,  and  He  at  the  mercy 
of  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  authorities: 
^'Nevertheless"  a  day  is  coming  when  ye  shall 
see  another  sight :  Those  eyes,  which  now 
gaze  on  me  with  proud  disdain,  shall  see  this 
very  prisoner  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty 
on  high,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven. 
*  Then  shall  the  Judged  One  be  revealed  as 
the  Judge,  and  His  judges  in  this  cham- 
ber appear  at  His  august  tribunal;  then 
shall  the  unrighteous  judges  be  impar- 
tially judged;  and  while  they  are  wishing 
that  they  had  never  been  born.  He  for  whom 
they  now  watch  as  their  Victim  shall  oe 
greeted  with  the  hallelujahs  of  heaven,  and 
the  welcome  of  Him  tliat  sitteth  upon  the 
throne ! '  63, 64. '  'Then  the  high  priest  rent  his 
clothes,  and  saith,  \\liat  need  we  any  further 
witnesses?  Ye  have  heard  the  blasphemy"— 
*'of  his  own  mouth,"  L.  22. 71;  an  affectation  of 
religious  horror.  "Wliat  think  ye? "—'Say, 
what  verdict  you  would  pronounce.'  ''Tliey 
all  condemned  him  to  be  guiltyof  death"— of 
a  capital  crime.  SeeLe.  24. 16.  65."And.some 
began  to  spit  on  him"  ("Then  did  they  spit  in 
his  lace,"  M.  26.  67.)  See  Is.  50.  6.  "  And  :o 
cover  his  face,  and  to  buffet  him,  and  to  say 
unto  him.  Prophesy"— or  '  divine'  "  unto  us, 
thou  Christ.Who  is  he  that  smote  thee? "  The 
sarcasm  in  styling  Him  "the  Christ,"  and  as 
such  demanding  of  Him  the  perpetrator  of 
the  blows  inflicted  upon  Him,  was  in  them  as 
infamous  as  to  Him  it  was  stinging,  and  the 
servants  did  strike  him  with  the  palms  of  their 
hands- "And  many  other  things  blasphem- 
ously spake  they  against  him, "  L.  22.  65. 
This  general  statement  is  important,  as 
showing  that  virulent  and  varied  as  were 
the  recorded  affronts  put  upon  Him.  they  are 
but  a  small  specimen  of  what  He  endured  on 

that  black  occasion.] 28.  Then  led  they  Jesus 

from  Caiaghas  to  the  hall  of  judgment— but ; 
not  till  "  m  the  morning  the  chief  priests 
held  a  consultation  with  the  elders  and 
scribes  and  the  whole  council  against  him 
to  put  him  to  death,  and  bound  him."  (M.  | 
27.  1;  and  see  on  Mk.  15.  1.)  The  word  here , 
rendered  "hall  of  judgment"  is  from  the 
Latin,  and  denotes  '  the  palace  of  the  gover- 
nor of  a  Eoman  province.'  they  themselves  i 
went  not  into  the  palace  lest  they  should  be  de-  j 
filed— by  contact  with  ceremonially  unclean ; 
Gentiles,  but  that  they  might  eat  the  Pass- ! 
over— If  this  refer  to  the  principal  part  of; 
the  festival,  the  eating  of  the  lamb,  the 
question  is,  how  our  Lord  and  his  disciples 
came  to  eat  it  the  night  before;  and,  as  it 
was  an  evening  meal,  how  ceremonial  defile- 
ment contracted  in  the  morning  would  unfit 
them  for  partaking  of  it,  as  after  6  o'clock  it 
wa.s  reckoned  a  new  day.  These  are  ques- 
tions which  have  occasioned  immense  re- 
search and  learned  treatises.  But  as  the 
usages  of  the  Jews  appear  to  have  somewhat 
varied  at  different  times,  and  our  present 
knowledge  of  them  is  not  sufficient  to  clear 
up  aU  difficulties,  they  are  among  the  not 
very  impoi-tant  questions  which  probably  I 
will  never  be  entirely  solved.  29-32.  Pilate  I 
£5 


went  out  to  them,  and  said,  What  accusnti'-n 
bring  ye  against  this  man'?— State  your  char;.e. 
If  he  were  not  a  malefactor,  we  should  not 
have  delivered  him  up  unto  thee  —  They 
were  conscious  they  had  no  case,  of  which 
Rlate  could  take  cognizance,  and  therefore 
insinuate  that  they  had  already  found  him 
worthy  of  death  by  their  own  law;  but  not 
having  the  power,  under  the  Roman  govern- 
ment, to  carry  their  sentence  into  execution, 
they  had  come  merely  for  his  sanction,  that 
the  saying  might  be  fulfilled  wiuch  he  spake, 
signifying  what  death  he  should  die— i.e.,  by 
crucifixion  ch.  12.  32,  33- M.  20.  19;',  which 
being  a  Roman  mode  of  execution,  could 
only  be  carried  into  effect  by  order  of  the 
governor.  The  Jewish  mode  in  such  cases 
as  this,  was  by  stoning.  33-38.  Pilate  called 
Jesus,  and  said,  Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews? 
—In  L.  23.  2,  they  charge  our  Lord  before 
Pilate  with  "perverting  the  nation,  and  for- 
bidding to  give  tribute  to  Cesar,  saying  that 
he  himself  is  Christ  a  king."  Perhaps  this 
was  what  occasi  oned  Pilate  s  question.  Jesus 
answered,  Sayest  thou  this  of  thyself,  or  did 
others  tell  it  of  me  ?— an  important  question 
for  our  Lord's  case,  to  bring  out  whether  the 
word  "king"  were  meant  in  a,  political  sense, 
with  which  Pilate  had  a  right  to  deal,  or 
whether  he  were  merely  7)ut  up  to  it  by  His 
accusers,  who  had  nothing  to  charge  him  with 
but  such  as  was  of  a  purely  religious  nature, 
with  which  Pilate  had  nothing  to  do.  Pilate 
answered.  Am  I  a  Jew'?  Thine  own  nation  .  .  . 
delivered  thee  to  me :  What  hast  thou  done  1— 
q.d.  '  Je\vish  questions  I  neither  understand 
nor  meddle  with;  but  thou  art  here  on  a 
charge  which,  though  it  seems  only  Jewish, 
nuiy  yet  involve  treasonable  matter:  As  they 
state  it,  1  cannot  decide  the  point;  tell  me. 
then,  what  procedure  of  thine  has  brought 
thee  into  this  position. '  In  modern 
phrase,  Pilate's  object  in  this  question  was 
merely  to  determine  the  relevancy  of  the 
charge.  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world— He 
does  not  say  'not  over,'  but  'not  of  this 
world'— i.e.,  in  its  origin  and  nature;  there- 
fore '  no  such  kingdom  as  need  give  thee  or 
thy  master  the  least  alarm.'  If  my  kingdom 
were  of  this  world,  then  would  my  servants 
fight,  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews 
—'A  very  convincing  argument;  for  if  his 
servants  did  not  fight  to  prevent  their  king 
from  being  delivered  up  to  his  enemies, 
much  less  would  they  use  force  for  the  esta- 
blishment of  his  kingdom.'  [w.  &  w.]  but 
now— but  the  fact  is.  is  my  kingdom  not  from 
hence— Our  Lord  only  says  whence  His  king- 
dom is  7io( -first  simply  affirming  it,  next 
giving  proof  of  it.  then  re-affirming  it.  Tliis 
was  all  that  Pilate  had  to  do  with.  The  positive 
nature  of  His  kingdom  He  would  not  obtrude 
upon  one  who  was  as  little  able  to  compre- 
hend it,  as  entitled  officially  to  information 
about  it.  (It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the 
"  MY,"  which  occurs  four  times  in  this  one 
vevse— thrice  of  His  kingdom,  and  once  of 
His  servants— \s  put  in  the  emphatic  form. 
Art  thou  a  king,  then?- There  was  no  sarcasm 
or  disdain  in  this  question  [as  Tholuck 
AXF.,  &c.,  allegel,  else  our  Lord's  answer 
would  have  been  different.  Putting  em- 
phasis upon  "  thou, "  his  question  betrays 


a  mixture  of  stirpri.se  and  uneasiness,  partly 

■  ■'  -  ■'         '    •     .  after  ail, 

ng    dangerous    under  the    claim, 
and    partly  from   a   certain    awe    which 


at  the  possibility  of  there  being, 
something    dangerous    under  the    claiio. 


Of  Chris€s  Kingdom,  d'C. 


JOHN,  XIX. 


He  is  Accused  before  Pilafe. 


our  lx)rd's  demeanour  probably  struck  into 
him.  Thou  sayest  that  I  am  a  king— It  is  even 
BO.  To  this  end  was  I  ('have  I  been')  born, 
aud  to  this  end  came  I  i'  am  I  come'j  into  the 
world,  that  I  may  bear  witness  to  the  truth— 
His  birth  expresses  His  manhood ;  His  com- 
ing into  the  world.  His  existence  before 
assuminEhumanity :  The  truth,  then,  here 
affirmed,  though  Pilate  would  catch  little  of 
it,  was,  that  His  Incarnation  was  expressly 
in  order  to  the  assuinvtion  of  Royalty  in  our 
nature.  Yet,  instead  of  saying.  He  came  to 
be  a  king,  which  is  His  meaning.  He  says 
He  came  to  testify  to  the  truth.  Why  this  ? 
Because,  in  such  circumstances,  it  required 
a  noble  courage  not  to  flinch  from  His  royal 
claims;  and  our  Lord,  conscious tfuit  He  was 
putting  forth  that  courage,  gives  a  turn  to 
His  confession  expressive  of  it.  It  is  to  this 
that  Paul  alludes,  in  those  remarkable 
words  to  Timothy :  "  I  charge  thee  before 
God,  who  quickeueth  all  things,  and  before 
Christ  Jesus,  who,  in  the  presence  of  Pontius 
Pilate,  witnessed  the  good  confession.  (1  Ti.  6, 
13. )  This  one  act  of  our  Lord's  life,  His  cour- 
ageous witness-bearing  before  the  Gover- 
nor is  selected  as  an  encouraging  example  of 
the  fidelity  which  l"imotliy  ought  to  display. 
As  the  Lord  [says  Olsh.  beautifully]  owned 
Himself  the  Son  of  God  before  the  most  ex- 
alted theocratic  council,  so  He  confessed  His 
regal  dignity  in  presence  of  the  representa- 
tive of  the  liighest  political  authority  on 
earth.  Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth 
my  voice  — Our  Lord  here  not  only  affirms 
that  His  word  had  in  it  a  self-evidencing, 
self-recommending  power,  but  gently  insinu- 
ated the  true  secret  of  the  growth  and  gran- 
deur of  His  kingdom— as  A  Kingdom  of 
TiiuTH,  in  its  highest  sense,  into  which  all 
souls  who  have  learnt  to  live  and  count  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  truth  are,  by  a  most 
heavenly  attraction,  drawn  as  into  their 
proper  element ;  the  ELino  of  whom  Jesus 
IS,  fetching  them  in  and  ruling  them  by  His 
captivating  power  over  their  near ts.  Pilate 
saith  unto  Ilim,  What  is  truth?— gf-d  'Thou 
stirrest  the  question  of  questions,  which  the 
thoughtful  of  every  age  have  asked,  but 
never  man  yet  answered.'  And  when  he  had 
said  this— as  if,  by  putting  such  a  question, 
he  was  getting  into  interminable  and  unsea- 
sonable inqviiries,  when  this  business  de- 
manded rather  prompt  action,  he  went  again 
unto  the  Jews— thus  missing  a  noble  oppor- 
tunity for  himself,  and  giving  utterance  to 
that  consciousness  of  the  want  of  all  intel- 
lectual and  moral  certainty,  which  was  the 
feeling  of  every  thoughtful  mind  at  that 
time.  '  The  only  certainty,'  says  the  elder 
Pliny,  *  is  that  nothing  is  certain,  nor  more 
miserable  than  man,  nor  more  proud,  Tlie 
fearful  laxity  of  morals  at  that  time  must 
doubtless  be  traced  in  a  great  degree  to  this 
Bcepticism.  The  revelation  of  the  eternal 
truth  alone  was  able  to  breathe  new  life  into 
ruined  human  nature,  and  that  in  the  appre- 
hension of  complete  redemption.'  [Olsh.] 
and  saith  unto  them— in  the  hearing  of  our 
Lord,  who  had  been  bK)uglit  forth— I  find  no 
fault  in  him— no  crime.  This  so  exasperated 
"the  chief  priests  and  elders"  that,  afraid  of 
losing  their  prey,  they  poured  forth  a  volley 
of  charges  against  him,  as  appears  from  L. 
'2.i.  4,  0 :  on  Pilate's  affirming  his  innocence, 
"they  were  the  more  fierce,  saying.  He  stirreth 
up  the  people,  teaching  thrnughoutall  Jewry, 
^[11 


beginning  from  Galilee  to  this  place."  They 
see  no  hope  of  getting  Pilate's  sanction  to  Hia 
death  unless  they  can  fasten  upon  Him  a 
charge  of  conspiracy  against  the  government; 
and  as  Galilee  was  noted  for  its  turbulence, 
L.  13.  1 ;  A.  6.  37  ;)  and  our  Lord's  ministry 
lay  chiefly  there,  they  artfuUy  introduce 
it  to  give  colour  to  their  charge.  "And  the 
chief  priests  accused  him  of  many  things, 
but  he  answered  nothing  (Mk.  15.  3).  Then 
said  Pilate  unto  him,  Hearest  thou  not  how 
many  things  they  witness  against  thee  ?  And 
he  answered  him  to  never  a  word,  insomuch 
that  the  governor  marvelled  greatly"  [M.  27. 
13,  14).  See  on  Mk.  16.  3-5.  In  his  perplexity, 
Pilate,  hearing  of  GaUlee,  bethuiKS  himself 
of  the  expedient  of  sending  Him  to  Herod, 
in  the  hope  of  thereby  farther  shaking  off 
responsibility  in  the  case.  See  on  Mk.  15. 6; 
and  on  L.  23.  6-12.  The  return  of  the  prisoner 
only  deepened  the  perplexity  of  Pilate,  who, 
"calling  together  the  chief  priests,  rulers, 
and  people,"  teUs  them  plainly  that  not  one 
of  their  charges  against  "  this  man"  had  been 
made  good,  while  even  Herod,  to  whose  juris- 
diction he  more  naturally  belonged,  had 
done  nothing  to  him :  He  "  will  therefore 
chastise  and  release  him"  (L.  23.  13-16).  But 
ye  have  a  custom  that  I  should  release  one,  (to. 
—See  on  JSIk.  15.  7-11.  '  On  the  typical  im- 
port of  the  choice  of  Christ  to  suffer,  by 
which  Barabbas  was  set  free,  see  Le.  16. 
particularly  v.  5-10,  where  the  subject  is  the 
sin  offering  on  the  great  day  of  atonement.'— 
[KiiAFri  in  Lthdt.1 

CHAPTEE  XTX. 
Ver.  1-16.  Jesus  before  Fixate — 
Scourged— Treated  with  other  Sever- 
ities AND  Insults— Delivered  Up,  and 
Led  away  to  be  Crucified.  1-3.  Pilate 
took  Jesus  and  scourged  him— in  hope  of 
appeasing  them.  See  on  Mk.  15.  15.  "And 
the  soldiers  led  him  away  into  the  palace, 
and  they  call  the  whole  band"  (Mk.  15.  16  — 
the  body  of  the  military  cohort  stationed 
there,  to  take  part  in  the  mock  coronation 
now  to  be  enacted,  soldiers  platted  a  crown 
of  thorns,  and  put  it  on  his  head— in  mockery 
of  a  regal  crovm.  and  clothed  him  with  a  pur- 
ple robe— in  mockery  of  the  imperial  purple; 
first  "  stripping , him"  (M.  27.  28,)  of  His  own 
outer  garment.  The  robe  may  have  been  the 
"gorgeous"  one  in  which  Herod  arrayed  and 
sent  Him  back  to  Pilate  (L.  23.  11.).  "And 
they  put  a  reed  into  his  right  hand"  (M.  27. 
29)- in  mockery  of  the  regal  sceptre.  "  And 
they  bowed  the  knee  before  him"  iM.  27.  29.) 
aud  said.  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews !— doing  Him 
derisive  homage,  in  the  form  used  on  ap- 
proaching the  emperor.s.  "And  they  spit 
upon  him.  and  took  the  reed  and  smote  him 
on  the  head"  iM.  27.  30).  Tliebest  comment 
on  these  affecting  details  is  to  cover  the  face, 
4,  5.  Pilate  went  forth  again,  and  saith.  Be- 
hold, I  bring  ('  am  bringing,'  i.e.,  going  to 
bring)  him  forth  to  you,  that  ye  may  know  I 
find  no  fault  in  him— and,  by  scourging  him 
and  allowing  the  soldiers  to  make  sport  of 
him,  have  gone  as  far  to  meet  your  exas- 
peration as  can  be  expected  from  a  judge. 
Jesus  therefore  came  forth,  wearing  the  crown 
of  thorns,  and  the  purple  robe.  And  he  saith  to 
them,  Behold  the  man  !— Tliere  is  no  reason  to 
think  that  contempt  dictated  this  speech. 
There  was  clearly  a  struggle  in  the  brea>t  of 
this  wretched  man.  Not  only  was  he  reluc- 
tant to  smrender  to  mere  clamour  an  inno* 


Pilate  DeHvers  Christ  to  he  Cnicified.  JOHN,  XTX. 


His  Crucifixion,  d-e^ 


cent  man,  but  a  feeling  of  anxiety  about  His 
mysterious  claims,  as  is  plain  from  what 
follows,  was  beginning  to  rack  his  breast, 
and  the  object  of  his  exclamation  seems  to 
have  been  to  move  thnr  pity.  But,  be  his 
meaning  what  it  may,  those  three  words  have 
been  eagerly  appropriated  by  all  Christen- 
dom, and  enshrined  for  ever  in  its  heart,  as  a 
subhme  expression  of  its  calm,  rapt  admira- 
tion of  its  suffering  Lord.  6,  7.  When  the 
chief  priests  saw  him,  they  cried  out— their 
fiendish  ra.^e  kindling  afresh  at  the  sight  of 
Him.    crucify  Mm,  crucify  him  —See  on  IMk. 

15.  14.  Take  ye  him,  and  crucify  him:  for 
I  find  no  fault  in  him— a^  if  this  would  re- 
lieve him  of  the  responsibility  of  the  deed, 
who,  by  surrendering  Him,  incurred  it  all ! 
We  have  a  law,  and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die, 
because  he  made  himself  the  Son  of  God— Their 
criminal  charges  having  come  to  nothing, 
they  give  up  that  point,  and  as  Pilate  was 
throwing  the  whole  responsibility  upon 
them,  they  retreat  into  their  own  Jewish 
law,  by  which,  as  claiming  equality  with  God, 
(see  on  ch.  5.  18,  and  8.  5S).)  He  ought  to  die; 
insinuating  that  it  was  Pilate's  duty,  even  as 
civil  governor,  to  protect  their  law  from  such 
insult.  8-11.  When  Pilate  heard  this  saying, 
he  was  the  more  airaid— the  name  "  Hon  op 
God,"  the  lofty  senile  evidently  attached  to 
it  by  His  Jewish  accusers,  the  dialogue  he 
liad  already  held  with  Him,  and  the  dream 
of  his  wife  (M.  27. 19.),  all  worlcing  together 
in  the  breast  of  the  wretched  man.  and  went 
again  into  the  palace,  and  saith  to  Jesus, 
Whence  art  thou  T— beyond  all  doubt  a  ques- 
tion relating  not  to  His  mission  but  to  His 
per.^onal  origin.  Jesus  gave  him  no  answer- 
He  had  said  enough  ;  the  time  for  answering 
such  a  question  was  past ;  the  weak  and 
•wavering  governor  is  already  on  the  point  of 
giving  way.  Speakest  thou  not  to  me?— The 
^'  me  is  the  emphatic  word  in  the  question. 
He  falls  back  upon  the  pride  of  office,  which 
doubtless  tended  to  blunt  the  workings  of 
his  conscience,  knowest  thou  not  that  I  have 
power  to  crucify  . .  .  and  . . .  power  to  release 
thee?— said  to  work  urion  him  at  once  by 
fear  and  by  hope.  Thou  couldst  rather 
*  shouldst ')  have  no  power  at  all  against  me— 
neither  to  crucify,  nor  to  release,  nor  to  do 
any  thing  whatever  against  me.  [Beng.]  ex- 
cept it  were  ('  unless  it  had  been'j  given  thee 
from  above.— q.d.  Tliou  thinkest  too  much  of 
thy  power,  Pilate  :  against  Me  that  power  is 
none,  save  what  is  meted  out  to  thee  by  spe- 
cial divine  appointment,  for  a  special  end.' 
therefore  he  that  delivered  me  unto  thee  (Caia- 
phas,  to  wit  — but  he  only  as  representing 
the  Jewish  authorities  as  a  body  hath  the 
greater  sin— as  having  better  opportunities 
and  more  knowledge  of  such  matters.    12- 

16.  And  from  henceforth— particularly  this 
siieech,  which  seems  to  nave  filled  him 
with  awe,  and  redoubled  his  anxiety.  Pilate 
sought  to  release  him— i.e.,  to  gain  their  con- 
sent to  it,  for  he  could  have  done  it  at  once  on 
his  o\vn  authority,  but  the  Jews  cried— see- 
ing their  advantage,  and  not  slow  to  profit 
by  it.  If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  art  not 
Cesar's  friend,  &c.  *  This  was  equivalent  to  a 
threat  of  imveachment,  which  we  know  was 
much  dreaded  by  such  officers  as  the  procu- 
rators, especially  of  the  character  of  PUate 
or  Felix.  It  also  consummates  the  treachery 
and  disgrace  of  the  Jewish  rulers,  who  were 
willing,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  Jesus, 


to  affect  a  zeal  for  the  supremacy  of  -a 
foreign  prince.'  See  v.  15.  [w.  &  av.]  When 
Pilate  heard  that,  he  brought  Jesus  forth,  and 
sat  down  in  ('upon']  the  judgment-seat— that 
he  might  pronounce  sentence  against  the 
Prisoner,  on  this  charge,  the  more  solemnly 
—in  a  place  called  the  pavement,  (a  tesselated 
pavement,  much  used  by  the  Romans),  in 
the  Hebrew,  Gabbatha— from  its  being  raised. 
It  was  the  preparation— i.*^.,  the  day  before 
the  Jewish  Saobalh.  and  about  the  sixth 
hour.  The  true  reading  here  is  probably, 
'the  third  hour'— or  9  a.m.— which  agrees 
best  with  the  whole  series  of  events,  as  well 
as  with  the  other  evangelists,  he  saith  to 
the  Jews,  Behold  your  King!  Having  now 
made  up  his  mind  to  yield  to  them,  betakes 
a  sort  of  quiet  revenge  on  them  by  this 
irony,  which  he  knew  would  sting  them. 
TTiis  only  re-awakens  their  cry  to  despatch 
him.  Crucify  your  king?  We  have  no  king 
but  Cesar.  Some  of  those  who  thus  cried  died 
miserably  in  rebellion  against  Cesar  forty 
years  afterwards.  But  it  suited  their  present 
purpose.'  [Alf.]  Then  delivered  he,  (Sic— See 
on  IVIk.  15. 15. 

16-30.     CrUCIPIXIOK  AND  DEATH  OF  THE 

Lord  Jesus.  17.  And  he  bearing  his  cross— 
See  on  L.  23.  26.  went  forth— cf.  He.  13.  11-13, 
"without  the  camp;"  "without  the  gate.'' 
On  arriving  at  the  place,  '"tliey  gave  him 
vinegar  to  drink  mingled  with  gall  (wine 
mingled  with  myrrh,  (Mk.  15. 23.),  and  when 
he  had  tasted  thereof,  he  would  not  drink," 
M.  27.  34.  This  potion  was  stupefying,  and 
given  to  criminals  just  before  execution,  to 
deaden  the  sense  of  pain. 
"  Fill  high  the  bowl,  and  spice  it  well,  and  pour 
The  dews  oblivious:  for  the  Cross  is  sharp. 

The  Cross  is  sharp,  and  He 

Is  tenderer  than  a  lamb."— [A^eftfe.] 
But  our  Lord  tvould  die  vnth  every  facult-^ 
clear,  and  in  full  sensibility  to  all  His  svjfer- 
ings. 

Thou  wilt  feel  all,  that  thou  may'st  pity  all; 
And  rather  wotild'st  Thou  wrestle  with  strong 
pain. 

Than  overcloud  Thy  soul. 

So  clear  in  agony. 
Or  lose  one  glimpse  of  Heaven  before  the  time. 
0  most  entire  and  perfect  sacrifice, 

Renewed  in  every  pulse,  &c,~[KebU.'\ 
18.  crucified  Mm,  and  two  others  with  him— 
"malefactors"  (L. 23.  33.),  "thieves"  (rather 
'robbers,'  M.  27.  38  ;  Mk.  15.  27.'.  Jesus  in 
the  midst— a  hellish  expedient,  to  hold  Him 
up  as  the  worst  of  the  three.  But  in  tMs,  as  in 
manv  other  of  their  doings  "  the  Scripture 
was  fulfilled,  which  saith  (is.  53. 12),  And  he 
was  numbered  with  the  transgressors"— M^. 
15.  28.)— though  the  prediction  reaches  deep- 
er. "  Then  said  Jesus—'  probably  whUe  be- 
ing nailed  to  the  Cross'  [Olsh.],  Father, 

FORGIVE  THEM,  FOR  THEY  KNOW  NOT  WHAT 

THEY  do"  iL.  23.  34. i— and  again  the  Scrip- 
ture was  fulfilled  which  said,  "And  he  made 
intercession  for  the  transgressors'  (Is.  53.12.), 
though  tMs  also  reaches  deeper.  See  A.  3. 
17;  13.  27;  and  cf.  1  Ti.  1.  13.  Often  have  we 
occasion  to  observe  how  our  Lord  is  the  first 
to  fulfil  His  own  precepts— thus  furnishing 
the  right  interpretation  and  the  perfect 
Model  of  them.  (See  on  M.  5.  44.)  How 
quickly  was  it  seen  in  "His  martyr  Stephen," 
that  though  He  had  left  the  earth  in  Person, 
His  Spirit  remained  behind,  and  Himself 
could,  ill  some  of  His  brightest  lineaments. 


TJie  cru/dfxion  of  Christ. 


JOHN,  XX. 


Sis  resurrection. 


Into  a  place  called  the  pi 

which  is  called  in  the  Hebrew.  Gol:,'(>tha 

18  Where  "they  crucified  him,  and  two 
others  with  him,  on  either  side  one,  and 
Jesus  in  the  midst. 

19  IT  And  rUate  wote  a  title,  and  put  it 
on  the  cross.  Aiid  the  writins  was, .)  ESUS 
OF  NAZAKETH  THE  KING  Of"  THE 
JEWS. 

20  This  title  then  read  many  of  the  Jews; 
for  the  place  where  Jesus  was  crucified  was 
Dish  to  the  city:  and  it  was  written  in 
Hebrew,  and  Greek,  and  Latin. 

21  Then  said  the  chief  priests  of  the  Jews 
to  Pilate,  Write  not.  The  Kins;  of  the 
Jews;  but  that  he  said,  I  am  Xing  of  the 
Jews. 

22  Pilate  answered.  What  I  have  written 
1  have  wTitten. 

23  IT  Then  the  soldiers,  when  they  had 
crucified  Jesus,  took  his  garments,  and 
made  four  parts,  to  every  soldier  a  pait; 
and  also  his  coat:  now  the  coat  was  with- 
out seam,  2  woven  from  the  top  through- 
out. 

2-1  They  said  therefore  among  themselves, 
Let  U3  not  rend  it,  but  cast  lota  for  it, 
whose  it  shall  be:  that  the  scripture  might 
be  fulfilled,  which  saith,  "They  parted  my 
raiment  among  them,  and  for  my  vesture 
they  did  cast  lota.  These  things  therefore 
the  soldiers  did. 

25  IT  Now  there  stood  by  the  cross  of 
Jesus  his  mother,  and  his  mother's  sister, 
Mary  the  wife  of  acieophas,  and  Mary 
Magdalene. 

26  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  his  mother, 
and  P  the  disciple  standing  by  whom  he 
loved,  he  saith  unto  his  mother, '  Woman, 
behold  thy  son! 

27  Then  saith  he  to  the  disciple.  Behold 
thy  mother!  And  from  that  hour  that  dis- 
ciple took  her  ""unto  his  own  home. 

28  ^  After  this,  Jesus  knowing  that  •  all 
things  were  now  accomplished,  <  that 
the  Scripture  might  be  fulhlled,  saith,  1 
thirst. 

2y  Now  there  was  set  a  vessel  full  of 
vinegar:  and  they  filled  a  sponge  with 
^•inega^,  and  put  it  upon  hyssop,  and  put 
it  to  his  mouth. 

30  When  Jesus  therefore  had  received 
thevmegar,  he  said,  "It  is  finished:  and 
he  bowed  his  head,  and  "  gave  up  the 
ghost. 

31 II  The  Jews  therefore,  ""  becanse  it  was 
the  preparation,  *that  the  bodies  should 
not  remain  upon  the  cross  on  the  sabbath 
day,  (for  that  sabbath  day  was  "  an  hiu'h 
day,)  besought  Pilate  that  their  legs  might 
be  broken,  and  that  they  might  be  taken 
away. 

32  Then  came  the  soldiers,  and  brake  the 
legs  of  the  first,  and  of  the  other  which  was 
ciTicitied  with  him. 

33  liut  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw 
that  he  was  dead  akeady,  they  brake  not 
bis  legs: 

34  But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a  spear 
pierced  his  side,  and  forthwith  *  came 
thereout  blood  and  water. 

35  And  "  he  that  saw  it  bare  record,  and 
his  record  is  true:  and  he  knoweth  that  he 
Baith  tme,  that  ye  nii^'ht  believe. 

36  For  these  things  were  done,  » that  the 
scripture  should  be  fulfilled,  A  bone  of  him 
shall  not  be  broken. 

37  And  agaia  another  scripture  saith. 


n  Is.  53.  12. 
l>an.  9.  '.'8. 

Gal.  3.  13. 
S  Or, 

wrought. 
0  Pa.  22.  18. 
3  Or,  Clopas. 

Lu.  21.  18. 
P  ch.  13.  23. 

ch.  20.  2. 

ch.  21.  7, 

20,  24. 
q  ch.  2.  4. 
r  Gen.  47.12. 

ch.  1. 11. 

ch.  16.  32. 
»  Gen.  3.  16. 

Ps.  2.  1-3. 

Ps.22.1-21. 

Is  50  6. 

Is.  53. 
t  P».  C9.  21. 
"  Is.  42.  21. 

Dan.  9.  24. 

ch.  17.  4. 

Kom.  10.4. 

Heb.  10. 

1-14. 

V  1  Thess.  5. 
10. 

to  Mar  .15.42 
«Dcu.  21.23. 

V  Ei.  12.  IS. 
Nu.  28.  17, 


1  John  6. 
6,8. 

1  ch.  17.  21, 
23. 

ch.  20.  31. 
ch.  21.  24. 


Zech.  12. 

10. 

Kev.  1.  7. 
d  Mat.  27.57. 

Mar.  lb  42. 

Lu.  23.  5(1. 
e  Pro.  29. 25. 

eh.  9  22. 

ch.  12.  42. 
/ch.  3.  1,2. 

■  ,  7.  60. 
a  2  Chr.  16. 

14. 

Lu.  23.  56. 
h  Acts  5.  6. 
i  Lu.  23.  53. 
i  Is.  63.  9. 


CHAP.  20. 
a  Mat.  28.  1. 

Mark  16.1. 

X-uke  24.1. 
6  ch.  13.  23. 

ch.  19.  20. 

ch.  21.  7, 

20,  24. 
e  Lu.  24. 12. 
d  ch.  19.  40. 
•  ch.  11.  44. 
f  P».  16. 10. 

fiut.  le  21. 

Acts  13  3i. 
g  Mark  16.  5. 
A  Song  3.3,4. 

Mat.  28.  9. 

>Urk  16.9. 
i  Lu.  24. 16, 

31. 

tb.Zl.i. 


They  "  shall  look  on  him  whom  they 
pierced. 

38  H  And  <*  after  this,  Joseph  of  Arimathea, 
being  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  out  secretly  "for 
fear  of  the  Jews,  besought  Pilate  that  he 
might  take  away  the  body  of  Jesus:  and 
I'ilate  gave  him  leave.  He  came  therefore, 
and  took  the  body  of  Jesus. 

cQ  And  there  came  also  /  Nicodemns, 
(which  at  the  first  came  to  Jesus  by  night,) 
and  brought  *'  a  mixture  of  myiTh  and 
aloes,  about  an  hundred  pound  iveight. 

40  Then  took  they  the  body  of  J  esus,  and 
wound '» it  in  linen  clothes  with  the  spices, 
as  the  maimer  of  the  Jews  is  to  bury. 

41  Now  in  the  place  where  he  was  cruci- 
fied there  was  a  garden ;  and  in  the  garden 
a  ♦  new  sepulchre,  wherein  was  never  man 
yet  laid. 

42  There  ;laid  they  Jesus  therefore,  be- 
cause of  the  Jews'  preparation  dai/;  for  the 
sepulchre  was  nigh  at  hand. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

1  Mary  MagdiUne  comet h.  to  the  sepiUehre:  11  sh« 

seetfi  two  angels  t   Jesus  Kinisel/  appeareth  to 

her.  19  and  to  Ais  disciples.    24  The  incredulity 

of  Thomas. 

'pHE  "  first  (fay  of  the  week  cometh  Mary 

■*■  Magdalene  early,  when  it  was  yet  dark, 

unto  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth  the  stone 

taken  away  from  the  sepulchre. 

2  Then  she  ninneth,  and  cometh  to  Simon 
Peter,  and  to  the  *  other  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loved,  and  saith  unto  them.  They 
have  taken  away  the  Lord  out  of  the 
sepulclire,  and  we  know  not  where  they 
haAe  laid  him. 

3  Peter  ''therefore  went  forth,  and  that 
other  disciple,  and  came  to  the  sepulchre. 

4  So  they  ran  both  together:  and  the  other 
disciple  did  outrun  Peter,  and  came  first  to 
the  sepulchre. 

5  And  he  stooping  do^Ti,  and  looking  in, 
saw  <*  the  linen  clothes  lying;  yet  went  he 
not  in. 

6  Then  cometh  Simon  Peter  following 
him,  and  went  into  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth 
the  linen  clothes  lie, 

7  And  *  the  napkm,  that  was  about  his 
head,  not  lying  with  the  linen  clothes,  but 
wrapped  together  in  a  place  by  itself. 

8  Then  went  in  also  that  other  disciple 
which  came  first  to  the  sepulchre,  and  he 
saw,  and  believed. 

9  For  as  yet  they  knew  not  the /scripture, 
that  he  must  rise  again  from  the  dead. 

10  Then  the  disciples  went  away  again 
unto  then-  own  home. 

11  T  But  "Mary  stood  without  at  the 
sepulchre  weeping:  and  as  she  wept,  she 
stooped  down,  and  looked  into  the  sepul- 
chre, 

12  And  seeth  two  angels  in  white  sitting, 
the  one  at  the  head,  and  the  other  at  the 
feet,  where  the  body  of  Jesus  had  lain. 

13  And  they  say  unto  her.  Woman,  why 
weepest  thou?  She  saith  unto  them.  Be- 
cause they  have  t^iken  away  my  Lord,  and  . 
I  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him. 

14  And  '^  when  she  had  thus  said,  she 
turned  herself  back,  and  saw  Jesus  stand- 
ing, and  *knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 

15  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Woman,  why 
weepest  thou?  whom  seekest  thou?  She, 
supposing  him  to  be  the  gardener,  saith 
unto  him.  Sir,  if  thou  have  borne  him  hence, 
tell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  him,  and  1  will 
take  him  away. 


The  S'->Tdiers  Cad  Lots 


JOHN,  XIX. 


for  Chrisfs  Garmenta. 


be  reproduced  in  ilis  disciples  !  (A.  7.  60.)  a  ransom  for  many."  No  doubt  this  added 
And  what  does  the  world  in  every  age  owe  an  unknown  stiny  to  the  reproach.  "K  ho 
to  these  few  words,  spoken  ichere  and  as  be  the  king  of  Israel,  let  him  now  cume  down 
they  were  spoken!  19-22.  Pilate  wrote  a  title,  from  the  cross,  and  we  will  beUeve  him."  No, 
aud  put  it  on  the  cross,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  they  icould  not;  for  those  who  resisted  the 
King  of  the  Jews  . .  .  written  in  Hebrew,  or  evidence  from  the  resurrection  of  Lazarus, 
Syro-Chaldaic,  the  language  of  the  country;  and  from  His  own  resurrection,  were  beyond, 
and  Greek,  the  current  language;  aud  Latin,  the  reach  of  any  amount  of  merely  external 
the  official  language.  These  were  the  chief  evidence.  "He  trusted  in  God  that  he  would 
languages  of  the  earth,  and  this  secured  that  deliver  him;  let  him  deliver  him  now  if  he 
all  spectators  should  be  able  to  read  it.  Stung  will  have  him  (or  *  delight  in  him,'  cf.  Ps.  18. 
by  this,  the  Jewish  ecclesiastics  entreat  that  19;  Deu.  21.  14.  ;  for  he  said,  I  am  the  Son  of 
it  may  be  so  altered  as  to  express,  not  His  God,"  M.  27.  41-43.  We  thank  you,  O  ye 
regal  dignity,  but  His  false  claim  to  it.  But  chief  priests,  scribes,  and  elders,  for  this 
Pilate  thought  he  had  yielded  quite  enough  triple  testimony,  unconsciously  borne  by 
to  them;  and  having  intended  expressly  to  you,  to  our  Christ:  first  to  His  habitual  trust 
spite  and  insult  them  by  this  title,  for  having  in  God,  as  a  feature  in  His  character  so 
got  him  to  act  against  his  own  sense  of  justice,  t  marked  and  palpable  that  even  ye  found 
he  peremptorily  refused  them.  And  thus,  j  upon  it  your  impotent  taunt;  next,  to  His 
amidst  the  conflicting  passions  of  men,  was  ,  identity  with  the  Sufferer  of  the  22nd  Psalm, 
proclaimed,  in.  the  chief  tongues  of  mankind, 'whose  very  words  (v.8.)  ye  unwittingly  ap- 
from  the  Cross  itself  and  in  circumstances  propriate,  thus  serving  yourselves  heirs  to 
which  threw  upon  it  a  lurid  yet  grand  light,  1  the  dark  office  and  impotent  malignity  of 
the  truth  which  drew  the  Magi  to  His  man-  t  Messiah's  enemies  ;  and  again,  to  the  true 
ger.  and  will  yet  be  owned  by  all  the  world  !  sense  of  that  august  title  which  He  took  to 
23,  24.  soldiers  took  his  garments,  and  made  j  Himself,  "The  Son  of  God,"  which  ye 
four  parts;  to  every  soldier— of  the  four  who  j  rightly  interpreted  at  the  very  first,  (see 
nailed  Him  to  the  cross,  and  whose  perqui- 1  on  ch.  5.  IS.j  as  a  claim  to  that  oneness 
site  they  were,  a  part,  and  also  his  coat— the  of  nature  with  Him,  and  dearness  to  Him, 
Roman  tunic,  or  close-fitting  vest,  without  j  which  a  son  has  to  his  father.  i3.)  "And 
seam,:  Woven  from  the  top  throughout—'  per-  '  the  aoldiers  also  mocked  him,  coming  to 
haps  denoting  considerable  skill  and  labour  him  and  offering  him  vinegar,  and  saying, 
as  necessary  to  produce  such  a  garment,  the  If  thou  be  the  king  of  the  Jew^s,  save  thy- 


work  probably  of  one  or  more  of  the  women 
who  ministered  in  such  things  unto  him, 
L.  8.  3.'  Lw.  &  w.l  Let  us  not  rend  it,  but 
cast  lots  . .  .  that  the  Scripture,  &c.— Ps.  22. 
18.  That  a  prediction  so  exceedingly  specific 
—distinguishing  one  piece  of  dress  from 
others,  and  annoimcing  that  while  those 
should  be  parted  amongst  several,  that 
should  be  given  by  lot  to  one  person— that 
such  a  prediction  should  not  only  be  lul- 
filled  to  the  letter,  but  by  a  party  of  hea- 
then military,  without  interference  from 
either  the  Iriends  or  the  enemies  of  the 
Crucified  One,  is  surely  worthy  to  be 
ranked  among  the  wonders  of  tliis  all-won- 
derful scene.  Now  come  the  mockeries,  and 
from  tour  different  quarters:— il.)  "And  they 
that  parsed  by  reviled  him,  wagging  their 
heads"  in  ridicule,  Ps.  22.  7;  109.  25;  cf.  Je. 
18.  16;  La.  2.  15.  "Ah.P'  'Ha;'  an  exclamation 
here  of  derision.  "Thou  that  destroyest  the 
temple,  and  buddest  it  in  three  days,  save 
thyself  and  come  down  from  the  cross,"  M. 
27.  39,  40:  Mk.  15.  29,  30.  '  It  is  evident  that 
our  Lord's  saying,  or  rather  this  perversion 
of  it  (for  He  claimed  not  to  destroy  but  to 
rebuild  the  temple  destroyed  by  them)  had 
greatly  exasperated  the  feeling  which  the 
priests  and  Pharisees  had  contrived  to  excite 
against  Him.  It  is  referred  to  as  the  princi- 
pal fact  brought  out  in  evidence  against  Him 
on  the  trial,  icf.  A.  6.  13, 14. ,  as  an  offence 
for  which  He  deserved  to  suffer.  And  it  is 
very  remarkable  that  now,  ivhil.e  it  icas  re- 
ceiving its  real  fulfilriient,  it  shoidd  be  made 
more  public  and  more  impressive  by  the  in- 
sulting proclamation  of  His  enemies.  Hence 
the  importance  attached  to  it  after  the  re- 
surrection, ch.  2.  22.'  [w.  &w.]  2.)  "Likewise 
also  the  chief  priests  mocking  him,  with  the 
scribes  and  elders,  said.  He  saved  others, 
himself  he  cannot  save."  There  was  a  deep 
truth  in  this,  as  in  other  taimts;  for  both  He 
could  not  do,  having  "  come  to  give  His  life 


self,"  L.  23.  36,  37.  They  insultingly  offer  to 
share  with  Him  their  ovra.  vinegar,  or  sour 
wine,  the  usual  drink  of  Eoman  soldiers,  it 
being  about  the  time  of  their  midday  meal. 
In  the  taunt  of  the  soldiers  we  have  one  of 
those  undesigned  coincidences  w^hich  so 
strikingly  verify  these  historical  records. 
WhUe  the  ecclesiastics  deride  Him  for  call- 
ing Himself  "  the  Christ,  the  King  of  Israel, 
the  Chosen,  the  Son  of  God,"  the  soldiers,  to 
whom  all  such  phraseology  was  mere  Jewish 
jargon,  make  sport  of  Him  as  a  pretender  to 
royalty  ("king  of  the  Jews"),  an  office  and 
dignity  which  it  belonged  to  them  to  com- 
prehend.4."  The  thieves  also,  which  were  cru- 
cified with  him,  cast  the  same  in  his  teeth," 
M.  27.  44;  Mk.  15. 32.  Not  both  of  them,  how- 
ever, as  some  commentators  unnaturally 
think  we  must  understand  these  words; 
as  if  some  sudden  change  came  over  the 
penitevt  one,  which  turned  him  from  an 
unfeeling  railer  into  a  trembling  petitioner. 
The  plural  "thieves"  need  not  denote 
more  than  the  quarter  or  class  whence 
came  this  last  and  crudest  taunt— Q.d.  'Not 
only  did  scoffs  proceed  from  the  passers  by, 
the  ecclesiastics,  the  soldiery,  but  even  from 
His  fellow-sufferers, '  a  mode  of  speaking 
which  no  one  woxild  think  necessarily  meant 
both  of  them.  Cf.  M.  2.  20,  "  They  are  dead 
which  sought  the  child's  life,  "  meaning 
Herod:  and  Mk.  9. 1,  "There  be  some  stand- 
ing here,"  where  it  is  next  to  certain  that  only 
John,  the  youngest  and  last  survivor  of  the 
apostles,  is  meant.  And  is  it  conceivable  that 
this  penitent  thief  should  have  first  himself 
reviled  the  Saviour,  and  then,  on  his  views  of 
Christ  suddenly  changing,  he  should  have 
turned  upon  his  f  eUow-suft'erer  and  feUow-re- 
vUer,  and  rebuked  him  not  only  with  digni- 
fied sharpness,  but  in  the  language  of  aston^ 
ishment  that  he  should  be  capable  of  such 
conduct?  Besides,  there  is  a  deep  calnmess  in 
ail  that  he  utters,  extremely  unlike  what  w© 


Christ  Commendcth  His  Moifier  to  John.  JOHN,  XIX. 


Ee  Dicth,  dkc. 


should  expect  from  one  who  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  mental  revolution  so  sudden  and 
total.  On  the  scene  itself,  see  on  L.  23.  29-43. 
25-27.  Mary,  wife  of  Cleophas  -  This  should  be 
read,  as  in  inarg.  '"  Clopas,"  the  same  as 
"Aipheus,"  M.  lu.  3.  The  "Cleopas"  of  L. 
24.  18.  was  a  different  person.  When  Jesus 
saw  his  mother,  and  the  aisciple  whom  he  loved, 
Etmding  by,  he  said  to  his  mother,  Woman, 
liiiHOLD  THY  SOX  ! .  . .  to  the  disciple.  Behold 
THY  mother!— What  forgeifulness  of  seJf, 
what  filial  love,  and  to  the  "motlier"  and 
"  son"  what  parting  words  I  from  that  hour 
,  .  .  took  her  to  his  owu  home— or,  home  with 
him  ;  for  his  father  Zebedee  and  his  mother 
fcalome  were  botli  alive,  and  the  latter  here 
present  (Mk.  15.  40.).  See  on  M.  13.  55.  ]Siow 
occurred  the  supernatural  darkness,  recorded 
by  all  the  other  evangelists,  but  not  here. 
•'Now  from  the  6th  hour  (12  noon)  there 
was  darkness  over  all  the  land  unto  the  9th 
hour,"  M.  27.  45.  No  ordinary  eclipse  of  the 
sun  could  have  occurred  at  this  time,  it 
being  then  fuU  moon,  and  this  obscuration 
lasted  about  twelve  times  the  length  of  any 
ordinary  eclipse,  of.  Ex.  10.  21-23.  Beyond 
d  ubt,  the  tuvine  intention  of  the  portent 
was  to  invest  this  darkest  of  all  tragedies 
with  a  gloom  expressive  of  its  real  character. 
"  And  about  the  ninth  hotir  Jesus  cried,  Eli, 
Eli,-  lama  sabacthani  .  .  .  My  God,  ??iy 
God,  why  hast  thou  JorsaJxn  me?"  M.  27. 
46.  As  the  darkness  commenced  at  the  6th 
hour,  the  second  of  the  Jewish  hours  of 
prayer,  so  it  continued  till  the  9th  hour,  the 
hour  of  the  evening  sacrifice,  increasing  pro- 
bably in  depth,  and  reaching  its  deepest 
gloom  at  the  moment  of  this  mysterious  cry, 
when  the  flame  of  the  one  great  "Evening 
Sacrifice"  was  burning  fiercest.  The  words 
were  made  to  His  hand.  They  are  the  open- 
ing words  of  a  Psahn  (the  22nd)  fuU  of  the 
last  "  sufferings  of  Christ  and  the  following 
glories"  i  Pe.  l.  il .  "  Father,"  was  the  cry 
in  the  first  prayer  which  He  uttered  on  the 
cross,  for  matters  had  not  then  come  to  their 
worst;  "Father"  was  the  cry  of  His  last 
prayer,  for  matters  had  then  passed  their 
worst.  But  at  this  crisis  of  His  sufferings, 
"Father"  does  not  issue  from  his  lips,  for  the 


that  invested  his  own  spirit.  There  wcw 
indeed  a  cause  for  it,  and  He  knew  it  too— 
the  "  why"  must  not  be  pressed  so  far  as  to 
exclude  this.  He  must  taste  this  bitterest  of 
the  ivages  of  sin  "  Who  did  no  sin."  But  that 
is  not  tlie  point  now.  In  Him  there  w  as  no 
cause  at  all  (ch.  14.  30,)  and  He  takes  refuge  in 
the  glorious  fact.  When  no  ray  from  above 
shines  in  upon  Him,  He  strikes  a  hght  out 
of  His  own  breast.  If  God  will  not  owu  Him, 
He  shall  own  Hmiself.  On  the  rock  of  1:1  is 
unsulhed  allec;iance  to  Heaven  He  will 
stand,  till  the  tight  of  Heaven  return  to  His 
spirit.  And  it  is  near  to  come.  Vv  hilst  He 
is  yet  speaking,  the  fierceness  of  the  tiameis 
begiiming  to  abate.  One  incident  and  insult 
more.and  the  experience  of  one  other  predict- 
ed element  of  suffering,  andthe  victory  is  His. 
TTie  incident,  and  the  insult  springing  out  of 
it,  is  the  misunderstanding  of  the  cry,  for 
we  can  hardly  suppose  that  it  was  any  thing 
else.  "Some  of  them  that  stood  there,  when 
they  heard  that,  said.  This  man  caUeth  for 
Elias."  M.  27.  47.  28-30.  After  this,  Jesus 
knowing  that  all  things  were  now  accompUshed 
— i.  e.,  the  moment  tor  the  fulfilment  of  the 
last  of  them;  for  there  was  one  other  small 
particular,  and  the  time  was  come  for  that 
too,  in  consequence  of  the  burning  thirst 
which  the  fevered  state  of  His  frame  occa- 
sioned (Ps.  22.  15.).  that  the  Scriptture  ;Ps.  69. 
21),  might  be  fulfilled,  saith,  I, thirst— Now 
there  was  set  a  vessel  full  of  vinegar  (see  on 
the  ofter  of  the  soldiers'  vinegar,  above)  ;  and 
they— "one  of  them,"  M.  27.  48  — filled  a 
sponge  with  vinegar,  and  jiut  it  upon  [a  stalk 
of  ]  hyssop,  and  put  it  to  ais  mouth— Though 
a  stalk  of  this  plant  does  not  exceed  eit;hteen 
inches  in  length,  it  would  suffice,  as  the  feet 
of  crucified  persons  were  not  raised  higher. 
"  The  rest  said.  Let  be"— i.e.,  as  would  seem, 
'Stop  that  officious  service '— "  let  us  see  whe- 
ther EUas  wUl  come  to  save  him,"  M.  27.  49. 
This  was  the  last  cruelty  He  was  to  suffer, 
but  it  was  one  of  the  most  unfeehng.  "And 
when  Jesus  had  cried  with  a  loud  voice," 
L.  23.  46.  Tills  "'loud  voice,"  noticed  by  three 
of  the  Evangelists,  does  not  imply,  as  some 
able  interpreters  contend,  that  our  Lord's 
strength  was  so  far  from  being  exhausted. 


light  of  a  Father's  countenance  was  then  mys-  that  He  needed  not  to  die  then,  and  surren 


teriously  eclipsed.  He  falls  back,  however 
on  a  title  expressive  of  His  official  relation 
which,  though  lower  and  more  distant  in  it- 
self, yet  when  grasped  in  pure  and  naked  faith 
was  mighty  in  its  claims,  and  rich  in  psal- 
modic  associations.  And  what  deep  earnest- 
ness is  conveyed  by  the  redoubling  of  this 


dered  upHis  life  sooner  than  nature  required, 
merely  because  it  was  the  appointed  time. 
It  was  indeed  the  appointed  time,  but  time 
that  He  should  be  crucified  through  weak- 
ness" (2  Co.  13.  4,),  and  nature  was  now 
reaching  its  utmost  exhaustion.  But  just 
as    even   His   own   dying   saints,   particu- 


title!    But  as  for  the  cry  itself,  it  will  never  larly  the   martyrs   of   Jesus,    have 


be  fully  comprehended.  An  absolute  deser 
lion  is  not  indeed  to  be  thought  of  ■  but  a 
total  eclipse  of  the  felt  sense  of  God's  pre- 
sence it  certainly  expresses.  It  expresses 
surprise,  as  under  the  experience  of  some- 
thing not  only  never  before  known  but  inex- 
plicable on  the  footing  which  had  till  then 
subsisted  between  Him  and  God,  It  is  a 
Question  which  the  lost  cannotutter.  They  are 
forsaken,  hut  they  knoio  why.  Jesus  is  for- 
saken, but  does  not  kno^v  and  demands  to 
Jaww  why.  It  is  thus  the  cry  of  conscious  in- 
nocence,  but  of  innocence  unavaUing  to 
draw  down,  at  that  moment,  the  least  token 
of  approval  from  the  unseen  Judge— inno- 
cence whose  only  recognition  at  that  moment 
lay  in  the  thick  surrounding  gloom  which 
but  reflected  the  horror  of  great  darkness 
80   [1] 


times  had  such  gleams  of  coming  glory 
immediately  before  breathing  their  last,  as 
to  impart  to  them  a  strength  to  utter 
their  feelings  which  has  amazed  the  by- 
standers, so  this  mighty  voice  of  the  ex- 
piring Hedeemer  was  nothing  else  but  the 
exultant  spirit  of  the  Dying  Victor,  perceiv- 
ing the  fruit  of  His  travaU  just  about  to  be 
embraced,  and  nerving  the  organs  of  utter- 
ance to  an  ecstatic  expression  of  its  sublime 
feehngs  not  so  much  in  theMHmedi'aie/i/lol- 
lowing  words  of  tranquil  surrender,  in  Luke, 
asinthe./intti  shout,  recorded  only  by  John). 
"  Father,  INTO  thy  hands  I  commend  my 
spirit!"  L.  23.  46.  Yes,  the  darkness  ia 
past,  and  the  true  light  now  shineih.  His 
soul  has  emerged  Irom  its  mysterious 
horrors;  "My  God"  is  heard  no  more, 


TJie  Death  of  Christ. 


JOHN.  XIX. 


Eis  Side  is  Pierced. 


but  in  unclouded  light  He  yields  sub- 
lime into  His  Father's  hands  the  infinitely 
precious  spirit— using  here  also  the  words  of 
those  matcliless  Psalms  31.  5,1  which  were 
ever  on  his  lips.  *  As  the  Father  receives 
the  spirit  of  Jesus,  so  Jesus  receives  those 
of  the  faithful,' A.  r.  69.  [Bexo.]  And  now 
comes  the  expiring  mighty  shout,  "It  is  fin- 
ished !  and  He  bowedHis  head  and  gave  up 
the  ghost  "  V.  30.  What  is  finishedY  The  Law 
is  fulfilled  as  never  before,  nor  since,  in  His 
"obedience  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the 
cross;"  Messianic  prophecy  is  accomplished; 
Redemption  is  completed  :  "He  hath  finished 
the  transgression,  and  made  an  end  of  sin, 
and  made  reconciliation  for  iniquity,  and 
brought  in  everlasting  righteousness,  and 
sealed  up  the  vision  and  prophecy,  and 
anointed  a  holy  of  holies  .•"  He  has  inaugu- 
rated the  kingdom  of  God  and  given  birth  to 
a  new  world. 

31-42.  Burial  or  Christ.  31-37.  The 
preparation— Sabbath  eve.  that  the  bodies 
should  not  remain— over  night,  against  the 
Mosaic  law.  Deu.  21.  22,  23.  on  the  Sabbatli- 
day,  for  that  day  was  an  high  (or  '  great') 
day— the  first  day  of  unleavened  bread,  and, 
as  concurring  with  an  ordinary  Sabbath,  the 
most  solemn  season  of  the  ecclesiastical 
year.  Hence  their  peculiar  jealousy  le<t  the 
law  should  be  infringed,  besought  Pilate 
that  their  legs  might  be  broken— to  hasten 
their  death,  which  was  done  in  such  cases 
with  clubs.  But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and 
saw  that  he  was  dead  already— there  being  in 
Hii  case  elements  of  suffering,  unknown  to 
the  malefactors,  which  might  naturally 
hasten  His  death,  lingering  though  it  al- 
ways was  in  such  cases,  not  to  speak  ofj 
His  previous  sufferings,  they  brake  not  his 
1  gs— a  fact  of  vast  importance,  as  showing 
that  the  reality  of  His  death  was  visible  to 
tho.se  whose  business  it  was  to  see  to  it.  The 
other  divine  purpose  served  by  it  will  appear  ; 
presently.  But  one  of  the  soldiers— to  make  I 
assurance  of  the  fact  doubly  sure,  with  a  spear  | 
pierced  his  side— making  a  wound  deep  and  j 
wide,  as  indeed  is  plain  from  ch.  2u.  27,  29. 
Had  lite  still  remained,  it  must  have  fled  j 
now.  and  forthwith  came  thereout  blood  and  , 
water— 'It  is  now  well  known  that  the  effect  I 
of  long-continued  and  intense  agony  is  fre- 
quently to  produce  a  secretion  of  a  colourless 
lymph  within  the  pericardium  ithe  mem- 
brane enveloping  the  heart ,  amounting  in 
many  cases  to  a  very  considerable  quantity.' 
[w.  &  w.]  And  he  that  saw  it  bare  record 
('hath  borne  witness'),  and  his  witness  is 
true,  and  he  knoweth  that  he  saith  true,  that 
ye  might  believe— This  solemn  way  of  refer- 
ring to  his  own  testimony  in  this  matter 
has  no  reference  to  what  he  says  in  his 
l.pistle  about  Christ's  "coming  by  water 
and  blood,"  (see  on  1  J.  5.  6,)  but  is  intended 
to  call  attention  both  to  the  fulfilment  of ! 
Scripture  in  these  particulars,  and  to  the  j 
undeniable  evidence  he  was  thus  furnishing  | 
of  the  reality  of  Christ's  death,  and  conse- 
quently of  His  resurrection  ;  perhaps  also 
to  meet  the  growing  tendency,  in  the  Asiatic 
churches,  to  deny  the  reality  of  our  Lord's 
body,  or  that  "  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the 
flesh."  (I  J.  4. 1-3.)  that  the  Scripiure  ....  a 
bone  of  him  shall  not  be  broken — The  refer- 
ence is  to  the  paschal  lamb,  as  to  which  this 
ordinance  was  stringent,  Ex.  12.  46 ;  Nu.  9. 
iz,  tci.  1  Co.  6. 7.)— Bat  though  we  are  to  see  I 
66   [2] 


here  the  fulfilment  of  a  very  definite  typical 
ordinance,  we  shall,  on  searching  deeper,  see 
in  it  a  remarkable  divine  interposition  to 
protect  Vie  sacred  body  of  Christ  from  the  least 
mdignvy  after  He  had  finished  the  work 
given  Him  to  do.  Every  imaginable  indig- 
nityhad  been  permitted  before  that,  up  to  the 
moment  of  his  death.  But  no  sooner  is  that 
over,  than  an  Unseen  hand  is  found  to  have 
provided  against  the  clubs  of  the  rude  sol- 
diers coming  in  contact  with  that  Temple  of 
the  Godhead.  Very  different  from  such  vio- 
lence was  that  spear-thrust,  for  which  not 
only  doubting  Thomas  vvould  thank  the  sol- 
dier, but  intelligent  believers  in  every  age, 
to  whom  the  certainty  of  their  Lord's  death 
and  resurrection  is  the  life  of  their  whole 
Christianity,  another  Scripture . .  .They  shall 
look  on  him  whom  they  pierced— The  quota- 
tion is  from  Ze.  12.  10;  not  taken  as  usual 
from  the  Septuagint  (the  current  Greek  ver- 
sion), which  here  is  all  wrong,  but  direct 
from  the  Hebrew.  And  there  is  a  remark- 
able nicety  in  the  choice  of  the  words  em- 
ployed both  by  the  prophet  and  the  evan- 
gelist for  "piercing."  ihe  word  in  Zech. 
means  to  thrust  through  with  spear,  javelin, 
sword,  or  any  such  weapon.  In  that  sense  it 
is  used  in  all  the  "ten  places,  besides  this, 
where  it  is  found.  How  suitable  this  was  to 
express  the  action  of  the  Eoman  soldier,  is 
manifest ;  and  our  evangelist  uses  the  ex- 
actly corresponding  word,  which  the  Sept. 
certainly  does  not.  Very  diiferent  is  the 
other  word  for  "pierce"  in  Ps.  22.  16,  "They 
pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet."  The 
word  there  used  is  one  signifying  to 
bore  as  with  an  awl  or  hammer.  How 
striking  are  these  small  niceties  !  38-40. 
Josephof  Arimathea— "a  rich  man"  (M.  27.  57,) 
thus  fulfilling  Is.  53. 9;  "an  honourable  coun- 
sellor, la  member  of  the  Sauhedrim,  and  of 
good  condition,  which  also  waited  tor  the 
kingdom  of  God  (Mk.  15.  43,),  a  devout  expec- 
tant of  Messiah's  kingdom;  "a  good  maa 
and  a  just,  the  same  had  not  consented  to 
the  counsel  and  deed  of  them  "  iL.  23.  50,  51, 
—he  had  gone  the  length,  perhaps,  of  dissent- 
ing and  protesting  in  open  council  against 
the  condemnation  of  our  Lord) ;  "  who  also 
himself  was  Jesus'  disciple"  (M.  27.  57.).  but 
secretly,  for  fear  of  the  Jews— "He  went  in 
boldly  unto  Pilate"  (Mk.  15.  i3,]— lit.,  'having 
taken  courage  went  in,'  or  'had  the  boldJie.s3 
to  go  in.'  Mark  alone,  as  his  manner  is,  Jio- 
tices  the  boldness  which  this  required.  The 
act  would  without  doubt  identify  him  for  the 
first  time  with  the  disciples  of  Christ.  Mar- 
vellous it  certainly  is,  that  one  who  while 
Jesus  was  yet  alive  merely  retrained  from 
condemning  Him,  not  having  the  courage  to 
espouse  his  cause  by  one  positive  act,  should, 
now  that  He  was  de.id,  and  His  cause  appa- 
rently dead  with  Him,  summon  up  courage 
to  go  in  personally  to  the  Eoman  Governor 
and  ask  permission  to  take  down  and  Liter 
the  body.  But  if  this  be  the  first  instance, 
it  is  not  the  last,  that  a  seemiaqly  dead  Christ 
has  tvakened  a  sympathy  lohich  a  living  one 
had  faiUd  to  evoke,  Tlie  heroism  of  faith  is 
usually  kimlled  by  desperate  circumstances, 
and  is  not  seldom  displayed  by  those  who  before 
were  the  most  timid,  and  scarce  knovm  as  dis- 
ciples at  all.  "  And  Pilate  marvelled  if  h& 
were "  —rather '  wondered  that  he  was'  " al- 
ready dead."  "And  calliu'r  the  centurion,  he 
asked  him  whether  he  had  been  any  whiio 


Christ  appeareth  to  his  diseiplea. 


JOITN.  XXI. 


Sis  charge  to  Peter. 


16  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Mary!  She  turned 
herself,  and  saith  unto  him,  /Rabboui! 
which  is  to  say.  Master! 

17  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not; 
for  I  am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father:  but 
go  to  my  *  brethren,  and  say  unto  them,  *  I 
ascend  unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father; 
and  (0  '"  my  God,  and  your  God. 

18  Alary  ^  Magdalene  came  and  told  the 
disciples  that  she  had  seen  the  Lord,  and 
that  he  had  spoken  these  things  unto 
her. 

19  IT  Then  "  the  same  day  at  evening,  being 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  the  doors 
were  shut  where  the  disciples  were  as- 
sembled for  fear  of  the  Jews,  came  Jesus 
and  stood  in  the  midst,  and  saith  unto  them. 
Peace  be  unto  you. 

I'O  And  when  he  had  so  said,  he  P  showed 
unto  them  his  hands  and  his  side.  i  Then 
were  the  disciples  glad  when  they  saw  the 
Lord. 

21  Then  said  Jesus  to  them  again.  Peace 
be  unto  you:  '"as  my  Father  hath  sent  me, 
even  so  send  I  you. 

2-2  And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  breathed 
on  them,  and  saith  unto  them.  Receive  ye 
the  Holy  Ghost: 

23  Whose  *  soever  sins  yj  remit,  they  are 
remitted  imto  them;  and  whose  soever  si)is 
ye  retain,  they  are  retained. 

24  H  But  Thomas,  one  of  the  twelve, '  called 
Didymus,  was  not  with  them  when  Jesus 
came. 

25  The  other  disciples  therefore  said  unto 
him,  'We  have  seen  the  Lord.  But  he  said 
unto  them,  Except  1  shall  see  in  his  hands 
the  print  of  the  nails,  and  put  my  finger  into 
the  print  of  the  nails,  and  thrust  my  hand 
into  his  side,  1  will  not  believe. 

26  H  And  after  eight  days,  again  his  dis- 
ciples were  within,  and  Thomas  with  them. 
Tutn  came  Jesus,  the  doors  being  shut,  and 
stood  iu  the  midst,  and  said,  "  Peace  le 
unto  you. 

27  Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  Reach  hither 
thy  finger,  and  behold  my  hands;  "and 
reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  thrust  it  into 
my  side:  and  be  not  faithless,  but  believ- 
ing. 

28  And  Thomas  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  ""My  Lord  and  my  God. 

29  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thomas,  because 
thou  hast  seen  me,  thou  hast  btlieved: 
blessed  *  are  they  that  have  not  seen,  and 
yet  liave  believed. 

'30%  And  *'  many  other  signs  truly  did  Jesus 
in  the  presence  of  his  disciples,  which  aie 
not  written  in  this  book: 

31  But  *  these  are  written,  that  ye  might 
believe  that  J  esus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God;  and  "that  believing  ye  might  have 
lile  thi-ough  his  name. 

CHAPTER  XXL 

J  Christ  appeareth  to  his  discipUs,  and  is  dis- 

covered  u-.«o  them  by  a  miriuulous  draught  of 

fishes,     ij  He  dineth  with  them:   16  Aw  charge 

to  I'cter,  \S>  foreteUeth  his  death. 

A  FTER  these  things  Jesus  showed  him- 
;*;  sell  agani  to  the  disciples  at  the  sea  of 
liberias:  and  on  this  wise  showed  he  him- 
Self. 

2  There  were  together  Simon  Peter,  and 
Thomas  called  Didyinus,and  "  Mathanael  of 
(Jaiia  m  Galilee,  and  *  the  sons  of  Zebedee, 
and  two  other  of  his  disciples. 

3  Siuion  l'et<;i-  saiUi  ULto  them,  I  go  a 

t>7 


CHAP.  20. 

j  Son?  2.  8. 
*  P».  22.  22. 

JIat.  28.10. 

Rom.  8.  29. 

Heb.  2.  11. 
I  ch.  16.  28. 

1  Pet.  1.  3. 
m  Eph.  1.17. 
»  Mat.  28.10. 

Lu.  24.  10. 

0  Mar.  15.14. 
Lu.  24.  36. 

1  Cor.  15.5. 
PI  John  1.1. 

1  ch.  16.  22. 
r  Isa.  61.  1. 

Isa.  11.  2. 
Mat.  28.18. 
eh.  17.  18, 
19. 
Heb  3. 1. 

2  Tim.  2.2. 
«  Mat.  16.19. 

Mat.  18.18. 
t  ch.  11.  16. 
w  Isa.  9.  7. 

Mic.  6.  5. 

Col.  1.20. 
V  Ps.  103. 13, 


Pa.  91.2. 
Ps.  118.28. 
Lu.  1.  46, 
47. 


V  ch.  21.  25. 

z  Luke  1.  4. 

Kom.  15.  4 

a  ch.  3.  15, 


CHAP.  21. 
a  ch.  1.  45. 
b  Mat.  4.  21. 
«  ch.  20.  14. 
d  Lu.  24.  41. 

«  Lu.' 6.4,6,7. 
/ch.  13.  23. 
ch  20.  2. 
g  Song  8.  7. 
rtlKi.  19.6. 
i  Acts  10.41. 
;■  ch.  20.  19, 

k  JIat.  20.33. 
J  2  Ki.  20.  3. 
m  Acts  20. 

28. 

Eph.  4.11. 
n  Heb.13.20. 

1  Pet  2.25. 

1  Pet.D.2,4. 
o  ch.  13.  38. 
p  ch.  2.  24, 

25. 

ch.  16  30. 

Acts  1.24. 

1  Thes.2.4. 
Re?.  2.  23. 

q  ch.  13.  36. 

Actsl2  3,4. 
r  Phil.  1.  20. 

2  Pel.  1.14. 
«  ch.  13.  23, 


fishing.  They  say  unto  him,  We  also  go 
with  thee.  They  went  forth,  and  entered 
into  a  ship  immediately;  and  that  night 
they  caught  nothing. 

4  But  when  the  morning  was  now  come, 
Jesus  stood  ou  the  shore:  but  the  disciples 
knew  "  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 

5  Then  <*  J  esus  saith  unto  them,  i  Children, 
have  ye  any  meat?  They  answered  him. 
No. 

6  And  he  said  unto  them,  •  Cast  the  net  oa 
the  right  side  of  the  ship,  and  ye  shall  find. 
They  cast  therefore;  and  now  they  were 
not  able  to  draw  it  for  the  multitude  of 
fishes. 

7  Therefore  /that  disciple  whom  Jesus 
loved  saith  unto  Peter,  It  is  the  Lord.  Novr 
when  Simon  Peter  heard  that  it  was  the 
Lord,  he  girt  his  fisher's  coat  unto  him,  (for 
he  was  naked,)  and  c  did  cast  hunself  into 
the  sea. 

8  And  the  other  disciples  came  in  a  little 
ship ;  (for  they  were  not  far  from  land,  but 
as  it  were  two  hundred  cubits,)  dragging 
the  net  with  fishes. 

9  As  soon  then  as  they  were  come  to  land, 
they  saw '» a  fire  of  coals  there,  and  fish  laid 
thereon,  and  bread. 

10  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Bring  of  the  fish 
which  ye  have  now  caught. 

11  Simon  Peter  went  up,  and  drew  the  net 
to  land  full  of  gi-eat  fishes,  an  hundi-ed  and 
fifty  and  three:  and  for  all  there  were  so 
many,  yet  was  not  the  net  broken. 

12  J  esus  saith  unto  them, « Come  and  dine. 
And  none  of  the  disciples  dm'st  ask  him. 
Who  art  thou?  knowing  that  it  was  the 
Lord. 

13  Jesus  then  cometh,  and  taketh  bread, 
and  giveth  them,  and  fish  likewise. 

14  This  is  now  J  the  third  lime  that  Jesus 
showed  himself  to  his  disciples  alter  that  he 
was  risen  from  the  dead. 

15  IT  So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith 
to  Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  *more  than  these?  He  saith  unto 
hini,  Yea,  Lord; '  thou  knowest  that  1  love 
thee.  He  saith  unto  him,  *"  Feed  my 
lambs. 

IG  He  saith  to  him  again  the  second  time, 
Simun,  soH  of  Jonas,  lOvest  thou  me?  He 
saith  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord ;  thou  knowest 
that  1  love  thee.  He  "saith  unto  him. 
Feed  my  sheep. 

17  He  saith  unto  him  "the  third  time, 
Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  Peter 
was  grieved  because  he  said  unto  him  the 
tliircl  time,  Lovest  thou  me?  And  he  said 
unto  liini,  Lord,  ^  thou  knowest  all  things; 
thuu  knowest  that  1  love  thee.  Jesus  saiiU 
unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep. 

18  Verily,  «  verily.  I  say  unto  thee,  When 
thou  wast  young,  thou  girdedst  thj  self,  and 
walkedst  whither  thou  wouldest:  but  when 
thou  shalt  be  old,  thou  shalt  stretch  forth 
thy  hands,  and  another  shall  gird  thee,  and 
carry  thee  whither  thou  wouldest  not. 

19  This  spake  he.signifyiug  *■  by  what  death 
he  should  glorify  God.  And  when  he  had 
spokeu  this,  he  saith  luito  him.  Follow 
me. 

20  Then  Peter,  turning  about,  seeth  the 
disciple  •  whom  Jesus  loved  following; 
which  also  leaned  ou  his  breast  at  sui)per, 
and  said,  Lord,  which  is  he  that  betiayeth 
thee? 

21  Peter  seeing  him  saith  to  Jesus,  Lord, 
and  '  what  shad  this  man  dof 


The  Burial  o/airist. JOHN,  XX. 

dead"— Pilate  could  hardly  credit  what  Jo- 
seph had  told  him,  that  He  had  been  dead 
"some  time,"  and  before  giving  up  the  body 
to  His  friends,  would  learn  how  the  fact 
stood  from  the  centurion,  whose  business  it 
was  to  oversee  the  execution.  "  And  when 
he  knew  it  of  tlie  ceniunon,"  that  it  was  as 
Joseph  had  said,  "  he  iiave"— rather  '  made 
a  gift  of  "  the  body  to  Joseph;"  struck,  pos- 
sibly, with  the  rank  of  the  petitioner  and 
the  dignitied  boldness  of  the  petition,  in  con- 
trast with  the  spirit  of  the  other  party  and 
the  low  rank  to  which  he  had  been  led  to 
believe  all  the  followers  of  Christ  belonged. 
Nor  would  he  be  unwilling  to  show  that  he 
was  not  going  to  carry  this  black  afifair  any 
further.  But  whatever  were  Pilate's  mo- 
tives, two  most  blessed  objects  were  thus 
secured:  (1.)  The  reality  of  our  Lord's  death 
was  attested  by  the  party  of  all  others  most 
competent  to  decide  on  it,  and  certainly  free 
from  all  bias— the  oflicer  in  attendance— in 
full  reliance  on  whose  testimony  Pilate  sur- 
rendered the  body:  (2.)  The  dead  Eedeemer, 
thus  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  His  ene- 
mies and  committed  by  the  supreme  pohti- 
C-il  authority  to  the  care  of  His  friends,  was 
thereby  protected  from  all  further  indigni- 
ties; a  thing  most  befitting  indeed,  now  that 
His  work  was  done,  but  impossible,  so  far  as 
•we  can  see,  if  His  enemies  had  been  at  liberty 
to  do  with  Him  as  they  pleased.  How  won- 
derful are  even  the  minutest  features  of  this 
matchless  History!  also  Nicodemus  wliich  at 
the  first  came  to  Jesus  by  uight— 'This  remark 
corresponds  to  the  secrecy  of  Joseph's  dis- 
cipleship,  just  noticed,  and  calls  attention  to 
the  similarity  of  their  previous  character  and 
conduct,  and  the  remarkable  change  which 
had  now  taken  place,'  [w.&w.]  brought  mvrrh 
and  aloes  .  . .  100  pouu{ls  weight— an  immense 
quantity,  betukening  the  greatness  of  their 
love,  but  part  of  it  probably  intended  as  a 
layer  for  the  spot  on  which  the  body  was  to 
lie.  iSee  2  Chr.  16. 14.)  [Meyer.]  took  the  body 
. . .  and  wound  it  in  liuen  clothes  with  the  spices, 
as  the  manner  of  the  Jews  is  to  bury- the  mixed 
and  pulverised  myrrh  and  aloes  shaken  into 
the  folds,  and  the  entire  body,  thus  swathed, 
wrapt  in  an  outer  cuvering  of  "clean  linen 
cloth"  (M.  27.  59.1.  Had  the  Lord's  own 
friends  had  the  least  reason  to  think  that 
the  spark  of  lile  was  stiU  in  Him,  would  they 
have  done  this?  But  even  if  one  could  con- 
ceive them  mistaken,  could  any  one  have 
lain  thus  enveloped  for  the  period  during 
which  He  was  in  the  grave,  and  life  still 
remained?  Impossible.  vVlien,  therefore,  He 
walked  forth  from  the  tomb,  we  can  say 
with  the  most  absolute  certainty,  "Now  is 
Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become  the 
first-fruits  of  them  that  slept!"  {1  Co.  15. 
20.)  No  wonder  that  the  learned  and  the 
barbarians  alike  were  prepared  to  die  for 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus;  for  such  evi- 
dence was  to  the  imsophisticated  resistless, 
(IVo  mention  is  made  of  anointing  in  this 
operation.  No  doubt  it  was  a  hurried  pro- 
ceeding, for  fear  of  interruption,  and  be- 
cause it  was  close  on  the  Sabbath,  the  w^o- 
men  seem  to  have  set  this  as  their  proper 
task  "as  soon  as  the  babbath  .should  be 
past "  (Mk.  16. 1.).  But  as  the  Lord  graciously 
held  it  as  undesignedly  anticipated  by  Mary 
at  Bethany  (Mk.  li.  8.),  so  this  was  probably 
aU  the  anointing,  in  the  strict  sense  of  it, 
Vh^<ih  He  received.)    41, 42.  Now  in  the  place 


Mart/s  VUit  to  the  Sepulchre. 


where  he  was  crucified  there  was  a  garden,  ai.d 
in  the  gnrden  a  new  seDuichre- The  choice  of 
this  tomb  was,  on  their  part,  dictated  by  the 
double  circumstance  that  it  was  so  near  at 
hand,  and  by  its  belonging  to  a  friend  of  the 
Lord;  and  as  there  was  need  of  haste,  even 
they  would  be  struck  with  the  providence 
which  thus  supplied  it.  "  There  laid  they 
Jesus  therefore,  because  of  the  Jews'  prepar- 
ation day,  for  the  sepulchre  was  nigh  at 
hand."  But  there  was  one  recommendation 
of  It  \yhich  probably  would  not  strike  them; 
but  God  had  it  in  view.  Not  its  being  "hewn 
out  of  a  rock"  iMk.  15.  46.',  accessible  only 
at  the  entrance,  which  doubtless  would  im- 
press them  with  its  security  and  suitable- 
ness. But  it  was  "a  7i€iy  sepulchre"  {v.  41,) 
"'wherein  never  man  before  was  laid"  (L.  23. 
53.) ;  and  M.  (27.  60.)  says  that  Joseph  laid 
Him  "in  his  own  new  tomb,  which  he  had 
hewn  out  in  the  rock  "—doubtless  for  his  own 
use,  thouuh  the  Lord  had  higher  tise  for  it. 
Thus  as  He  rode  into  Jerusalem  on  an  ass, 
"whereon  never  man  before  had  sat,"  so  now 
He  shall  lie  in  a  tomb  tcherein  never  man 
before  had  lain,  that  from  these  specimens 
it  may  be  seen  that  in  all  things  He  was 

"  SEPARATE  FROM  SINNERS." 

CHAPTER  XX 
Ver.  1-18.  IMary's  Visit  to  the  Sepul- 
chre, AND  Return  to  it  with  Peter  and 
John— Her  Kjsen  Lord  Appears  to  Her. 
1,  2.  The  first  diy,  &c.— See  on  INIk.  16. 1-4;  and 
M.  28.  1,  2.  Ti.ey  have  taken  away  the  Loid 
out  of  the  sepulchre— Dear  discii)le!  thy  dead 
Lord  is  to  thee  "The  Lord"  still.  3-10.  Peter 
therefore  went  forth,  &c.— These  particulars 
have  a  singular  air  of  artless  truth  about 
them.  Mary,  in  her  grief,  runs  to  the  two 
apostles  who  were  soon  to  be  so  closely  asso- 
ciated in  proclaiming  the  Saviours  resurrec- 
tion, and  they,  followed  by  Mary,  hasten  to 
see  witli  their  own  eyes.  The  younger  dis- 
ciple outruns  the  elder;  love  haply  supplying 
swifter  wings.  He  stoops,  he  gazes  in,  but 
enters  not  the  open  sepulchre,  held  back 
probably  by  a  reverential  fear.  The  bolder 
Peter,  coming  up,  goes  in  at  once,  and  is  re- 
warded with  bright  evidence  of  what  had 
happened,  seeth  the  linen  clothes  lie  ('  lyin.j;') 
and  the  napkin,  that  was  about  his  head,  not 
lying  with  the  iiuen  clothes— loosely,  as  if  has- 
tily thrown  down,  and  indicative  of  a  hurried 
and  disorderly  removal,  but  wrapped  (or 
'folded']  together  in  a  place  by  itsea— show- 
ing with  what  grand  tranquillity  "the  Living 
One"  had  walked  forth  from  "the  dead 
(L.  24.  5.).  'Doubtless  the  two  attendant 
angels  [v.  12,)  did  this  service  for  the  Rising 
One,  the  one  disposing  of  the  Imen  clothes, 
the  other  of  the  nai-kin."  [Beng.]  Tlien 
went  in  tnat  other  disciple  wiiich  came  first 
to  the  se-oulchre— The  repetition  of  this,  in 
connection  with  his  not  having  gone  in  till 
after  Peter,  seems  to  show  that  at  the  mo- 
ment of  penning  these  words  the  advantage 
which  each  of  these  loving  disciples  had  ot 
the  other  was  present  to  his  mind,  and  he 
saw  and  believed— Probably  he  means,  though 
he  does  not  say,  that  He  believed  in  His 
Lord's  resurrection  more  immediately  and 
certainly  than  Peter.  For  as  yet  they 
knew  (I.e.,  understood)  not  the  Scripture 
that  he  must  rise,  iic— In  other  words,  they 
believed  in  His  resurrection  at  first,  not 
because  they  were  prepared  by  Scriptura 
to  expect  it :  but  jacts  carried  ic3i^Ueia 


Christ  Appeareth  to  Mary  Magdalene  JOHN,  XX, 

conviction  of  it  in  the  first  instance  to  their 
minds,  and  furnished  a  key  to  the  Scripture 
predictions  of  it.  11-15.  But  Mary,  &c.— Brief 
was  the  stay  of  those  two  men.  But  Mary, 
arriving  perhaps  by  another  direction  after 


and  to  the.  Assemilfi'''  Disciples. 


they  lett,  hngers  at  the  spot,  weeping;  for  her 
missing  Lord.  As  she  gazes  through  her 
tears  on  the  open  tomb,  she  also  ventures 
to  stoop  dowTtt  and  look  into  it,  when  lo! 
"two  angels  in  white"  (as  from  the  world  of 
light,  and  see  on  M.  28.  3,)  appear  to  her,  in 
a  ■'  sitting"  posture,  '  as  having  finished  some 
business,  and  awaiting  some  one  to  impart 
tidings  to.'  [Beng.]  one  at  the  head,  and  the 
other  at  the  feet  where  .  .  .  Jesus  had  lain—not 
merely  proclaiming  silently  the  eidire  charge 
they  had  had  of  the  body  of  Christ  [quoted 
in  Lthdt.],  but  rather,  possibly,  calling 
mute  attention  to  the  narrow  space  within 
which  the  Lord  of  glory  had  contracted  Him- 
self; as  if  they  would  say.  Come,  see  within 
what  limits,  marked  off  by  the  interval  here 
between  us  two,  the  Lord  lay!  But  she  is  in 
tears,  and  these  suit  not  the  scene  of  so  glo- 
rious an  Exit.  They  are  going  to  point  out 
to  her  the  incongruity.  Woman,  why  weepest 
thou?— You  would  think  tjie  vision  too  much 
for  a  lone  woman.  But  absorbed  in  the  one 
Object  of  her  affection  and  pursuit,  she 
speaks  out  her  grief  without  fear.  Because, 
6zc.—q.d.,  'Can  I  choose  but  weep,  when 
"they  have  taken  away,"  <bc.,  repeating  her 
very  words  to  Peter  and  John.  On  this  she 
turned  herself  and  saw  Jesus  Himself  stand- 
ing beside  her,  but  took  Him  for  the  gar- 
dener. Clad  therefore  in  some  such  style  He 
must  have  been.  But  if  any  ask,  as  too 
curious  interpreters  do,  whence  He  got  those 
habiliments,  we  answer,  [with  Olsh.  and 
Lthdt.,)  where  the  two  angels  got  theirs. 
Nor  did  the  voice  of  His  first  words  discover 
Him— "Woman,  why  weepest  thou?  whom 
seekest  thour"  He  will  try  her  ere  he  tell 
her.  She  answers  not  the  stranticr's  question, 
but  comes  straight  to  her  point  w  ith  him. 
Sir,  if  thou  have  borne  him  hence  — borne 
v:hom  ?  She  says  not.  She  can  think  only 
of  One,  and  thinks  others  must  under- 
stand her.  It  reminds  one  of  the  question 
of  the  spouse,  "  Saw  ye  him  whom  my  soul 
loveth?  (So.  3.  3.)  tell  me  where  .  .  ,  and  I 
will  take  him  away— AViJt  thou,  dear  fragile 
woman?  But  it  is  the  language  of  sublime 
affection,  that  thinks  itself  fit  for  anything  if 
once  in  possession  of  its  Object.  It  is  enough. 
Like  Joseph,  He  can  no  longer  restrain  Him- 
self. Hie.  45.  1.1  16, 17.  Jesus  sailh  unto  her, 
Mary !"  It  is  not  now  the  distant,  though 
respectful,  •"  Woman."  It  is  the  oft-repeated 
name,  uttered,  no  doubt,  with  aU  the  wonted 
manner,  and  bringing  a  rush  of  unutterable 


28.  10;  He.  2.  11,  17.1  That  he  had  still  our 
Humanity,  and  therefore  "'is  not  ashamed  to 
call  us  brethren,"  is  indeed  grandly  evi- 
denced by  these  words.  But  it  is  worthy  of 
most  revereniial  notice,  that  ve  no  where 
read  of  any  one  who  presumed  to  call  Him 
Brother.  "My  brethren:"  Blessed  Jesus, 
who  ai-e  these?  Were  thev  not  thy  fol- 
lowers? yea,  thy  forsakers?  .  .  .  How  do^t 
raise  these  titles  with  thyself!  At  first 
they  were  thy  servants;  then  disciples;  p 
little  before  thy  death,  they  were  thyjriende, 
now  after  thy  resurrection,  they  were  thj 
brethren.  But  O,  mercy  without  measure  ! 
how  wilt  thou,  how  canst  thou  caU  them 
brethren  whom,  in  thy  last  parting,  thou 
foundest  fugitives  ?  Did  they  not  run  from 
thee  ?  Did  not  one  of  them  rather  leave  hi.= 
inmost  coat  behind  him  than  not  be  quit  of 
tliee?  And  yet  thou  saycst,  "Go,  tell  my 
brethren  1'  It  is  not  in  the  power  of  the  sin.s 
of  our  infirmity  to  unbrother  us.'  [Bp. 
Hall.]  I  ascend  unto  my  i  ..iher  and  your 
Father,  and  [to]  my  God  and  your  God— words 
of  incomparable  kIoit  !  Jesus  had  called 
God  habitually  His  Father,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion, in  His  darkest  moment.  His  God. 
But  both  are  here  united,  expressing  that 
full-orbed  relationship  which  embraces  in  its 
vast  sweep  at  once  Himself  and  His  re- 
deemed. Yet,  note  well.  He  says  not,  Our 
Father  and  our  God.  All  the  deepest  of  the 
church  fathers  were  wont  to  call  attention 
to  this,  as  expressly  designed  to  distinguish 
between  what  God  is  to  Him  and  to  us 
—His  Father  essentially,  our's  not  so ;  our 
God  essentially.  His  not  so :  His  God  oidy  in 
connexion  with  us:  our  God  only  in  con- 
nexion tcith  Him.  18.  Mary  Magdalene  came 
and  told  the  disciples  that  she  had  seen  the 
Lord,  and  He  had  said  these  things  unto  her— 
To  a  woman  ivas  this  honour  given  to  be  the 
first  that  saw  the  risen  Redeemer,  and  that 
woman,  was  not  His  mother.  (See  on  Mk. 
IG.  9.) 

19-23.  Jesus  APPEARS  to  the  assembled 
DISCIPLES.  19-23.  The  same  day  at  eveuiag, 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  the  doors  being  shut 
...for  fear  of  the  Jews,  came  Jesus — plainly 
not  by  the  ordinary  way  of  entrance,  and 
saith,  Peace  be  unto  you  — not  the  mere 
wish  that  even  His  own  exalted  peace 
might  be  theirs  ch.  14.  27,)  but  conveying 
it  into  their  hearts,  even  as  He  "  opened 
their  understandings  to  understand  the 
Scriptures"  iL.  24.  45.).  And  Wiien  he  hr.d 
so  said,  he  showed  them  his  hands  and  his 
side— not  only  as  ocular  and  tangible  evi- 
dence of  the  reality  of  His  resurrection  Isee 
on  L.  24.  o7-43,  but  as  through  'the  power 
of  that  resurrection"  dispensing  all  His  peace 


and  overpowering  associations  with  it.  She  '  to  men.  Tiien  were  the  disciples  glad  , 
turued  herself,  and  saith  to  him,  Rabboni!  But  Then  said  Jesus— pi'epared  now  to  listen  to 
that  single  word  of  transported  recognition  Him  in  a  new  character.  Peace  ...  As  my 
was  not  enough  for  woman's  full  heart.  Not  Father  hath  sent  me,  &c.— See  on  ch.  17. 18.  he 
knowing  the  change  which  had  passed  upon  breathed  on  them— a  symbolical  conveyance 
Him,  she  hasrens  to  expre.ss  by  her  actions  to  them  of  the  Spirit,  and  saith,  Receive  ye  the 
what  words  failed  to  clothe ;  but  she  is  ,  Holy  Gnost— an  earnesc  and  first-lruits  of 
checked.  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not.  the  more  copious  Pentecostal  elfu.sion.  whc- 
lor  I  am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father— Old  soever  sins  ye  remit,  &c.— In  any  literal  and 
familiarities  must  now  give  place  to  new '  aidhoritative  sense  this  power  was  never 
and  more  awful,  yet  sweeter  approaches;  but  exercised  by  one  of  the  apostles,  and  plainly 
for  these  the  time  has  not  come  yet.    This  luas  never  understood  by  iliem»elvcs  as  pos' 


seems  the  spirit,  at  least,  of  these  mysterious 


by  them  or  conveyed  to  them.    (See  on 


words,  on  wliich  much  difference  or  opinion  M.  16.  9.)  The  power  to  intrude  upon  the 
has  obtained,  and  not  much  that  is  satis-  relation  between  men  and  God  cannot  have 
factory  said.    But  go  lo  my  brethren,    (cf.  M.  ]  been  given  by  Chiist  to  His  mmisters  in  any 


Jesus  again  Appears  to  the  Disciples.     JOHN,  XXI. 


Supplementary  Parti.(nil^rs. 


but  a  ministerial  or  declarative  sense— as  the 
authorised  intei-preters  of  His  word,  while 
in  the  actings  of  His  ministers,  the  real 
nature  of  tlie  lower  committed  to  them  is 
seen  in  the  exercise  of  church  cHsciiiline. 

24-29.  Je^us  again  Appears  to  the 
Assembled  Disciples.  24,25.  But  Thomas 
(see  on  ch.  11.  16,  was  not  with  them  when 
Jesus  came— why,  we  know  not;  though  we  are 
loath  to  think  [with  bTiER.  Alf.,  Lthdt.J  ii 
was  intentional,  from  sullen  despondency. 
The  fact  merely  is  here  stated,  as  a  lovin^ 
apology  for  his  slowness  of  belief.  We  have 
seen  the  Lord— This  wayof  speaking  of  Jesus 
as  ■U.20  and  21.7,1  so  suited  to  tlis  resurrection- 
state,  was  soon  to  become  the  prevailing 
style.  Except  I  see  .  .  .  and  put  my  finger  .  .  . 
and  hand  into  his  side,  I  will  not  believe.  The 
very  form  of  this  speech  betokens  the 
strength  of  the  unbelief.  'It  is  not.  If  I 
shall  see  I  shall  believe,  but.  Unless  I  shall 
see  I  will  not  believe;  nor  does  he  expect 
to  see,  although  the  others  tell  him  they 
had.  fBENG.]  How  Christ  Himself  viewed 
this  state  of  mind,  we  know  from  Mk.  16. 
14,  "He  upbraided  them  with  their  un- 
belief and  hardness  of  heart  becatise  they 
believed  not  them  which  had  seen  Him 
alter  He  was  risen."  But  w  hence  sprang  thi.- 
pertinacity  of  resistance  in  si<  c/^i,  minds?  Not 
certainly  from  reluctance  to  believe,  but  as 
in  Nathanael  see  on  ch.  l,  46,  from  mere 
dread  of  mistake  in  so  vital  a  matter.  26- 
29.  And  after  eight  days— i.e.,  on  the  8th,  or 
first  day  of  the  preceding  week.  Tiiey  pro- 
bably met  every  day  daring  the  preced- 
ing week,  btit  their  Lord  designedly  re- 
served His  second  appearance  amongst 
them  till  the  recurrence  of  His  resurrec- 
tion-day, that  He  mi-;ht  thus  inaiigurate 
the  delightful  sanctities  of  the  Lord's 
Day"  Re.  l.  10.).  the  disciples  .  ,  .  within, 
and  Thomas  .  .  .  Jesus  stood  in  the  midst, 
and  saith.  Peace  .  .  .  Then  saith  he  to  Thomas. 
Reach  hither  .  .  .  behold  .  .  .  put  it  into  my 
side,  and  be  not  faithless  but  believing  — 
'There  is  something  rhythmical  in  the.se 
words,  and  they  are  purposely  couched  in 
the  words  of  Thomas  himself,  to  put  him  to 
shame.'  [Lthdt.]  But  with  what  condes- 
cension and  gentleness  is  this  done!  Thomas 
answered... my  Lord  and  my  God!— That  Tho- 
mas did  «oidowhat  Jesus  invited  him  to  do 
and  what  he  had  made  the  condition  of  his 
believing,  seems  plain  f^cm  v.  29,  ("  Because 
thou  hast  seen  me  thou  Aast  believed,  "i  He 
is  overpowered,  and  the  glory  of  Chri.st  now 
breaks  upon  him  in  a  flood.  His  exclamation 
surpasses  aU  that  had  been  yet  uttered,  nor 
can  it  be  surpa  ssed  by  any  thing  that  ever  will 
be  uttered  in  earth  or  heaven.  On  the  strik- 
ing parallel  in  Nathanael.  see  on  ch.  1.  49. 
The  feocinian  evasion  of  the  supreme  divinity 
Df  Christ  here  manifestly  taught— as  if  it 
were  a  mere  call  upon  God  in  a  fit  of  asto- 
nishment—is beneath  notice,  save  for  the 
profanity  it  charges  upon  this  disciple,  and 
the  straits  to  which  it  shows  themselves  re- 
duced, because  thou  hast  seen  me  thou  hast 
believed- words  of  measured  commendation, 
but  of  indirect,  and  doubtless  painfully  felt 
rebuke:  q.d.,  'Thou  hast  indeea  believed  ;  it 
is  well;  it  is  only  on  the  evidence  of  thy 
senses,  and  after  peremptorily  refusing  all 
evidence  short  of  that.'  Blessed  they  that  have 


this  closing  word  of  the 


not  seen  Him,  i 
Gospel.    [Alf.] 

.SO,  :n.  First  Close  of  this  Gospel.— 
The  connection  of  these  verses  with  the  last 
words  of  V.  29  is  beautiful:  q.d.,  'And  indeed, 
IS  the  Lord  pronounced  them  blessed  who 
not  having  .seen  Kim  have  vet  bel  eved,  so 
for  that  (  ne  end  have  the  whole  contents  of 
this  Gospel  been  recorded,  that  all  who  read 
it  may  believe  on  Him.  and  believing,  have 
life  in  that  blessed  name.'  many  other  signs 
—miracles.  But  these  are  written— as  suffi- 
cient specimens,  tlie  Chris  r,  the  Son  of  God— 
the  one  His  official,  the  other  His  vcrsonal 
I  itle.  believing,  may  have  life— See  on  ch.  6. 
51-64. 

CHAPTER  XXL 

Ver.  1-23.  yUPPLEMEXTARY  Paeticu- 
l.\rs.  [That  this  chapter  was  added  by 
another  hand  has  been  asserted,  against 
clear  evidence  to  the  contrary,  by  some  late 
critics,  chiefly  because  the  evancelist  had 
concluded  his  part  of  the  work  with  ch.  20,  "% 
31.  But  neither  in  the  Epistles  of  the  N.T., 
nor  in  other  good  authors,  is  it  unusual  to 
insert  supplementary  n^atter,  and  -o  have 
more  than  one  conclusion.  J  1,  2.  Jesus 
showed  I'maniiested'i  himself  again,  and  on 
this  wise  he  manifested  hnnself— This  way  of 
speaking  shows  that  after  His  resurreciion 
He  appeared  to  them  but  occasionally,  unex- 
pectedly, and  in  a  way  quite  unearthly. 
though  yet  really  and  corporeally.  Nathanael 
—See  on  M.  10.  .i.  3-6.  Peter  saith  ...  I  go  a 
fishing— ijee  on  L.  5.  11.  that  night  cmght 
nothing— as  at  the  first  miraculous  draught 
see  on  L.  6. 5.;;  no  doubt  so  ordered  that  the 
miracle  might  strike  them  the  more  by  con- 
trast. The  same  principle  is  seen  in  opera- 
tion throughout  much  of  Christ's  ministry, 
and  is  indeed  a  great  law  of  God's  spiritual 
procedure  with  His  people.  Jesus  stood— cf. 
ch.  20.  19, 26.  knew  not  it  vjus  Jesus— Perhaps 
there  had  been  some  considerable  interval 
since  the  last  manifestation,  and  having 
agreed  to  betake  themselves  to  their  secular 
employment,  they  would  be  imprepared  to 
expect  Him.  Children— This  term  would  not 
necessarily  identify  Him,  being  not  unusual 
from  any  superior;  but  when  they  did  recog- 
nize Him,  they  would  feel  it  sweetly  like 
Himself,  any  meat?— 'provisions,'  'supplies- 
meaning  fc/t.  No— This  was  in  His  wonted 
style,  making  them  tell  their  case,  and  so  the 
better  prepare  them  for  what  was  coming, 
on  the  rigit  side— no  doubt,  by  this  very  spe- 
cific direction,  intending  to  reveal  to  them 
His  knowledge  of  the  deep  and  power  over 
it.  7-11.  that  disciple  .  .  .  said.  It  is  the  Lord- 
again  having  the  advantage  of  his  brother  in 
quickness  of  recognition  see  on  ch.  20.  8.  ,  to 
be  followed  by  an  alacrity  in  Peter  all  his 
own.  he  was  naked- his  vest  only  on,  worn 
next  the  body,  cast  himself  into  the  sea— the 
shallow  part,  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards 
from  the  water's  edge  [v.  8  ;  not  meaning 
therefore  to  swim,  but  to  get  sooner  to  Jesus 
than  in  the  fiul  boat  which  they  could 
hardly  draw  to  shore,  in  a  little  ship— by 
ship,  they  saw  f  see';  a  fire  of  coals,  and  fish 
laid  thereon,  and  bread— By  comparing  this 
with  1  Ki.  19.  6.  and  similar  passages,  the  un- 
seen agency  by  which  Jesus  made  this  pro 
vision  will  appear  evident.  Bring  of  the  fish 
ye  have  caught- Observe  the  double  supply 


not  seen  and  yet  have  believed—'  Wonderful  |  thus  provided— His  and  theirs.    The  mean- 
indeed,  and  neb  in  blessing  for  us  who  have  ling  of  tMs  will  perhaps  appear  presently. 
S7    [2] 


The  atcevfiov  of  Clnist. 


JOHN,  XXI.         MaWdas  chosen  to  the  apostleship. 


22  Jesus  saitli  unto  him.  If  I  will  that  he 
tarry  "  till  1  come,  what "  is  that  to  thee? 
Follow  thou  me. 

23  Then  went  this  sajing  abroad  among 
the  brethren,  that  that  disciple  should  not 
die:  yet  Jesus  said  not  unto  him,  He  shall 
not  die;  but,  If  1  will  that  he  tarry  till  I 
come,  what  is  that  to  thee! 


Rer.  3.  11. 
«'Deu.29.29. 
u>  3  John  12. 
'  Axaat  tM. 


24  This  is  the  disciple  which  testifieth  of 
these  things,  and  wrote  these  things:  ""aud 
we  know  that  his  testimony  is  tnie. 

25  And  there  are  also  many  otner  things 
which  Jesus  did,  the  which,  if  they  should 
be  written  every  one,  *  1  suppose  that  even 
the  world  itself  could  not  contain  the  books 
that  should  be  written.    Amen. 


SuppfemfiYiinry  PartiniTars. 


JOHN,  XXT. 


Sv.pvlemenfary  ParficuJars. 


Peter  went  up-mto  the  boat;  went  aboard.'  testation,  which  makes  it  a  totally  different 
full  of  ^reat  fishes,  153;  and  for  all  they  were  so  kind  of  speech  from  his  former.  Feed  ii.y 
many,  yet  was  not  the  net  broken— The  mani-  lambs— It  is  surely  wrong  to  view  this  terns  a3 
fest  reference  here  to  the  former  miraculous  a  mere  diminutive  of  aflection,  and  as  mean- 
draught  L.  6.  111.  nirnishes  the  key  to  this  ing  the  same  thing  as  "the  sheep."  [w.  &  w.] 
scene.  There  the  draught  was  symbolical  of  It  is  much  more  according  to  usage  to  under- 
the  success  of  their  tuture  ministry:  While  stand  by  the  '-lamhs"  young  and  teudc  dis- 
Peter  and  all  that  were  with  him  were  ciples.  whether  in  age  or  Christian  standing 
astonished  at  thedraughtof  the  fishes  which  (Is.  40.  11;  i  J.  z.  12,  l.i.:  and  by  the  "  sheep^ 
they  had  taken,  Je.'^us  said  unto  him,  Fear  the  more  mahtre.  Shall  we  say  [with  man}] 
not,  from  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch  men."  that  Peter  was  here  re-instated  in  oftice?  Not 
JNay,  when  first  called,  in  the  act  of  "casting  exactly,  since  he  was  not  actually  excluded 
their  net  into  the  sea,  for  they  were  fishers,"  from  it.  But  after  such  conduct  as  his  the 
the  same  symbolic  reference  was  made  to  deep  wound  which  the  honour  of  Christ  had 
their  secular  occupation:  "Follow  me,  and  received,  the  stain  brought  on  his  office,  the 
I  will  make  you  fishers  of  men."  (M.  4.  18.  damage  done  to  his  high  standing' among  his 
19.)  Here,  then,  if  but  the  same  symbolic  brethren,  and  even  his  own  comfort,  in  pro- 
reference  be  kept  in  view,  the  design  of  spect  of  the  great  work  before  him.  required 
the  whole  scene  will,  we  think,  be  clear.  |  some  such  renewal  of  his  call  and  re-esta- 
The  multitv.de  and  the  size  of  the  fishes  they  bhshment  of  his  position  as  this,  saith  .  .  . 
caught  symbolically  foreshadowed  the  vast  the  second  time,  i-c— In  this  repetition  of  the 
succe.ss  of  their  now  fast  approaching  minis-  question,  thoujih  the  wound  was  meant  to 
try,  and  this  only  as  a  beginning  of  succes-  be  re-opened,  the  words,  "more  than  tliese" 
slve  draughts,  through  the  agencyof  aChris-  are  not  repeated;  for  Christ  is  a  tender  as 
tian  ministry,  till,  "as  the  waters  cover  the  well  as  skilful  Physician,  and  Peter's  silence 
sea,  the  earth  should  be  full  of  the  knowledge  on  that  point  was  confession  enough  of  his 
of  the  Lord.  "  And  whereas,  at  the  first  sin  and  folly.  On  Peter's  repeatiiig  his  pro- 
miraculous  draught,  the  net  "was  breaking"  testation  in  the  .same  words,  our  Lord  rises 
throng  1  the  weight  of  what  it  contained—  higher  in  the  manifestation  of  His  restoring 
expressive  of  the  difficulty  with  ichidi,  after  grace.  Feec  (or  '  keep'  my  sheep— It  has  been 
they  had  ''caught  men,"  they  would  bf.  able  to  obsei-ved  that  the  word  here  is  studiously 
retain,  or  Keep  them  from,  escaping  back  into  changed,  from  one  signifying  simply  to  feed, 
t/ie  worW— while  here,  'for  all  they  were  so  to  one  signifying  to  'toid  as  a  shepherd, 
many,  yet  was  not  the  net  broken."  are  we  denoting  the  abiding  exercise  of  that  voca- 
not  reminded  of  such  sayings  as  these  ch.  10.  tion,  and  in  its  highest  functions,  the  third 
28.);  "  1  give  unto  my  sheep  eternal  Ufe,  and  time,  Simon  . . .  Peter  was  crieved  because  he 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  said  the  third  time,  &c.— This  was  the  Phy- 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand?"  [Lthdt.]  sician's  deepest  incision  into  the  wound. 
But  it  is  not  through  the  agency  of  a  Christian  while  yet  smarting  under  the  two  former 
ministry  tliat  aU  true  disciples  are  gathered,  probings.  Not  till  now  would  Peter  discern 
Jesus  Himself,  by  unseen  methods,  gathers  the  object  of  this  succession  of  thrusts.  The 
some,  who  afterwards  are  recognised  by  the  third  time  reveals  it  all,  bringing  up  such  a 
constituted  fishers  of  men,  and  mingle  with  rush  of  dreadful  recollections  before  his  view, 
the  fruit  of  their  labours.  And  are  not  these  of  his  "thrke  denying  that  he  knew  Him, 
symbolized  by  that  portion  of  our  Galilean  that  he  feels  it  to  the  quick.  It  was  fitting 
repast  which  the  fishers  found,  in  some  un-  that  he  should;  it  was  meant  that  he  should. 
Been  way,  made  ready  to  their  hand?  12-14. !  But  this  accomplished,  the  painful  dialn-iie 
None  durst  ask  him,  Who  art  thou,  knowing  it  concludes  with  a  delightful  "Feed  my  sheep;" 
was  the  Lord— implying  that  they  u'oitW  have  as  if  He  should  say.  Now,  Simon,  the  last 
liked  Him  just  to  say,  "It  is  I;  but  having  speck  of  the  cloud  which  overhung  thee  since 
such  convincing  evidence,  they  were  afraid  that  night  of  nights  is  dispelled:  Henceforth 
of  being  "  upbraided  for  their  unbelief  and  thou  art  to  me  and  to.my  work  as  if  no  such 
hardness  of  heart"  if  they  ventured  to  put  scene  had  ever  happened,  18, 19.  when  young 
the  question.  Jesus  taketh  [the]  bread,  and  j  —embracing  the  whole  period  of  life  to  the 
giveth  them,  and  [the]  fish  likewise— See  on  L.  verge  of  old  age.  thou  girdedst  thyself  and 
'^i.  30.  This  is  the  third  time  that  Jesus  show-  walkedst  whither  thou  wouldest— wast  thine 
ed  himself  'was  manifested')  to  his  disciples—  own  master,  when  old.  thon  shalt  stretch 
his  assembled  disciples;  for  if  we  reckon  His  forth  thine  hands— to  be  bound  for  execution, 
appearances  to  individual  disciples,  they  though  not  necessarily  meaning  on  a  cross. 
were  more.  15-17.  When  they  had  dined,  Jesus  There  is  no  reason,  however,  to  doubt  the 
saith— Silence  appears  to  have  reigned  during  very  early  tradition,  that  Peter's  death  was 
the  meal;  unbroken  on  His  part,  that  by  by  crucifixion.  This  spake  he,  signifying  by 
their  mute  ob.servation  of  Him  they  might  what  death  he  should  gloriiy  God— not,  there- 
have  their  assurance  of  His  identity  the  more  fore,  a  mere  prediction  of  the  manner  of  his 
confinuf^d:  and  on  theirs,  from  reverential  death,  butof  the /lonottr  to  be  conferred  upon 
shrinking  to  cspeak  till  He  did.  Simon,  son  him  by  dying  for  his  Master,  And,  indeed, 
of  J  onas,  lovest  thou  me  more  than  these?— re-  ,  beyond  doubt,  this  prediction  was  intended 
rerring  lovingly  to  tLost  sad  words  of  Peter,  I  to  follow  up  his  triple  restoration :-"  Yes, 
shortly  before  denying  his  Lord,  "Though  Simon,  thou  shalt  not  only  feed  my  lambs. 
aM  men  shall  be  offended  because  of  thee,  and  feed  my  sheep,  but  after  a  long  career  of 
yet  will  I  never  he  oftended"  iM.  26.  33.),  and  such  service,  shalt  be  counted  worthy  to  die 
mtending  by  this  allusion  to  bring  the  whole  for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.'  And  when 
scene  vividly  before  his  mind  and  put  him  he  had  spoken  this,  he  saith  unto  him,  FoUow 
to  shame.  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  Hove  me— By  thus  connecting  the  utterance  of 
thee— He  adds  not,  "  more  than  these,"  but  this  prediction  with  the  invitation  to  follow 
prefixes  a  touching  appeal  to  the  Saviour's  i  Him.  the  evangelist  would  indicate  the 
own  omniscience  for  the  truth  of  his  pro-  deeper  sense  in  which  the  call  was  under- 


'Last  Days  of  our  Lord 


JOHN,  XXI. 


Upon  Earth. 


•siood,  not  merely  to  go  along  with  Him  at 
that  moment,  but  to  come  after  Him  taking 
up  his  cross."  20,  21.  Peter  turning  aboat— 
sliowing  that  he  followed  immediately  as 
directed,  seeth  the  discicle  whom  Jesus  loved 
following ;  which  also  leaned  on  Jesus'  breast  at 
the]  supper,  and  said.  Lord,  which  is  he  that 
6etrayeth  thee  V— The  evangelist  makes  these 
allusions  to  the  peculiar  familiarity  to  which 
he  had  been  admitted  on  the  most  memor- 
able of  all  occasions,  perhaps  lovingly  to  ac- 
count for  Peter's  somewhat  forward  question 
about  him  to  Jesus ;  which  is  the  rather 

Erobable,  as  it  was  at  Peter's  suggestion  that 
e  put  tbe  question  about  the  traitor  which 
he  here  recalls  ;ch.  13.  24,  25.).  Peter  saith  to 
Jesus,  Lord,  and  what  [shall!  this  man  [^do]  ?— 
'  What  of  tliis  man  ?  or.  How  shall  it  fare 
with  him?  22,  23.  Jesus  saith  t-o  him,  If  I 
will  that  he  tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to 
theel  follow  thou  me  — From  the  fact  that 
John  alone  of  the  twelve  survived  the  de- 
Btruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  so  witnessed  the 
commencement  of  that  series  of  events 
which  belongs  to  "the  last  days,"  many  good 
interpreters  think  that  this  is  a  virtual  pre- 
diction of  fact,  and  not  a  mere  supposition. 
But  this  is  very  doubtful,  and  it  seems  more 
natural  to  consider  our  Lord  as  intending  to 
give  iw  positive  indication  of  John's  fate  at 
all,  but  to  signify  that  this  was  a  matter  which 
belonged  to  the  Master  of  both,  who  would 
disclose  or  conceal  it  as  He  thought  proper, 
and  that  Peter's  part  was  to  mind  his  own 
affairs.   Accordingly,  in  **  follow  thou  me," 


the  word  "thou"  is  emphatic.  Observe  tht 
absolute  disposal  of  human  life  which  Christ 
claims  :  "  If  I  will  that  he  tarry,  <fec.  Then 
went  this  saying  abroad  among  the  brethren, 
that  that  disciple  should  not  die— into  which 
they  the  more  easily  fell,  from  the  prevalent 
expectation  that  Christ's  second  coming  was 
then  near  at  hand.  Yet  Jesus  said  not— The 
evangelist  is  iealous  for  His  Master's  honour, 
which  his  death  might  be  thought  to  com- 
promise if  such  a  misunderstanding  should 
not  be  corrected. 

24,  26.  Final  close  or  this  Gospel.  This 
is  the  disciple  which  testifleth  these  thiiigs, 
and  wrote  tnese  things— thus  identifying  the 
author  of  this  book  with  all  that  it  says  ot  this 
disciple,  we  know  that  his  testimony  is  true— 
cf.  ch.  19. 35.  Aud  there  are  many  ottier  things 
which  Jesus  did— cf.  ch.  20.  30,  31.  if  written 
every  one,  I  suppose— an  expression  used  to 
show  that  what  lollows  is  not  to  be  pressed 
too  far.  even  the  world  itself  would  not  hold 
the  books,  &c.— not  a  mere  hyperbolical  ex- 
pression, unlike  the  sublime  simplicity  of 
this  writer,  but  intended  to  let  his  reader 
know  that,  even  now  that  he  had  done,  he 
felt  his  materials  so  far  from  being  ex- 
hausted, that  he  was  still  running  over,  and 
could  multiply  "Gospels"  to  almost  any 
extent  within  the  strict  limits  of  what  "Jesus 
did."  But  in  the  limitation  of  these  match- 
less Histories,  in  point  of  number,  there 
is  as  much  of  that  divine  wisdom  which  has 
presided  over  and  pervades  the  living  ora- 
cles, as  in  their  variety  and/wincw. 


88  [1] 


^     (P    f      ^      --.^^O'-^.^ 


